Getting enough sleep can improve just about every aspect of your life! Besides giving you that wonderful, well-rested feeling, sleep is important for learning, problem solving, managing stress, and regulating mood. It also promotes a healthy immune system and helps prevent chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Register online any time by October 31, 2025 at midnight. The challenge will begin 24 hours after you register. Note: avoid signing up on a Friday, as your emails will be sent on the weekends.
This 4-week online challenge is for all IU employees and spouses of employees on an IU medical plan. Students and community members may also participate. We strongly encourage employees and their spouses to participate together! During the challenge, you'll develop small, daily habits that promote better sleep.
Here's what each week will focus on:
- Week 1: Bedroom Environment & Sleep Duration/Consistency
- Week 2: Avoiding Artificial Light at Night
- Week 3: Spending Time Outside
- Week 4: Caffeine & Alcohol Intake
After you have completed the 4-week challenge, you’ll receive a link to an Evaluation Survey. Employees and spouses on an IU medical plan who complete the challenge and the Evaluation Survey are eligible to receive a $10 Amazon e-gift card (Taxable incentive. First-come, first-served. While supplies last.). The $10 Amazon e-Gift card will arrive via e-mail in mid-December.
To receive the incentive, participants must:
- Be an IU employee (or employee's spouse on an IU medical plan)
- Participate in all 4 weeks of the challenge
- Complete the evaluation survey by December 5th
- Be an active employee in pay status at the time of the gift card distribution
***INCENTIVE REQUESTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE December 5th DEADLINE.***
Tax details: For some incentive programs, such as this challenge, the IRS requires the cost of the incentive to be reported as taxable income by the employer. Employees who choose to receive the challenge incentive will be taxed on their W-2 for the value of the $10 Amazon e-gift card. The taxable benefit for any spouse who chooses to receive the $10 Amazon e-gift card will also be reported on the employee’s W-2. Due to tax processing deadlines, this taxable incentive will be not be processed until February 2026, and will appear on your February 2026 paycheck and W-2 for 2026.
Ideas for use: Consider using the e-gift card toward something for your wellness. Remember the 8 dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, social, financial, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, environmental. Some ideas include:
- Reusable water bottle
- Journal or goal-setting planner
- Tools for your garden
- Comfy shoes or socks
- Exercise band
- Home first aid kit
- Sleep mask
Join the Microsoft Teams group with other IU employees participating in Healthy IU Challenges. The group will evolve with each semester's challenge theme, offering a space to share resources, tips, support, and camaraderie.
Click this LINK to join the Healthy IU Challenges Teams Page.
Double check your spam/junk folders. Challenge emails are sent via Qualtrics. Qualtrics admins sometimes come across the situation of Qualtrics users not receiving emails. Their advice is to reach out to UITS support, who will work with you to make sure there is nothing in your email settings filtering out Qualtrics items. Participants who do not receive the challenge emails have a couple options:
- Short-term fix: Let Healthy IU know at healthyu@iu.edu. We will work with you to send you the challenge content in another way.
And/or
Sleep Resources through IU Benefits
- SupportLinc has free, anonymous 30-minute virtual connect support groups, including one on sleep fitness (register with group code iu)
- For those on an IU-sponsored medical plan, meet with a board-certified sleep specialist through LiveHealth Online
- For those on an IU-sponsored medical plan, meet with a provider at Marathon Health to talk about your sleep.
Better sleep for the whole family
The quality of your sleep often depends on the sleep habits of other household members — babies, kids, spouses, and even pets!
Better Sleep How-Tos
Note: If you currently sleep less than 4 hours per night, do not operate a motor vehicle or heavy machinery and consult with a physician.
