Emotional Wellness – Page 12

Enjoy a Cup of Chamomile Tea Before Heading to Bed

Can’t seem to fall asleep? There are a variety of things you can do to make sleep come more easily, such as keeping your bedroom cool and dark, forgoing caffeine in the evening, and avoiding strenuous exercise immediately before bed. Often, however, we don’t give ourselves enough time to transition from the busyness of the day to preparations for sleep. A relaxing wind-down routine can make that shift easier.

Today, why not create your own sleep-inducing routine by making a cup of chamomile tea an hour before bedtime? Chamomile has long been used as a sleep aid, and it may help you relax and prepare for sleep. Look for it at your grocery store in the herbal tea section. Simply brew, sip, and relax. Your “sit and sip” time may become a relaxing ritual you look forward to every night.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC.

8 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Exercise

You know that exercise is important, but there are plenty of times you may not feel up to it. Here are eight ways to stay motivated to stick with your exercise program. Try at least one of these tips today. You’ll be glad you did!

Choose activities you enjoy. Hate running? Don’t do it! Maybe you prefer walking around your neighborhood in the evening or taking an exercise class at the gym after work. If you enjoy the activity, you’re more likely to stick with it.
Get others to join you. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or coworker, you can encourage each other to get out there and exercise even on days when you don’t feel like it.
Do 10 minutes at a time. If fitting 30 minutes of exercise into your day feels too daunting, aim for two or three 10- to 15-minute bouts of activity.
Plug it into your calendar. Schedule exercise sessions just like you would any other important event in your week.
Focus on how you’ll feel afterward. Think about how much better you’ll feel, how much more energy you’ll have, and how glad you’ll be that you did it.
Set goals. Do you want to lose weight? Run your first 5K? Get clear about your goal and create a plan for achieving it. Thinking about your goal can encourage you to exercise even when the couch is calling your name.
Track your progress. Once you identify your goals, keep track of your achievements along the way. Seeing your progress can inspire you to keep going.
Celebrate your success. Plan a reward for achieving milestones in your fitness journey. Choose non-food-related prizes, such as a new item of clothing, a pedicure, a night out with friends, or concert tickets.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Get energized in the morning today!

Sure, an endless pot of delicious hot coffee can give you a morning jolt. But there are other ways to wake up raring to go. Try one for a more energized start to your day:

Say no to the snooze button. Those five extra minutes of sleep aren’t going to be restorative ones. Set your alarm for the time you actually need to get up.
Let the light in. Open your curtains or turn on the lights as soon as you awake. It’ll signal your body to stop producing melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep.
Put your sneakers on. Physical activity gets your blood flowing and ups your endorphins for a morning mood boost. Take the dog for a stroll, do an exercise DVD, or walk your kids to school.
Eat a healthy breakfast. You won’t be dragging after a fruit-and-Greek-yogurt smoothie, a vegetable omelet, or wheat toast topped with peanut butter and banana.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Start Prioritizing Your Tasks

It’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed by your day-to-day life. And if you’re like most people, one of your big stressors is work. In fact, according to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, work is the second biggest stressor for most people (money being the first).

Even if you love your job, there are probably days when it’s challenging. One of the easiest ways to combat stress at work is to get organized. Take a few minutes at the beginning of each day to determine your priorities—the tasks you must accomplish before work is over for the day. List them in order of importance, and plan how you’ll get them done. Check each task off the list as you complete it, and you’ll feel less stress—not to mention a greater sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Listen to a sleep podcast today

We’ve all been there—nodding off during a slow movie or a particularly long meeting. It’s no secret that boredom can help induce sleep, even at inconvenient times. So if you have trouble dropping off, why not try the latest in fall-asleep strategies and listen to a sleep-inducing podcast? The aural opposite of a page-turner, these podcasts are typically dull in subject matter and delivery. The idea is that listening to a boring subject distracts your brain from the things you might ordinarily be thinking of, letting you relax into sleep. Search for “sleep podcast” to find lots of options. Listen to one tonight, and you may find that the next thing you know, it’s morning!

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Annual Benefits & Wellness Fair

Mark your calendar to attend the Annual UW-Green Bay Employee Benefits & Wellness Fair!

When: Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Time: 11:30 am to 2:00 pm

Where: University Union Phoenix Rooms

Please stop by to talk with vendors about your benefits and wellness, help yourself to some refreshments and goodies, and get helpful information as you consider options for the annual It’s Your Choice benefit enrollment period. This year’s annual benefits enrollment period is October 1st – 26th. There will also be a flu shot clinic during the fair.

Representatives from the following organizations will be looking forward to talking with you during the fair: Aging & Disability Resource Center, Aurora, Chartwells, Cornerstone Chiropractic, UWGB Counseling & Health Services, Curative Connections, Dean Health, Delta Dental, Edvest College Savings Plan, Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), Fidelity, Foundation Chiropractic, Green Bay Custom Health, Herb Blue’s Total Self Defense, Kress Events Center, Massage Envy, Navitus, Network Health, UWGB Public Safety, Rediscover Yourself Energy Sound Healing, Reflexology, Robin with HealthPartners, Securian Life Insurance, Social Security, StayWell, T. Rowe Price, TASC, TIAA-CREF, United Health Care, Unity Hospice, UW-Credit Union, VSP, WEA Trust, UWGB Wellness Committee, Wisconsin Deferred Compensation, YMCA Green Bay, and Zurich.

Questions? Please contact us at payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390.

9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

Thanks to all who helped and participated in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb on Tuesday, September 11th. About 35 students, employees, community members, area protective services representatives, and members of the military walked the stairs from the 2nd to 8th floor of the Cofrin Library.

Thank you to Tony Decker and Dave Jones of Public Safety, as well as representatives of UWGB ROTC and Vets 4 Vets for sharing military and protective services items for display, being on hand during the event, and putting up the posters on each level which served as a poignant reminder. Thank you also to Elaina Koltz and Lisa Schmelzer for handing out flag pins and providing encouragement to walkers, and to the Wellness Committee for providing refreshments.