[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/walking-challenge.jpg” caption=”The Get MACtive challenge encourages McMaster employees to get physically active to improve their overall health. File photo.”]It's that time of year again: time to make a New Year's resolution — and stick to it. Many of us resolve to fit more physical activity into our daily lives. Keeping that resolution doesn't need to be an uphill battle.

To help you keep your fitness goals, the Healthy Workplace team is launching McMaster University's first ever physical activity challenge — Get MACtive. This 12-week challenge is open to all McMaster University employees and their immediate family members over the age 16. You can enter as individuals or as teams of five to eight.

The challenge works like this: meet or exceed the minimum threshold for minutes of physical activity each week so that you and/or your team (minutes are averaged among the team members) can be entered in the individual and/or team weekly random draws. Here's the catch: the minute threshold increases over the challenge period. Individuals and/or teams who meet or exceed the threshold for 10 out of 12 weeks will be entered in the grand prize draw.

You can be active at work, at home, with friends or family, alone, indoors or outside. As long as your activity moves your muscles or increases your heart rate for at least 10 minutes, it counts. Visit the challenge website for ideas and suggestions.

At the end of each week, simply fill out an online form and submit it with your total number of minutes. A printable tracking calendar will be available online.

All participants will receive a short weekly motivational e-mail with helpful tips and suggestions. In addition, everyone entered will receive an embroidered microfleece headband for outdoor activity in cold weather.

Registration is now open. Just send an e-mail to mactive@mcmaster.ca with your name, department and extension. If you are participating with teammates, include their contact information as well as your team name. There is a special prize for the most creative team name, and the teams entered so far have set the bar high.

Registration closes Friday, Jan. 18 and the challenge starts Monday, Jan. 21. For more information, visit the challenge website.

Although there are many prizes to be won from our sponsors, the real prize is improving your health. And that makes it all worthwhile.