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Wellness Newsletter
February 2025
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Save the Date: Spring into Motion Step Challenge
Spring into Motion is a program by the same company we partner with for Walktober that provides a fun, inspiring way to move more and delight in all things spring — from adorable baby animals and vibrant blossoms to worldwide festivals and gardening tips. Whether you’re a beginner or fitness enthusiast, Spring into Motion will help boost energy and improve your health as you enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle, during the season of renewal and beyond.
All activities for this challenge are completed online at the participant's own pace. Each week will feature a new 'Spring Thing' and you can test your knowledge with fun trivia questions. When you log at least 6,000 steps, using a tracking device or the manual activity tracker within the platform, you’ll earn points, colored rings, and collect badges. You can also form teams, add friends, browse healthy recipes, post on a community discussion board, answer poll questions, and more.
SAVE THE DATE: Spring into Motion will take place from Feb. 24 through April 20. Registration will open on Feb. 17 and close March 3. We will share the registration link in The Daily and our March newsletter, but to make sure you can register in a timely manner and not miss this opportunity, please add your name and email to this interest list, and we will send you the registration link once it's available. This program is open to benefits-eligible faculty and staff only.
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This series is eligible for a Program Incentive in the
Stress Management category.
Tuesdays, March 18 - May 13 (no session on April 1), from 12:30-1:30 pm via Zoom
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HealthyLife® Thrive
The American Institute for Preventive Medicine's HealthyLife® Thrive program is a journey of self-discovery. Thrive guides participants to learn more about themselves and what well-being means for them, as well as how to make small, powerful shifts in ways of thinking and doing.
Designed to empower participants with the necessary tools and skills to enhance their emotional well-being and navigate life’s challenges, Thrive will help you discover your strengths, give yourself a moment to reflect, and take actions that support your mental and emotional health. Come away feeling more connected to your inner voice and in control of how you respond to life’s stressors.
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New Series Focused on Parenting
Working in higher education while parenting can be rewarding, yet challenging, too. Learning how to best handle issues that arise during childhood may help smooth and destress daily life experiences for parents and their children. This new series will feature two counselors experienced in working with families and children: Kim Langley, MEd and Patty Saddle, MA, LPC, LSW.
This series is eligible for a Wellness Program Incentive in the General Wellness category. Visit our General Wellness web page to view the list of session topics.
Thursdays, Feb. 6 - March 27, from 12-1 pm via Zoom
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Coming Soon: Managing High Blood Pressure Lunch & Learn
Did you know Medical Mutual offers a variety of programs to help members manage chronic conditions like high blood pressure, at no additional cost?
Watch your email for a message from Medical Mutual that will include details about a special “Lunch & Learn” event for CWRU employees in the coming weeks. The event will focus on understanding high blood pressure and how the programs available can help you or a family member manage this condition.
To receive information about this event (and other helpful wellness and benefit information), Medical Mutual needs your email address. Please take a minute to make sure you have a current email address on file. This also applies for family members on your plan who are 18 or older.
Email addresses can be updated on Medical Mutual’s member portal My Health Plan. Once you’re logged in, click “My Profile” and find “Profile Settings” under “Preference Center.” You can edit your email address in the “Security Settings” section. And be sure to register for an account if you haven’t yet.
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Attentional Fitness: Sneaking Mindful Habits into Real Life
Physical exercises strengthen the body. Mindfulness exercises strengthen attention. Learn how exercising your attention – with or without meditation – can develop attentional capacities for relating more effectively to the challenges of daily life.
Join Daron Larson as he shares how to develop attentional skills without drawing attention to yourself. This 8-week series will explore flexible ways to turn mindfulness practice into a secret mission.
This series is eligible for a Wellness Program Incentive in the Stress Management category.
Wednesdays, March 19 - May 7, from 12-1 pm via Zoom
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Sleep Well
Learn more about the importance of quality sleep, as well as common sleep disorders and how they can affect our health and well-being, during this 8-week series led by Metro Health Sleep Medicine physicians and other health professionals.
This series is eligible for a Wellness Program Incentive in the Sleep category.
Thursdays, March 13 - May 8 (no session during spring break on March 27), from 12-1 pm via Zoom
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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. Join these sessions to continue the reading and discussions from Fall 2024. Attendance in the fall sessions is not a prerequisite to participate. You must register for each individual session you wish to attend.
Truth
Thursday, Feb. 20, from 12:30-1:30 pm
Register for Truth
Healing
Wednesday, March 19, from 1-2 pm
Register for Healing
Restitution
Thursday, April 17, from 12:30-1:30 pm
Register for Restitution
Power
Thursday, May 8, from 12:30-1:30 pm
Register for Power
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Insight from Our Wellness Champions
Did you know that the university has a Wellness Champions program? The Champions, also known as Wellness Champs, are faculty and staff representatives who promote wellness opportunities among their department, colleagues, and friends at CWRU.
A few Champs were recently interviewed for an article in The Daily about what wellness means to them, advice on New Year’s resolutions, and their involvement in the Wellness Champions program. You might see some familiar faces and take away a few kernels of insight as you are perhaps still working toward your own resolutions for the new year.
If you are enthusiastic about health and share messages about well-being and university wellness programs with fellow CWRU employees, you should consider joining our team as a Wellness Champion! Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. But before you apply, make sure to get to know four members of the team—and find out how they keep their momentum going when it comes to pursuing goals. Read the Champs article here.
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February Wellness Trainings with the
Professional Development Center
The Wellness Program is partnering with the Professional Development Center to bring you several training opportunities this Spring. Join us in February for the first two installments:
The Importance of Well-being as a Supervisor
Wednesday, February 5, from 10:30-11:30 am via Zoom
Register on Campus Groups
The Importance of Well-being for Your Team
Wednesday, February 19, from 10:30-11:30 am via Zoom
Register on Campus Groups
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Chair Massages Available Feb. 18
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 month. Appointments are available:
Tuesday, February 18, from 11 am - 2 pm,
in 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 are required. You can see available times, reserve your slot, and pay via the link to the left. Enjoy!
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Mindfulness Matters in the Classroom
Are you interested in learning more about using mindfulness in the classroom with students? If yes, please consider attending the Mindfulness Matters in the Classroom sessions to learn more.
The Mindfulness Matters Team is hosting a series of 4 workshops this semester, led by Suzanne Rusnak, so faculty can learn more about offering brief mindfulness activities with students, based on the original research that the team conducted at CWRU. These experiential sessions will prepare faculty to better support student learning in the classroom.
Suzanne Rusnak will train participants in the Mindfulness Matters model during the remaining 3 sessions on Feb. 6, Feb 13, and Mar. 6 from 12-1 pm on each date. Sessions will be recorded.
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Employee Assistance Program Update
Case Western Reserve University’s employee assistance and work/life program is now referred to as AllOne Health. Previously Impact Solutions, all of the same excellent services are available; only the name has changed.
Access to benefits will continue to be available 24/7/365 through the member portal at MyImpactSolution.com or by calling 800.227.6007. Face-to-face counseling is also available, with up to five free sessions included per problem occurrence.
AllOne Health offers thousands of self-help tools and resources — including articles, assessments, podcasts, and resource locators to help reduce stress and improve mental health. All services are free and confidential. Visit the AllOne Health web page for more information about what’s included in the program and how to access benefits.
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Join a Sustained Dialogue Group
The CWRU Sustained Dialogue program brings together individuals from various backgrounds to discuss campus, local and national issues of concern, including diversity and inclusion matters. Groups meet weekly to share their experiences and perspectives and work collectively to suggest ways to make the campus more welcoming and inclusive. No experience or special skills needed.
Two Sustained Dialogue groups for staff are starting in February:
Formal Sustained Dialogue Across Backgrounds (in-person)
Building a sense of belonging in a divided time: A Sustained Dialogue group for staff members to meet and discuss hard-to-surface topics.
Starting Feb. 13. Meetings repeat every Thursday from 12-1:15 pm (except spring break)
Meeting location: TBD
Staff Social Sustained Dialogue: Get to Know Other CWRU Staff (virtual)
Staff fun/social hour: Small group fun conversations to expand your circle.
Starting Feb. 11. Meetings repeat every Tuesday from 3-4 pm virtual (except spring break)
Meeting location: On Zoom
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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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