2026
Sustainability and EDID Month
Good health and well-being is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Employee Mental Health Ambassadors have come together to plan employee-centred sustainability x mental health events to help you bring more mindfulness, connection, and intentional moments of care to your day.
Check out our offerings below and be sure to visit the Sustainability Office website for a complete calendar of activities for the month!
Employees who participate will have the opportunity to earn points for each activity! The employee who achieves the highest number of points will win a one month Full Access Toldo Lancer Centre Membership (which include fitness centres and classes) sponsored by Lancer Recreation and a countertop herb garden from Employee Mental Health!
We are collecting donations of non-perishable items for the Campus Food Pantry at all in-person Employee Mental Health activities this month. Bring donations with you to the activities you attend and earn an extra participation point for each item you donate!
UWindsor Cooks: Campus Recipe Swap
This month, we’re sharing simple, feel-good meals that make workdays simpler and less stressful. Submit your favourite easy, budget-friendly recipes for colleagues to try — aim for low-waste, plant-based, or meal-prep-friendly ideas! Throughout the month, try a colleague’s recipe and share a photo of your creation.
Each recipe and each photo you submit will earn you one participation point, up to a maximum of one point for this activity per workday in March. Recipes and photos will be uploaded to our shared recipe folder to inspire colleagues participating in this challenge!
Why participate?
- Reduce weekday stress with simple, reliable meal ideas
- Support energy and mood through balanced, mindful eating
- Decrease decision fatigue by accessing a collection of new recipes to try
- Strengthen sense of connection with colleagues
- Save money and reduce food waste
Small, simple meals can make a big impact — on your energy, your mood, and the environment.
Submissions close on March 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Mental Health Move-A-Thon
Take 20 minutes during your workday lunch and breaks to get some movement in — walking, stretching, yoga, or any gentle activity that helps you reset and that feels comfortable. Log your intentional workday movement throughout the month of March and for each day that you achieve your 20-minute activity goal, you'll earn one participation point. For every additional 20 minutes, you'll earn another point! For example, if you walk 40 minutes on your lunch, you'll receive 2 points.
This challenge is all about building a sustainable habit of movement that supports both physical and mental wellbeing.
Why participate?
- Boost focus and productivity
- Reduce stress and mental fatigue
- Step away from your screen
- Reinforce healthy, sustainable routines
Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be impactful. Just 20 minutes can help you recharge and return refreshed.
Quick tip: Use the timer on your phone or watch to keep track of your minutes!
Submissions close on March 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
The Lunch Compost Challenge
Small actions can have a powerful impact — not just on the planet, but on our mental health. Help make a difference by bringing your lunch compost to our designated compost station in the CAW Student Centre (beside the Marketplace) during the times listed below and contribute to reducing workplace waste and taking care of the planet. Each time you contribute your compostable scraps, you’ll receive one participation point, up to once per week. A sign-in log will be provided onsite to track points.
Why participate?
- Build a sense of purpose through simple, meaningful action
- Support mental well-being with small, consistent habits
- Increase feelings of connection and collective impact within our workplace
- Transform food waste into nutrient-rich soil and support a healthier environment
Finding a sense of purpose in contributing to something beyond ourselves is a powerful strategy for boosting mental health and well-being.
Dates & Times:
- Monday March 9 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- Monday March 16 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- Monday March 23 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- Monday March 30 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Make sure to check in with the Employee Mental Health Ambassador staffing a table near the compost bin to log your participation point!
**Dontations to the Campus Food Pantry are welcome. Each donated item will earn you an additional participation point!**
Pages Reimagined: Upcycled Art Workshop
In partnership with Student Health, Counselling & Wellness Services
Join us for a creative, mindful workshop where we’ll transform retired books into beautiful works of art. Guided by a local artist, you’ll learn techniques to paint and reimagine pre-loved books into something uniquely yours. This session blends sustainability with creative expression — giving materials a second life while offering a calming, hands-on break from the workday. Each employee in attendance will receive one participation point. No artistic skills required! Bring your own book to paint on or use pages from a retired library book that will be provided.
Why participate?
- Support your mental health through creative self-expression
- Reduce stress and mental fatigue by entering a focused, screen-free flow state
- Foster connection and belonging in a relaxed, judgment-free setting
- Experience art as a tool for emotional processing and resilience
- Practice sustainability by giving retired materials a meaningful second life
Date: Wednesday March 25, 2026
Time: 11:30 pm - 1:00 pm (attend as your availability allows during the event time - it's okay to come late or leave early)
Location: Leddy Library Collaboratory
Make sure to sign in when you arrive to log your participation point!
**Dontations to the Campus Food Pantry are welcome. Each donated item will earn you an additional participation point!**
Rooted Together: The Plant Propagation Station
In partnership with the Campus Community Garden
Step away from your screen and into a moment of calm. At this hands-on propagation station, you’ll take a cutting from our shared plant and learn how to nurture it into new growth. Bring a clean used jar from home to serve as your propagation vessel (we’ll have extras if you need one).
Every employee in attendance will receive one point. When your plant cutting is rooted and ready for soil, we encourage you to donate your clean, empty jar back to the Campus Community Garden for reuse.
Why Participate?
- Support your mental health through calming, hands-on interaction with nature
- Reduce stress and mental fatigue by engaging in a mindful, screen-free activity
- Strengthen feelings of connection and belonging within our workplace community
- Build a nurturing routine that provides something to look forward to as you watch your plant grow
- Practice sustainability by repurposing everyday materials
Each participant will leave with a living reminder of connection: one shared plant, growing in many spaces.
Date: Tuesday March 31, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (attend as your availability allows during the event time – the activity should take about 10-15 minutes)
Location: CAW Student Centre Boardroom (overlooking the flags and information desk in CAW commons)
Make sure to sign in when you arrive to log your participation point!
**Dontations to the Campus Food Pantry are welcome. Each donated item will earn you an additional participation point!**
Questions? Please email employeementalhealth@uwindsor.ca