Category: Intellectual Wellness

Intellectual wellness is the ability to open our minds to new ideas and experiences that can be applied to personal decisions, group interaction and community betterment. The desire to learn new concepts, improve skills and seek challenges in pursuit of lifelong learning.

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.

Tea

Healthy Heart Challenge

WordCloudWhite

When: Friday, February 8, 2019 to Friday, March 1, 2019

Where: Manitowoc, Marinette, Sheboygan & Green Bay campuses

Kick Off: Healthy Heart Lunch ‘n Learn at 12:00 to 12:45 pm on February 8th in the Alumni Room of the Union at Green Bay (you can still participate in the challenge if you don’t attend the lunch ‘n learn)

What: Walk around campus, find the AED’s (Automated External Defibrillator), unscramble the heart health-related word posted next to the AED, and write it on your worksheet.  Get as many words as you can by Friday, March 1st, and then scan and email your worksheet to wellness@uwgb.edu by Friday, March 8th and you will be entered in a drawing for a wellness prize!  The more words you find, the more times your name is entered in the drawing!

Resources:

Questions?  Please contact us at wellness@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2203.

Ask your co-workers to take a walk with you and help each other unscramble the words!

Start Prioritizing Your Tasks

ToDoListIt’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

Write out Your Gratitude Today

Man writing in a journal.Mom was right—don’t forget to count your blessings. When you focus on the good things in your life, your upbeat attitude helps fight stress and depression. Research shows that practicing gratitude may also improve your social life and enhance your physical health.

One way to do it? Keeping a gratitude journal. Start tonight. You could try it every day for a month, or jot down an entry once a week—whatever’s easiest to maintain. Simply write a list of several things for which you’re grateful. In studies, when people made such lists on a regular basis, they tended to feel happier. Some were also less bothered by illness symptoms.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Well Wisconsin Webinar – Managing Time, Managing Stress

What better season to talk about stress and time management than around the holidays? Stop feeling excess pressure, anxiety, and stress, and be in control of your life with ideas you can implement now. It’s about you this holiday season.

Learn about:ThanksgivingBusy

  • The effects of long term stress on our health
  • Stress and time management techniques
  • How to manage holiday stress

Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2018

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

Location: Cofrin Library, 7th floor, room 735

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 Wellness 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.

 

Flip Around Your Mattress Today for Better Sleep Tonight

Bed

Most manufacturers recommend flipping and rotating your mattress every so often in order for it to last its full life expectancy, but you’re not alone if you tend to skip this chore. Tonight is the night. If you want to sleep better, don’t put it off any longer. You deserve to rest on a mattress that’s comfortable and supportive.

Newer mattresses only have one “sleeping side,” so there’s no need to flip them over. But rotating your mattress on a regular schedule is just as important. You should rotate your mattress every three months. And don’t forget your box spring. It should be rotated, not flipped, every six months. You may just find that new spot on the mattress is just what you needed for a better night’s sleep.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Summer Yoga Challenge Wraps Up

This summer, 12 employees completed the Yoga Challenge by attending free yoga classes at the Kress Events Center over the lunch hour. Thank you to Alex Reichenberger, Fitness Coordinator (and excellent Yoga Instructor!) at the Kress, for coordinating this challenge!  The employees who completed this challenge will select an incentive prize, compliments of the Department of Employee Trust Funds wellness grant!

Do you have any ideas for another Wellness Challenge?  Please email wellness@uwgb.edu with your ideas or comments.

Yoga

Tense up to relax today

Stress is often written all over your body: Your brow is furrowed, your lips are pursed, your shoulders are up by your ears, and your back is hunched. Using a method called progressive relaxation helps release tension throughout your body, inducing a more relaxed state. You can practice this technique by tensing one muscle group at a time for ten seconds and then letting it go. If you’re pressed for time, try this quickie version that tackles all muscle groups at once today:

  • Sit or lie comfortably.
  • Clench both fists, bend both arms, tense your biceps and legs, close your eyes, scrunch your face, bring your shoulders up to your ears and tense your stomach muscles.
  • Hold for about five seconds and then release, letting go of the tension and allowing all of your muscles to go limp.

As you do this, keep the idea of relaxation in the forefront of your mind.

Rely on friends. Make sure you have a strong support system of friends and family who can help you when you’re stressed. Talking with someone you trust about your stress can help you work through it. Without the support of others, stress can be even worse.

Remember, you can’t tackle everything at once. If you take things one task at a time, one day at a time, you’ll see progress and feel less stress.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Talking

Take a moment to look around and be inspired

LeavesMany of us spend a good amount of time on autopilot. If you’ve ever driven somewhere only to realize you don’t remember much of your trip, you know that it’s easy to “space out.” Making an effort to become more mindful can help you focus on what you’re experiencing in the moment.

The next time you feel overwhelmed or distracted today, take a few minutes to look around and notice things that inspire you. Maybe you’ll see a bush that’s fully in bloom, or a bright red cardinal against the leafy green of a tree. Maybe you’ll notice someone holding the door for a stranger or spot a person with a colorful or quirky fashion sense. Even your workplace has something you may find inspiring—a screensaver of a beautiful waterfall or the smile of a co-worker. A little inspiration can go a long way.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

 

Start Small with Self-Care Today

LaughTeaIf time is holding you back from self-care, start small. Schedule 20 minutes today for meditation, a mind-body practice that promotes calmness. All you need is a quiet location, a comfortable posture, your focused attention, and an open attitude. Once there, ask your body what it needs. An intense workout? A good laugh? Find the revitalization methods that work for you. Start by trying one of these techniques:

  • Write a gratitude list. Write down at least one thing each day that was good. Even if it’s as simple as getting out of work 20 minutes early, document it as something that enhanced your outlook.
  • Sing in the shower. Research suggests that singing promotes self-expression, stress reduction, better mental health, spirituality, and feelings of empowerment.
  • Schedule a phone date with a friend. Friends near and far make life more enjoyable and provide support in times of need. And just as you may need a friend to talk to, it can be equally rewarding to lend an ear.
  • Try laughter yoga. Laughter yoga combines yoga breathing exercises with laughter, which increases the level of oxygen in the brain and body. Participants report enhanced feelings of self-belief, positive energy, and distraction from negative thoughts.
  • Have herbal tea for dessert. A mug of unsweetened tea every night after dinner may be a nice way to unwind and relax without adding extra calories and sugar.
  • Breathe in essential oils. Aromatherapy uses essential oils to make you feel better physically and emotionally. Try peppermint or rosemary to boost your energy, chamomile to help you sleep, or lavender to reduce anxiety.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC