Category: Emotional Wellness

Emotional Wellness is the ability to understand ourselves and cope with the challenges life can bring. The ability to acknowledge and share feelings of anger, fear, sadness, or stress; hope, love, joy, and happiness in a productive manner contributes to our Emotional Wellness.

Let the Music Play, and Stress May go Away!

According to a recent study, such slow, meditative music can help your body relax. How?

  • Music can affect breathing, heart rate, and even emotions.relax and listen
  • When you turn on the tunes, make the most of them by getting in the right frame of mind.
  • Imagine something pleasant or relaxing when you listen. Or think of nothing at all.

This type of quiet reflection may help the troubles of the day melt away.

So today, set aside some time to pick out some meditative music for your next meditation session.

 

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Work on Key Projects When You’re Most Productive

The key to preventing stress is to find ways to reduce the stressors in your life and to counteract stress with activities that provide balance and peace of mind. Try this suggestion today to help you reduce and manage your stress.

reduce stress

At Work: Work on key projects when you’re most productive. If you’re a morning person, do your most challenging work before lunch. Do less stressful tasks, such as returning phone calls and filing, after lunch.

 

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Employee Assistance Program Webinars

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), administered by FEI, provides UW employees and members of their household with confidential resources to address personal and/or work-related concerns. EAP services are offered at no cost to employees.

The 2019 Monthly Webinar Series is open for registration. Click here for webinar information and registration.

 

August 2019 Webinar: Put Your Compensation to Work

Date and Time: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 – 11:00am to 12:00pm Central Daylight Time

Description: During benefits enrollment, it’s easy to make the same benefit choices as last year – but the easy way might not be the best way. Take full advantage of the employee benefits available to you by uncovering “hidden” compensation opportunities you may not know about.

 

September 2019 Webinar: The Effects of Loneliness and Social Isolation

Date and Time: Wednesday, September 18, 2019 – 11:00am to 12:00pm Central Daylight Time

Description: Did you know that most lonely individuals are married, live with others and are not clinically depressed? Join us to learn how loneliness and social isolation can impact our health and longevity. Using a brain science perspective, we’ll discuss the connection between loneliness and increased health risks including suicide.

 

Webinar Registration: Registration is required. Click here to register. Follow the individual links on each webinar for registration.  Note: Employees must attend a webinar on their own time or consult with their supervisor for approval to attend.

 

Source: UW System Human Resources

Consider Modifying Your Fitness Moves for a New Start

So you’ve decided to get in better shape. That’s great news! Exercising regularly is associated with a slew of health benefits, including reducing your risk for heart disease and many cancers. It also helps you maintain a healthy weight and improves your overall mental health.

If it’s been a while since you were active, though, you may want to modify some exercise moves at first. For example, the pushup is a great exercise for working several body parts at once. But it’s challenging for many people because it requires a lot of upper body and core strength. Instead of trying regular pushups, start with a modified version today: Do the pushups on your hands and knees instead of your hands and toes. As you get stronger, you can move up to traditional pushups. Look for other ways to safely modify moves—it’s better to do a modified exercise than nothing at all.Physical-Exercises

 

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Make a To-Do List Before Turning in at Night

Making a to-do list before bed every night is a great way to prioritize what you want to accomplish tomorrow. At the same time, it can help you relax and free your mind from thinking about tomorrow’s responsibilities. You can sleep easier knowing you’ll wake up feeling organized and in control of your day. Here’s how to make the most of your to-do list today:

th

 

  • Don’t overload your list by including more than you can get done in a day. This can cause you to feel overwhelmed before your head hits the pillow. Instead, list a maximum of five things you want to get done, in order of importance.
  • Make first things first. Do the first thing on your list as soon as you can in the morning, when you’re most fresh. Distractions are inevitable as the day progresses, so this way you’re sure to accomplish your highest priority item.
  • Use your list as a memory extender. Knowing you’ve listed and prioritized tomorrow’s needs gives you permission to forget about them tonight.

 

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Don’t Dwell on Guilt Today

Guilty feelings are common. But are they healthy? Sometimes guilt can motivate us to do better. Studies have shown that people who experience guilt are more likely to be proactive in solving a problem. They are also more likely to reassess the problem later, see how they may have contributed to it, and learn from it.

Guilt over something trivial, such as eating an extra dessert, guilt that turns into shame, feeling that you’re not good enough, or blaming yourself for something that’s not your fault can be harmful. Both can diminish self-esteem and lead to depression.

Here are some tips to help you start handling guilt today:

  • Learn from what’s making you feel guilty.
  • Don’t be too hard on yourself. You can’t be kind and understanding all the time.
  • If you’re troubled by chronic feelings of guilt, a counselor may help to sort out the contributing emotions and issues

 

Article from the StayWell Company, LLCopportunity-road-sign-wooden-shining-blue-sky-background-47231617

30-Day Challenges

Looking for a challenge this summer?  Check out these 30 day challenges created by Alex Reichenberger, Fitness Coordinator!  These are posted on the Wellness website at: https://www.uwgb.edu/wellness-committee/challenges/30-day-challenges/

Planks Squats JumpingJacks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are enrolled in the state health insurance program, here are some other wellness challenges available on the StayWell website:

  • Million Steps Challenge
  • 21 Day Meditation Challenge
  • Sleep Well Challenge

MillionStepsChallenge 21dayMeditation

SleepWell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you haven’t already completed your 2019 Wellness Incentive Well-Being Activity, knock that out this summer!  Here is a list of the activity options: https://wellwisconsin.staywell.com/Programs/Activities/All-Webinars.aspx  (Deadline is October 11, 2019)

 

Treat Yourself Today!

Treat yourself to tea and bookcoffee or tea and a good book today. You read emails. You read text messages. You read the news. But have you read a good book lately? Reading for pleasure can be an escape from the stresses of everyday life, help keep your mind sharp, and even make you more likely to empathize with others.

So set aside a half-hour to curl up with a book. Grab a comforting cup of coffee or tea, too. Drinking black, green, or oolong tea can boost the body’s defense against disease, research says. Tea has also been linked to lower risk for heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and allergy symptoms. And coffee has been associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes. We’ll toast to that!

 

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Wellness Webinar: Practicing Self-Compassion

Many of us instinctively beat ourselves up for failing to meet our goals, but there is an alternative. Find out how self-compassion facilitates goal pursuit by helping us regulate our emotions and maintain our belief in our ability to change.

Join us to learn about:Heart shaped splash

  • What is self-compassion
  • How it helps us meet our goals
  • Misconceptions about self-compassion

Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Time: 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.

Location: Cofrin Library, 7th floor, room 710C

No need to RSVP – just mark your calendar to join us, and bring your lunch!

You could also participate in this webinar at your workstation if you prefer – please visit wellwisconsin.staywell.com and go to Webinars to register.

All webinars are recorded and available to Well Wisconsin Program participants on the StayWell wellness portal after the event date.

To access the StayWell wellness portal, you must be an employee, retiree, or spouse enrolled in the State of Wisconsin or Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Programs.