Special Edition Wellness Program Newsletter

Wellness Newsletter

Fall Special Edition, September 2024

Centering Well-being in Challenging Times:

University Wellness Program Solutions

We have several special series planned for this Fall in addition to our regular programming. Our goal with the following 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.

The 8-week series (Small Acts, Big Impact) is eligible for a Wellness Program Incentive in the Community Well-being category. You can also earn a Community Well-being incentive for participating in two of the Fall coping mini-series (Coping with Current Events: Cultivating Attentional Agency, Improve Your Well-Being Through Meaningful Connections at Work; Building Blocks of Civil Discourse; and, Everyday Antiracism). All sessions will be hosted on Zoom.

Learn more via the Coping with Fall Events page

Mondays,

Oct. 14 - Nov. 4,

from 12:30-1:30 pm

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. Topics of this 4-week mini-series include:

More Than Calm: Mindful Habits for Thriving in an Attention Economy
Inside Out for Grown-Ups: How Becoming a Connoisseur of Feelings Prepares You to Respond More Effectively
Setting Limits: Navigating News, Technology, and Social Media-Related Stress
Less Dramatic Holidays and a More Mindful New Year

Improve Your Well-Being Through Meaningful Connections at Work

With how much time we spend at work, it’s no surprise that our interactions with coworkers have a significant influence on our mental, emotional, and social well-being. This interactive online series offers a unique opportunity to explore the science behind meaningful workplace relationships and how they contribute to overall job satisfaction and well-being.

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,

Oct. 30 - Nov. 20,

from 12-1 pm

Tuesdays,

Oct. 1 - Nov. 19,

from 12:30-1:30 pm

Small Acts, Big Impact:

Be Healthier, Happier, and More Successful Through Kindness

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, essential dynamics like collaboration, cohesion, and validation are often overlooked. This is a missed opportunity, as evidence shows that these positive interactions boost productivity, enhance problem-solving, spark innovation, and strengthen team spirit, leading to improved overall performance. Moreover, research reveals that the benefits of kindness extend beyond the workplace - promoting physical health, longevity, and reducing stress and discomfort. Join MJ Shaar, MAPP, to explore the transformative power of kindness in the workplace.

Building Blocks of Civil Discourse

Fall 2024 brings the U.S. election and ongoing world affairs which may present challenges in regard to interactions with others. Being familiar with the critical skills and tools to manage healthy dialogue and conflict, give hope, and empower individuals to engage in civil discourse will be the focus of this new mini-series.

Learn skills that build consensus through a civil discourse approach in this skills-based series led by Rhonda Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Sustained Dialogue Institute. Each session will provide an in-depth overview of the specific topic as well as time for reflection and large group discussion. If you are feeling a bit anxious about upcoming events and want to engage in a proactive learning opportunity to gain skills to help you manage over the next few months, then this program is for you. Session topics include:

Us and Them: Resisting Dehumanization and Polarization
How to Manage Your Emotions
What can Dialogue Do? Stories of Successful Dialogue
Processes and Tools for In-Group and Affinity Group Conflicts

Tuesdays,

Oct. 1-22,

from 12-1 pm

Everyday Antiracism

Love fiction and looking to spark your thinking and action on antiracism? Join us for one or more informal discussions with CWRU Professor Mark Joseph to discuss stories from his recently completed volume, Changing the Narrative: Short Stories to Advance Everyday Antiracism. Recordings of the sessions will be made available to registrants. Please register for each individual session you would like to attend using the links below.

Curiosity: The Passenger

A routine plane flight has an unnecessarily tragic conclusion

Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 1-2 pm

Structure: The Dark Chocolate Boys of the Class of 2003

Five successful African-American classmates gather for their reunion

Monday, Oct. 7, from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Perception: A Mother’s Awakening

A mother-daughter reckoning during a return home from college

Friday, Oct. 18, from 12-1 pm

Belonging: Doing It Our Way

A Shaker Heights high schooler disrupts the exclusionary status quo

Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 12:30-1:30 pm

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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