The University of North Georgia (UNG) community can take one small step toward a healthier lifestyle by participating in a couple of activities this fall.

Sponsored by the University System of Georgia (USG) as the Fall 2019 Challenge, Keep America Active is a friendly eight-week competition open to health care eligible and enrolled USG employees. During the contest, participants earn points and stars as they record their physical activity minutes or steps, as well as meditation and mindful eating time frames.

Sabrina Wall, benefit specialist and employee wellness coordinator at UNG, said participation in the fall challenge can benefit all.

"If you have a healthy body and soul, then you have a healthy employee who has a healthy work habit," she said.

UNG employees may join the challenge individually or as a team through RedBrick Health. Once they sign in and select UNG as the organization, they can register on the Well-Being page. Registration ends Sunday, Sept. 22, and the team formation deadline is Oct. 13.

The fall challenge runs from Sept. 16 to Nov. 10. Participants can record daily health behaviors until Nov. 13. Activities can be logged through the app Keep America Active, which is in the App Store or Google Play.

A second activity is the American Heart Association Hall County Heart Walk at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia. About 75 faculty, staff and students from UNG's Gainesville Campus have registered for the walk.

"I'm so pleased to have a phenomenal level of participation from UNG faculty, staff and students," said Jennifer Herring, special assistant to the vice president on UNG's Gainesville Campus. "Proceeds from the heart walk from fundraising efforts will help support research development and funding to help counteract complications from heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular disease."

She said the disease effects 1 in 3 Americans with a total annual cost of $200 billion a year.

To participate or for more information, visit the AMA Heart Walk website.

Some UNG employees registered for the walk and Keep America Active challenge during the "UNG goes Red for Heart Health Day" on Sept. 18 on the Gainesville Campus. Attendees also had their blood pressure checked, their body composition determined, carotid artery screened and many other health items.

Employees can register for the USG well-being credit and earn up to $100 on their paycheck by completing several activities such as filling out a health assessment, trying digital coach, and tracking their fitness activities.

Employees also registered for the USG well-being credit. Employees can earn up to $100 on their paycheck by completing several activities such as filling out a health assessment, trying a digital coach, and tracking their fitness activities.

"The UNG Well-Being credit is established to make you conscious about your well-being throughout the year," Wall said.

The deadline to register for the USG well-being credit is Sept. 30.