October Wellness Program Newsletter

Wellness Newsletter

October 2025

Last Chance to Register for Walktober

October is ideal for walking — the temperatures are cool, and the colors are spectacular. Making the most of this great season, Walktober takes you on a virtual tour of autumn’s most vibrant landscapes and inspires you to make movement part of your daily routine. Participants will fill up a virtual tree with red, orange, and gold leaves based on physical activity by linking a device/app or using the platform's built-in tracking tool.

Walktober kicks off tomorrow! Sign up now and then prepare by downloading the Walktober app, forming or joining a team (optional but fun!), adding friends, and browsing recipes and resources.

Wednesday, Oct. 1 - Friday, Oct. 31. Registration and team formation close on Oct. 6.

Walktober is open to benefits-eligible faculty and staff only. Participation in Walktober will help you meet a portion of the requirements for the Physical Activity Wellness Program Incentive. Those who actively participate throughout the month will be entered into a prize raffle at the end!

Join nearly 400 of your colleagues for Walktober!

Expressions of Care Sessions with Stella Grizont

Stella Grizont, national bestselling author, positive psychology expert, and executive coach, will offer three special Zoom sessions for CWRU faculty and staff this fall. Ten lucky participants in each session will be selected to receive a copy of Stella's book, The Work Happiness Method! Click on the session titles below to learn more and register.

How to Stay Sane, Resilient, and Optimistic...No Matter What

Even when things are chaotic and we feel exhausted, the good news is that each of us has more control than we think. By using simple evidence-based techniques, we can bolster our moods, develop stronger relationships, create more meaning at work, and achieve more. Learn how to set yourself up for fulfillment and success no matter what comes your way or who you’re dealing with. Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 12:30-1:30 pm

Return, Reset, Revive: An Anti-Grind Approach to Reclaim Your Energy and Purpose

In a world that never slows down, it’s easy to feel like you’re just going through the motions—distracted, disconnected, and drained. If you’ve ever felt lost in the swirl of uncertainty or stuck in the never-ending cycle of “doing,” this session is your invitation to step back, recalibrate, and reclaim your power. Stella will share tools to help you ignite a deeper sense of clarity, confidence, and joy. Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 12:30-1:30 pm

Feel, Don't Fix: How to Attune to Foster Respect and Connection

In an era of constant change and emotional overload, many professionals are conditioned to respond to others' distress with strategies, tools, and solutions. But what if the most transformative move isn’t to fix another's problem immediately—but to feel with the person? This interactive session introduces the overlooked communication skill of attunement—the ability to be present with someone’s emotional state in a way that fosters connection, clarity, and commitment. Lisa Zigarmi, MAPP will co-present with Stella. Thursday, Nov. 6, from 12:30-1:30 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 15

12:30-1:30 pm via Zoom

NEW! How to Thrive: An Introduction to Strengths & Psychological Safety

Research indicates that strong relationships and human connection are core to our health, happiness, and productivity. During this session, we will look at the research behind connection in our lives and investigate the concepts of flourishing and psychological safety, with the goal of supporting relationships for team success.

This interactive session will include time for individual reflections and small group work. Participants will use the VIA model of strengths to consider the unique tendencies they bring to a team, build awareness of psychological safety and how to build it, and set solid intentions for utilizing new skills. The team from Connection Labs will present this session.

Wrapping up the 2025 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, 2025, to ensure you receive 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, as eligible programs last for multiple weeks. Scroll to the end of this newsletter for ideas. Don't leave your $100-$200 on the table!

If you plan to use a university Benelect medical plan next year and want to earn incentives in 2026, make sure you also complete your three Wellness Activities by Nov. 30 (Health Risk Assessment via WebMD plus at least two of these four options in HCM: Primary Care Provider Attestation Form, Biometric Screening Attestation Form, Dental Check-up and/or Cancer Screening Attestation Form, Tobacco Attestation Form).

Treat Yourself to a Chair Massage

A chair massage can help relax and loosen sore muscles, as well as reduce stress, tension, and anxiety. Experience these benefits and more by treating yourself to a chair massage this month.

Thursday, Oct. 9, from 1:30-4:30 pm in Thwing Center 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 reserve your slot and pay via the link to the right. Enjoy!

Expressions of Care:

Join us for Weekly Well-being Breaks

Registration is still open for our Weekly Well-being Breaks! Part of the university's Expressions of Care initiative, these 30-minute Zoom sessions provide faculty and staff with the opportunity to focus on their well-being through self-care activities such as relaxation, mindfulness, movement, and stretching — helping them maintain their well-being during our current chaotic and stressful times. Register for the Tuesday and/or Wednesday sessions and participate on whichever dates you are available to attend.

Tranquil Tuesdays

9-9:30 am via Zoom

9/30, 10/14, 10/28, 11/11, 11/25, 12/9

Wellness Wednesdays

3-3:30 pm via Zoom

10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19, 12/3, 12/17

Learn more about the flu shot clinics

Flu Shots Available on Campus

Flu vaccinations are offered each fall through University Health & Counseling Services, the FPB School of Nursing, and the University Wellness Program. 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 at the Tinkham Veale University Center and Health Education Campus. Follow the link to the left to view dates, times and locations for the clinics. All clinic dates are available to faculty, staff, and students - all of whom can receive a flu vaccination at no cost.

Community Well-being: Crafters@Case

Crafters@Case brings together a diverse group of staff, faculty, and students from across the university to create handmade donations in support of local community organizations. Groups currently meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays via Zoom. Everyone is welcome regardless of skill level. Participation in Crafters@Case contributes to community well-being at CWRU and in greater Cleveland, and employees can earn $100 for participating.

To qualify for the Community Well-being Program Incentive, you must participate in the group for at least 30 minutes, twice a week, over a minimum of 7 weeks, plus donate at least one crafted item this year for the group’s chosen charity. With questions, email Tanya Smith at tdc9@case.edu and/or Sheila Campbell at smc26@case.edu.

Earn Incentives with On-Demand Courses

Did you know that the Wellness Program records the sessions for most of our programs? We post the recordings on our website, and they are retained for 150 days, which means that recordings from our summer programs are still available. You can also view recordings from our fall series that are currently in progress. Browse recordings by category on the Wellness website. Read the guidelines at the top of each category page to ensure you are meeting the incentive requirements before attesting to program completion in HCM (due by Nov. 30).

Another on-demand option for earning a Wellness Program Incentive is completing a multi-week course through Avidon Health. Our partners at Avidon Health have made it easier than ever to determine which courses are eligible. Login and click on the section labeled "Incentivized Courses" from the homepage. Visit our Avidon Health page to learn how to access the site.

Lastly, while our fall Physical Activity classes are already underway, you can still join a class by request! You can use the recordings for any Zoom-based classes, but if you want to attend the live Zoom sessions and/or start attending in-person classes, reach out to Deanna at dxd516@case.edu. Please note that there is a 12-week participation minimum for earning an incentive in the Physical Activity category, so you would need to already be exercising consistently on your own in order to qualify for that particular incentive by the Nov. 30 deadline.

Wellness Sessions with the

Professional Development Center

The Wellness Program has partnered with the Professional Development Center to bring you several training opportunities this fall. Please join us for the following Zoom sessions.

Individual Strategies to Recognize & Prevent Burnout

Wednesday, October 8, from 10:30 - 11:30am

Navigating the Impact of Burnout on Organizations

Wednesday, October 22, from 10:30 - 11:30am

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