Wellbeing Week expansion encourages Emory’s full campus community to embrace self-care practices

By John Baker Brown Jr. Oct. 16, 2025

Events during Emory’s fall semester Living Health and Wellbeing Week, set for Oct. 20-24, will center on the eight Elements of Wellbeing. More than 30 activities will be featured during the week-long event, with each program connecting with at least one of the eight elements of wellbeing: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, physical, professional, relational and spiritual. The university’s observance coincides with National Health Week.

Among the activities are a garden tour and workday; a dialogue on the intersections of health, writing and art; group fitness classes; a sound bath; arts and crafts; and suicide prevention training. While many are focused on students, several events are open to faculty and staff as well.

The twice-annual event, which encourages all members of the campus community to practice self-care in their daily lives, will be held again in the spring, although with a different theme.

Living Health and Wellbeing Week Fall 2025 is hosted by the Center for the Study of Human Health (CSHH); Health 1, 2, 3, 4; the Center for Student Wellbeing; and the Wellbeing Leaders Coalition (WLC). The WLC includes representatives from Emory’s schools and other university organizations with a shared interest in promoting well-being across campus.

“The event was created as Living Health Week by Amanda Freeman, a neuroscientist and teaching professor in Emory’s Center for the Study of Human Health,” says Shiyra Addy, assistant director of programs for CSHH, a part of Emory College of Arts and Sciences. “The initiative was designed for human health students in spring 2021 while the university was operating in a hybrid remote capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Living Health Week encouraged students to apply health-promoting classroom concepts in their own lives outside of the classroom, according to Addy. “That week, instead of studying health, students were ‘living health.’ Rather than reading a study about greenspace, for example, students documented greenspace in their neighborhoods and how it benefits human health.”

CSHH hosted Living Health Week every semester from spring 2021 through spring 2025, with the initiative transforming into a focus on the overall well-being of students studying human health.

This semester is the first time CSHH has partnered to host the event and opened it to all Emory students, reinforcing that well-being is a shared value across Emory, not the sole responsibility of one university organization.

“At Emory, we know health and well-being are essential for both student success and the full enjoyment of life for us all,” says Megan Brown, director of the Center for Student Wellbeing, a part of Emory Campus Life.

“Living Health and Wellbeing Week reminds our students that the university is committed to their well-being and the many ways we can thrive individually and together,” says Brown.

“Although the event prioritizes students and occurs once each semester, our goal is to inspire every member of our university community to ‘live health’ by practicing well-being every day of our lives,” Brown adds.

Highlights to anticipate

Living Health and Wellbeing Week will offer more than 30 activities. Following is a selected highlight for each day. Note that dates, times and/or locations for events may change. Visit the website for a complete list of activities.

Monday, Oct. 20: Open Gardening Workdays

All campus gardens are operated by Emory’s Office of Sustainability. The office offers open garden workdays throughout the week. Come dressed for garden work.

Element highlighted: Environmental

Open to all students.

11 a.m.-12 p.m.; Cox Garden

12-1 p.m.; WoodPEC Garden

Tuesday, Oct. 21: Breathing and Meditation for a Calm Mind

Guided breathing and meditation session with Donald Noble, instructor in the Center for the Study of Human Health, for a clear and calm mind.

Elements highlighted: Spiritual, emotional

Open to all students.

4-5 p.m.; Rich Memorial Building, Room 205

Wednesday, Oct. 22: Chill-out Room

Take the edge off midterms at the Woodruff Library’s pop-up Chill-out Room, offering chill vibes, natural lighting, open study spaces and free refreshments — including coffee, tea and snacks. Stay to study and chat or just stop by for a quick bite.

Elements highlighted: Emotional, physical

Open to all students.

2-4:30 p.m.; Robert W. Woodruff Library, Room 213

Thursday, Oct. 23: Make a Friendship Bracelet

Drop in any time during TechLab hours to make your own friendship bracelet and/or decorate a bead to add to our giant friendship bracelet. Bring a friend and hang out or come solo for a nice mindfulness activity.

Elements highlighted: Intellectual, relational

Open to students, faculty and staff.

12-8 p.m.; Cox Hall, TechLab (second floor)

Friday, Oct. 24: Campus Colors and Connection

Campus Colors and Connection combines the power of artmaking and conversation to bring people together through authentic engagement and interaction.

Elements highlighted: Relational, emotional

Open to all students.

1-2 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. (attend either session); Michael C. Carlos Museum, Tate Room

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