May Wellness Program Newsletter

Wellness Newsletter

May 2023

Monthly News and Updates

Celebrating Gratitude at CWRU this May

Cultivating gratitude is a powerful way to create change, strengthen relationships, and positively affect productivity and happiness at work and at home. Research has found that acts of gratitude can improve mental well-being, expand relationships, enhance overall health, increase self-esteem, empathy, and sleep quality, and reduce aggression. The benefits are significant even for relatively simple strategies.

Three ways you can join us in celebrating gratitude at CWRU this month:

1) Add to the online Gratitude Graffiti Board. Gratitude Graffiti is a practice of purposeful reflection and appreciation expressed through interactive art. All employees are encouraged to add electronic sticky notes with messages of gratitude to our shared online Gratitude Graffiti Board during the month of May.

To get started, visit the board and click on a colored sticky note icon in the top right corner and type something/someone you are grateful for, or post a photo of something/someone that fills you with gratitude. Next, choose a location for your art. The Gratitude Board goes beyond what the screen initially displays. Use the grid in the bottom right corner to navigate around and view the additions of others.

Visit this space as an opportunity for a moment of mindfulness during your workday. Return to the board throughout the month to view what others have posted, reflect, and add an additional sticky if you are feeling inspired. Enjoy the power of positive thinking and what it can do for you and those around you. We will share the art we create together with you in our June newsletter!

2) Enter to win a gratitude book. We are raffling off two copies of "Thank You Very Much: Gratitude Strategies to Create a Workplace Culture that ROCKS!" by Lisa Ryan. Enter to win by Friday, May 19.

3) View a video from the April 2019 Gratitude at CWRU event, featuring CWRU employees!

NEW! Healthy Habits for Life

Practicing and maintaining healthy habits is challenging for many of us. Our lives are busy, and while we usually have the best of intentions, other commitments can get in the way of our lifestyle change efforts or even block them entirely. Thankfully, a variety of best practices exist and have been used to foster health and well-being through healthy habit implementation.

This 8-week series will offer a variety of perspectives and suggestions to maximize your ability to integrate healthy habits into your life. Four different speakers, who each have coaching, development and/or counseling backgrounds, will share their expertise with you. Throughout this series, you will learn about the power of mindset, intention, emotional intelligence, and a step-by-step process that will foster healthy habits in your life. You can view the session topics here.

For those who are Monthly Wellness Incentive recipients: Participate in at least 7 of the 8 sessions of Healthy Habits and attest to completion in HCM no later than Nov. 30 to earn a $100 Wellness Program Incentive in the General Wellness category.

Tuesdays, May 30 - July 25 (no class 7/4) from 12-1 pm, via Zoom

Physical Activity Programs

For those who are Monthly Wellness Incentive recipients: Engage in regular physical activity over a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks, consisting of at least 3 moderate-intensity 30-minute sessions per week, to earn the Physical Activity Wellness Program Incentive of $100. You must attest to reaching this goal in HCM no later than Nov. 30, 2023, to earn the incentive.

Mindful Movement

Mindful movement is a gentle, accessible approach to yoga that encourages people to tune into what they are feeling as they move. Take a relaxing and energizing mid-day break with Julie Schlemmer during this 8-week program. Mindful Movement offers the opportunity to focus on present moment experiences to maintain overall physical and mental well-being.

Wednesdays, May 24 - July 12

12:30-1:30 pm via Zoom

Core and More

This 6-week series combines core strengthening with whole body stretching. It can be completed anywhere you have space to stretch out. Other than a workout mat or large towel, no equipment is necessary. Mary Ann Dobbins will lead you through core exercises that will become a bit more challenging each week. All participants will be given weekly stretching homework.

Mondays, May 15 - June 26 (no class 5/29), 12:15-1 pm via Zoom

E.A.S.E. Into Peace of Mind

Let's E.A.S.E. into the moments at hand with this practice-based, methods-centric program. Join Heidi Weiker for our series designed to harmonize our bodies, minds and hearts in order to be more fully present. Throughout the sessions we'll:

Engage in quick, high-impact movement to dump distress and expand relaxation;
Activate breathing more deeply to cultivate calm and focused energy;
Savor moments and experiences to create peace and comfort; and
Elevate to lift us up in delight, strengths, and joy.

Come find out how much moments matter in our lives as we E.A.S.E into them together.

Wednesdays, June 7 - August 30 (no class 7/5)

12-12:45 pm via Zoom

Monthly Wellness Incentive recipients seeking a $100 Stress Management Wellness Program Incentive would need to participate in at least 10 of the 12 sessions and attest to program completion in HCM by Nov. 30.

Mindfulness Meditation Meetup Thursday, May 4

These new monthly gatherings provide an opportunity to meditate alongside fellow CWRU employees. It is time you can take for yourself to increase your sense of calm and centeredness, as well as cultivate a sense of community and connection. This opportunity can support an existing meditation practice or help you start one. These meditations will last a maximum of 30 minutes, which includes time for brief discussion of a topic within mindfulness/daily life, and a guided meditation. We hope you can join us on May 4 from 1-1:30 pm!

Last Chance to Register:

Nutrition 101

Join CWRU's Director of Bionutrition Research, Alicia Thomas, for an 8-week series during which she will discuss a broad range of nutrition topics, from information on key nutrients to breaking down popular diets like the Mediterranean and plant-based diets.

For those who are Monthly Wellness Incentive recipients: Participate in at least 7 of the 8 sessions and attest to completion in HCM no later than Nov. 30 to earn a $100 Wellness Program Incentive in the Nutrition/Weight Management category.

Thursdays, May 4 - June 22, from 12:30-1:30 pm via Zoom

Treat Yourself to a Chair Massage

Has this semester been stressful for you? Massage is not just a luxury but an important component of helping our bodies to recover from the stressors of desk-bound posture and sore muscles from exercise. Wellness is partnering with One to One Fitness to offer 13-minute chair massage appointments from 10 am - 1 pm on Wednesday, May 10.

Massages are $15. Registration and pre-payment are required. Appointments will take place at Thwing Center Meeting Room 224. You can see available time slots, pay for your massage, and reserve your appointment via the link below. You deserve it!

Make an appointment for May 10

Join our Team as a Wellness Champion!

Do you share messages about well-being and university wellness programs with fellow CWRU employees? If so, you should consider joining our team as a Wellness Champion!

CWRU Wellness Champions, also known as Wellness Champs, are faculty and staff representatives who promote wellness opportunities among their department, colleagues, and friends at the university. Characteristics of a Wellness Champion include enthusiasm, the ability to bring wellness to life at the departmental level, consistent access to email, and a willingness to ask questions and share ideas.

If this sounds like you, learn more about this opportunity on the Wellness Champions web page. From there, you can meet your current Wellness Champs and apply to become a Wellness Champion.

Learn more about Meetings on the Move

Meetings on the Move at CWRU

A study released in 2017 noted that sedentary work leads to adverse health outcomes and coined the phrase “sitting is the new smoking." Active/walking meetings can help break up periods of prolonged sitting. At CWRU, such meetings may have personal benefits as well as contribute to improved organizational outcomes.

At the Employee Appreciation event in March, the Wellness Team gifted a walking meeting button/lanyard combination to employees and shared an infographic about walking meetings. We have coined this initiative "Meetings on the Move" and we hope you will join us in making this part of the culture at CWRU, especially now that the weather is warming up and flowers are in bloom! Click the link to the left to learn more, and email Deanna at dxd516@case.edu to request a supply of buttons/lanyards for your team.

CWRU Wellness Team

Elizabeth Click, Medical Director - erc10@case.edu | 216-368-5790

Deanna Duffy, Wellness Manager - dxd516@case.edu | 216-368-5997

STAY CONNECTED

Mindfulness Meditation Meetup Thursday, May 4

Join our Team as a Wellness Champion!

In Case You Missed It:

Meetings on the Move at CWRU