Make Your Meetings More Active

  • Include items on your meeting agenda that require participants to get out of their seats (breakout groups, stand and write ideas on an easel).
  • Choose movement friendly meeting locations (walkable neighborhoods, on-site gym, nearby park).
  • Hire a professional instructor (pilates, yoga, tai chi, stretching, Zumba) to lead a class before or during the meeting.
  • Point out the stairs and encourage attendees to use them. Consider including the location of stairs in meeting directions or putting arrows to the stairs in front of elevators.
  • Organize a group walk early in the morning, during a break or before/after dinner.
  • Consider incorporating standing ovations after each speaker to encourage participants to stand and stretch.

Standing Breaks

  • At least once an hour, participants should be encouraged to stand up to improve blood circulation, boost metabolism, and relieve physical discomfort from sitting for prolonged periods of time.
  • Announce that it is fine to stand up and move around, as needed. If possible, provide raised tables for those electing to stand during the meeting.

Stretch Breaks

  • Stretch breaks help participants wake up their bodies and minds.
  • Encourage people to stand up and stretch in place.
  • Try playing a Healthy UC Davis WakeBreak video! These instructor-led stretch videos range from 4 to 15 minutes. 

Breathing Exercise

  • Focused breathing is an energizing activity that can help relax and clear your mind. Simply inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

Suggested Activity Agendas

LENGTH OF MEETINGSTANDING BREAKSTRETCH BREAKSBREATHING BREAKSMOVEMENT BREAKSWALKING BREAKS
50 - 60 minx x  
2 - 4 hoursxxxx 
All Dayxxxxx

Open Enrollment Help Desks w/ Live Q&A

UC Davis employees can get lots of help understanding their benefits during Open Enrollment.

UC Davis Employee Benefits is hosting the following sessions to discuss the various medical plans available to UC employees and answer questions you may have about benefits available to you during Open Enrollment. 

Online Help Desks

Monday

Wednesdays

Thursday

Drop-In Help Desks

UC Davis Health

  • Monday, Nov. 17 (canceled)

 

Davis campus

 

Aggie Square

Plan-Specific Webinars w/ Q&A

Introducing HealthSavings+

Learn about HealthSavings+, UC’s new lowest-premium medical plan for 2026. HealthSavings+ will replace both the CORE and UC Health Savings Plans.

Each session includes an overview of 2026 benefit changes, guidance on plan options and a live Q&A, with 30 minutes dedicated to answering your questions.

  • Tuesday, Nov. 18
    12:30 – 2 p.m.

 

Register

UC Blue & Gold HMO

HealthNet presented on the 2026 plan benefits, changes and value-added programs.

Watch Recording

UC PPO Plans: UC Care and UC Health Savings+

Hosted by Accolade and Blue Shield of California, this session will provide benefit overviews focusing on the 2026 plan changes, introduce the new UC Health Savings+ Plan, and offer UC membership guidance and a live Q&A—all designed to help you make the most of your UC PPO benefits.

Watch Recording

Kaiser Permanente HMO: What’s New for 2026

Join Kaiser Permanente to learn about the benefits of membership and plan updates for 2026.

Watch Recording

HSA Triple-Tax Savings: Your Guide to Smarter Healthcare

Learn how to save on healthcare premiums while building long-term financial security through a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA is a personal savings account that lets you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified medical expenses—offering triple-tax savings on contributions, earnings and withdrawals.

This 30-minute session will explain how to maximize your HSA’s tax advantages, understand eligible medical expenses and make the most of your HSA benefits.

  • Tuesday, Nov. 18
    2 – 2:30 p.m.

 

Register for Session   Watch Recording

UC Davis is committed to making its programs accessible to persons with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to participate in this event because of a disability, please contact benefits@ucdavis.edu at least two weeks prior to the program with information regarding the requested accommodation.

 

These sessions are intended for UC Davis and UC Davis Health employees,
NOT retirees, post-docs, residents, fellows or students. 

Primary Category

Benefits

Tags

Benefits open enrollment