Climbing Our Way to Social Health One Peak at a Time

Pick Your Peak challenge is a fun way to move more and build social connection into busy lives, a health and wellbeing two for one! At UBC Okanagan this year, the challenge encouraged staff and faculty to hit the hills or some socially distant stairs, and compare points, goals and share favorite climbing spots with others.

Including household members in the challenge this year invites bonding through shared goals and time spent together in healthy pursuits. The benefits of challenges like Pick Your Peak go even deeper.

Health Psychologist Kelly Mc Gonical describes how the exercise high not only make us feel good, it also deepens optimism, trust, self confidence, and courage – qualities that play powerful roles in social bonding. Those feel-good effects of exercise increase feelings of pleasure from being with others. When we move with others in synchronous ways we experience collective joy. There are many paths available to us beyond physical activity where we can move together building trust and belonging, like participating in team projects or activism. Physical accomplishments, Mc Gonical elaborates, shape our internal narratives to reflect what we are capable of, giving us courage to try new things and break down barriers. This can help us facilitate new friendships and forge stronger social bonds.

So far, at UBC Okanagan, we have collectively reached 82,449 meters in elevation, that’s the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest over nine times! Look for the Pick your Peak Stair Climbing Challenge in 2021 and don’t forget about the great resources and opportunities to move more through UBC Recreation Vancouver and Okanagan.

Tagged

  • HR
  • Healthy UBC

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