October Wellness Program Newsletter

Wellness Newsletter

October 2024

Wrapping up the 2024 Wellness Incentive Program: Attest to Completing Programs to Earn $100-$200

If you are a Wellness Program participant who currently receives the $25 Monthly Wellness Incentive and are working toward the additional $100-$200 available in Wellness Program Incentives, don't forget to attest to completing programs in up to two categories within HCM by November 30, 2024, to ensure you earn your incentive dollars in your December pay. View this guide for instructions on how to attest.

If you are not already working toward this goal, you will want to start programs now to ensure completion by the end of November. Don't leave your $100-$200 on the table!

We polled past Wellness Program Incentive recipients to learn how they have spent their incentive money to cultivate greater health and happiness. Check out their responses:

Qualify Now for the 2025 Wellness Incentive Program:

Complete Your Three Wellness Activities This Fall

Faculty and staff who plan to use the university's Benelect medical plan next year can complete eligible activities this fall to earn a $25 Monthly Wellness Incentive in 2025. Specifically, the activities outlined below should be completed during the annual qualifying period of September 1 through November 30. Nov. 30, 2024, is the deadline for completion for the 2025 program.

To earn the incentive, you MUST COMPLETE:

Health Risk Assessment - Complete on the WebMD site.

And CHOOSE TWO of these three OPTIONS:

Biometric Screening* - Complete at an on-campus screening event, a Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Center, or through your primary care provider with results submitted via Quest's Physician Results Form. Appointments are available on campus during the qualifying period. Login to the Quest site with CWRU single sign on to schedule your appointment or download a Physician Results Form. Screenings are free and available to all benefits-eligible employees, even if you are not seeking to earn incentives.
Tobacco Attestation Form - Available in HCM in the "Wellness" tile.
Primary Care Provider Attestation - Available in HCM in the "Wellness" tile.

Please note that the Wellness Incentive Program is voluntary, and earnings are taxable. Those who qualify for the $25 Monthly Wellness Incentive this fall for 2025 will have the opportunity to earn an additional $100-$200 in Wellness Program Incentives in 2025.

*Did you know? CWRU faculty and staff who complete a biometric screening may be eligible to participate in a digital lifestyle change program from Omada Health at no cost to them. Those whose screening results indicate they are at risk for metabolic syndrome in 3 of 5 areas will be invited to participate via email directly from Omada. Learn more about Omada via this video.

Last Chance to Join Your Colleagues for Walktober

Join over 400 of your colleagues for Walktober! While this web-based movement challenge kicked off today, you still have through this Sunday, October 6, to sign up and form/join a team if you'd like.

Walktober offers a fun and inspiring way to take advantage of autumn’s cool temperatures and spectacular views as you step out and step up to better health. During the month of October, participants will be taken on a virtual color tour through some of the world’s most vibrant, breathtaking landscapes — while boosting energy, improving mood, and making walking a priority…for life. Participants will fill up a virtual tree with red, orange, and gold leaves based on daily physical activity, by linking a tracking device/app or using the platform's built-in tracking tool.

Tuesday, Oct. 1 - Thursday, Oct. 31. Registration and team formation closes Oct. 6.

Walktober is open to benefits-eligible faculty and staff only. Participation in Walktober can count toward meeting the requirements for the Physical Activity Wellness Program Incentive. Plus, those who actively participate will be entered into a prize raffle!

Join the fun - Register to participate in Walktober

Centering Well-being in Challenging Times:

University Wellness Program Solutions

There is still time to register for several of the Fall Coping mini-series. Our goal with these offerings is to provide faculty and staff with the tools they will need, and can immediately implement, to handle challenges present in the world this Fall of 2024.

Coping with Current Events: Cultivating Attentional Agency

Join Daron Larson, BA, originator of the term "Attentional Fitness", for a mindful approach to coping with events this fall. View descriptions of the four session topics here.

Mondays, October 14 - November 4, from 12:30-1:30 pm via Zoom

Improve Your Well-Being Through Meaningful Connections at Work

Over four sessions, Jessica Grossmeier, PhD, MPH, will delve into a science-based framework designed to help you cultivate authentic and impactful interpersonal relationships in your professional life as well as emphasize the importance of finding a balance between personal and professional aspects of your life, enhancing both workplace performance and overall happiness.

Wednesdays, October 30 - November 20, from 12-1 pm via Zoom

Everyday Antiracism

Love fiction and looking to spark your thinking and action on antiracism? Join us for the remaining sessions with CWRU Professor Mark Joseph to discuss stories from his recently completed volume, Changing the Narrative: Short Stories to Advance Everyday Antiracism:

Structure: The Dark Chocolate Boys of the Class of 2003

Five successful African-American classmates gather for their reunion

Monday, October 7, from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Perception: A Mother’s Awakening

A mother-daughter reckoning during a return home from college

Friday, October 18, from 12-1 pm

Belonging: Doing It Our Way

A Shaker Heights high schooler disrupts the exclusionary status quo

Tuesday, November 19, from 12:30-1:30 pm

In addition to these programs, we also plan to post a campaign of content related to coping with fall events on our CWRU Wellness Facebook page - add us so you don't miss these resources!

More Fall Wellness Programs

Please note that participation in either program below can contribute toward earning a Wellness Program Incentive in their respective categories, but that neither program alone would satisfy the requirements. Mindful Movement falls under the Physical Activity category, for which engaging in regular physical activity for 12 consecutive weeks (minimum of three moderate-intensity activity sessions per week, each lasting at least 30 minutes) is necessary to be eligible for the incentive. Each round of Seasons of Self-Care is only 4-5 sessions, so participation in at least 2 rounds is necessary to qualify for an incentive in the Stress Management category.

Mindful Movement

Mindful movement is a gentle, accessible approach to yoga that encourages people to tune into what they are feeling as they move and make choices based on their present moment embodied experience. In this 8-week series, Julie Schlemmer presents options for movement, and there is no priority placed on stretching more or holding positions for longer.

Mondays, October 7 - November 25, from 12-1 pm via Zoom

Seasons of Self-Care: Fall

Join us for the final round of this year's Seasons of Self-Care program (4-5 sessions that align with each season), whether you participated previously or not. Heidi Weiker will help participants reflect on and contemplate the beauty of impermanence in all things. We'll deepen our respect for the interconnection of grief and gratefulness. We'll honor the timeless turning of nature, and thus within ourselves, as well as the natural falling away while we enjoy the comfort and repose of fall.

Tuesdays, November 5 - December 3, from 12-1 pm via Zoom

Slim Your Screen Time

Spending less time in front of a screen (phone, computer, tablet, etc.) allows you to increase physical activity, build social relationships that contribute to resilience, and improve your mood and mental health. Want to learn more about why this is? Listen to this TED Talk with Psychologist Adam Alter. If you would like to spend less time in front of screens and desire support in doing so, we have a program for you. This program should also be helpful for anyone experiencing stress or anxiety in relation to current events featured in the news and social media.

Slim Your Screen Time from Mayo Clinic Health System is a free self-guided program designed to help you improve your health by reducing screen time. The program will encourage you to play, explore, and connect more. Slim Your Screen Time runs for two months and will begin when you register. You can choose to participate on your own or as a group (i.e. along with your family or friends – this is great to do with kids!).

Participants are encouraged to start the program by October 11. Once you begin, you will complete the activities on your own time, and we ask that you submit your checklist with at least 30 activities completed to Deanna Duffy at dxd516@case.edu by Nov. 30, 2024.

Participate in Slim Your Screen Time if you are ready to make the most of life by living fully — present and in the moment. Don't miss out on the fun and beauty that is happening around you.

Participate in Slim Your Screen Time

Schedule a Chair Massage

Chair Massages Available Oct. 15

A chair massage can help relax and loosen sore muscles, as well as reduce stress, tension, and anxiety. You can experience all these benefits and more by treating yourself to a chair massage this October! Appointments are available:

Tuesday, October 15, from 2-5 pm

Thwing Center, Meeting Room 224

The chair massages, provided by One to One Fitness, last for 13 minutes and cost $15. Registration and pre-payment is required. You can see available times, reserve your slot, and pay via the link to the left. Enjoy!

Professional Development Center: Workplace Well-being

The Wellness Program has partnered with the Professional Development Center to bring you several training opportunities this Fall. Join us in October for the next installment of the Workplace Well-being series. There will be two more session in November focused on burnout.

Overcoming the Imposter Phenomenon

Monday, October 28, from 10:30 - 11:30am

Learn more about the Flu Shot Clinics

On-Campus Flu Shot Clinics

Flu vaccinations are offered at various campus locations each fall through University Health & Counseling Services, with support from the FPB School of Nursing and University Wellness Program. The flu shots are free for CWRU faculty, staff, and students.

Appointments are taken on a walk-in basis, so you do not need to pre-register. You must bring your CWRU ID card. There are several flu shot clinics scheduled for September and October. Follow the link to the left to view dates, times, and locations for the clinics.

CWRU Wellness Team

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

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

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