When faced with the challenge of improving well-being within the Nursing Clinical Education Center (NCEC), Martin Gallardo embraced his role as the organizer and flag bearer of the unit's Office Olympics.

Kara Prickett, a nursing practice leader in the Department of Nursing at University of Iowa Health Care, tasked Gallardo with their unit's Office Olympics because "he is super fun and creative, and I knew he would take it to a whole new level."

"He far surpassed everyone's expectations," says Prickett, a liveWELL Wellness Ambassador.

The NCEC Office Olympics are a series of individual activities that employees track and submit daily. Gallardo and his colleagues embraced the Olympics concept over the summer in keeping with the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This fall they continued the challenge with a mix of original and new activities.

The goal is to keep the activities simple and accessible, ensuring everyone can participate without needing a gym membership or special equipment. The events include everyday actions like walking, drinking water, taking the stairs, eating fruits and vegetables, sleeping, and even hitting the snooze button. Points are awarded on an honor system, making it easy for everyone to join in and stay motivated.

More than 85% of employees in their unit participated in the Olympics over the summer and during the fall.

"It wasn't anything super serious, just something to help keep healthy habits in front of people and to say, 'Hey, you can do something really easy to help your overall health," says Gallardo, a clerk in the NCEC.

Winners earned gold, silver, and bronze medals at the conclusion of the games, and thanks to a Wellness Grant, all participants received a t-shirt designed by the unit. Gallardo's wife leant her artistic skills to the Olympics by creating a leader board featuring photos of all the participants and winners on the podium. This fall, she created a Mario Kart-themed board.

Gallardo's colleagues nominated him for liveWELL's Wellness Hero award due to his "outstanding work" on the Olympics.

"It was such a big hit with all 'Olympians' that he has offered to run quarterly challenges," his colleagues wrote in their nomination. "Martin has made a huge impact on team morale and healthy living."

Gallardo is no stranger to boosting team morale. At an earlier point in his career, Gallardo worked for a company that was undergoing layoffs. He took the lead organizing activities for his colleagues to try and increase engagement and ease their stress during a difficult time. He's also worked as a personal trainer, a role that requires encouraging others and setting goals.

"Having fun is in my nature and using it for things that are team building and morale boosting, that's something I like to do," Gallardo says. "The cool thing is, it doesn't necessarily have to cost much money, or any money."

For Prickett and Gallardo, physical activity has been an important part of their lives.

"I'm a big weightlifter and I like to cycle, and, in the last few months, I've started running again," Prickett says. "That's been fun."

For Gallardo, physical fitness has come with its "ups and downs," but he has found enjoyment in simpler, more gentle exercise rather than the boxing and weightlifting of his youth.

"Now it's very heavy on walking and light weight training a few days a week," he says.

Part of why Gallardo enjoys the Office Olympics is the accountability it provides for himself and others.

"The hope is that people will continue these healthy habits even after the Olympics by making small goals that are manageable in their everyday life," Gallardo says. "I've also offered my own personal time to act as an accountability buddy for anyone who wants more support."