Category: Social Wellness

Social Wellness is the ability to relate and connect with other people in our world. Our ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with family, friends and co-workers contributes to our Social Wellness

UREC Spring Group Fitness Schedule

The birds are singing and spring is coming!  Check out the fun group fitness classes at UREC this spring: https://www.uwgb.edu/university-recreation/fitness/group-fitness/class-schedule/ 

Join us in the Kress over your lunch break (12:15 – 12:45 pm) for Yoga with Alex Wandersee or Zumba® with Kristy Aoki, or check out Relaxation Yoga at 8 pm!  You can register for classes on the new UREC app or online, and login under “UWGB Credentials” with your UWGB email and password.

Random Acts of Kindness Week: February 13-19

Did you know this week is Random Acts of Kindness Week?  According to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, “There are scientifically proven benefits of being kind.  The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to ‘pay it forward.’ This means one good deed in a crowded area can create a domino effect and improve the day for dozens of people!  This month celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week and reap some of those benefits for your team.”

The kindness calendars provide many easy, practical and effective ideas for improving your wellness as well as those around you, and there is a new idea each day of the year!  We still have some calendars left, so just email wellness@uwgb.edu if you would like one sent to you.  If you prefer an online calendar, or just want to check it out, click here to view the calendar online.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
~ Leo Buscaglia

Kindness Calendars Available

UW-Green Bay has received 100 full-size 2022 Kindness Calendars as part of UW-System’s wellness initiative!  Each day includes an activity/thought/suggestion to help improve your life.

  1. Please email wellness@uwgb.edu to request a calendar and we’ll send you one!
  2. Complete and check off at least 21 of the activities.
  3. Complete this survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ESA2022) to receive your code.
  4. Enter that code on the Rewards tab at https://webmdhealth.com/wellwisconsin/ under “My Reward” and “Employer Sponsored Activity” before October 14, 2022.  This would take care of the “Activity” step to get your $150 wellness incentive!

If you have any questions, please email wellness@uwgb.edu.

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud”
~ Maya Angelou

December Wellness Challenge: Gratitude

People who regularly practice gratitude tend to live healthier, happier lives. Gratitude is like a muscle — the more you practice it, the more your gratefulness will grow. This month participate in our 12 Days of Gratitude challenge and explore all the benefits of practicing gratitude!

Please email wellness@uwgb.edu after you have completed all 12 days, and receive a wellness prize!

Fall in love with the life you already have.

Upcoming Community Wellness Events

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Saturday, September 25th at Lambeau in Green Bay

Click here to join UWGB employee, Bobbie Webster’s team

Earth Miles 4 Maywood

Month of September in Sheboygan

Click here to join the UWGB team.

Bellin Women’s Half Marathon 

Saturday, October 2nd in Green Bay; race ending at City Deck

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Interested?

  • Go to bellinwomenshalf.com and click on Volunteer
  • Race Course Marshals* are greatest need – each corner requires 1 volunteer age 16 or older, but age 12-16 can be a 2nd volunteer
  • Shifts last from 30 minutes to 3 hours

*Race course marshals are stationed on street corners without high traffic throughout the course to make sure vehicles do not cross or drive on to course.  Major intersections are manned by public safety.

July Well Wisconsin Challenge – Summer Bucket List

Fill your bucket this summer by doing things that feel good to you! Our Summer Bucket List Challenge has some great ideas or create your own. Set a goal and then get to fillin’ your bucket!

Track your fun for 30 days by checking 10 days off your bucket list. Click here for the form. Email your completed form to wellness@uwgb.edu.  

Treat yo’ self!

Self-care

  • Stargaze—contemplate just how amazing life is
  • Use PTO to leave work early to do your own thing!
  • Enjoy a book or magazine at your favorite cafe
  • Tap in to your artistic side with sidewalk chalk
  • Take a nap or read in the warm shade
  • Say “no” to something that feels stressful
  • Say “yes!” to something fun and indulgent
  • Relax in the bath, pool, hot tub, lake—you choose
  • Sit outside, close your eyes, and just listen

I like to move it, move it!

Active living

  • Dance to music that moves you
  • Beat the heat—get up for an early morning walk/run
  • Start your day with yoga in the sunshine
  • Walk to do an errand or get a summer treat
  • Try a NEW activity—geocaching, paddle boarding, etc.
  • Grab a friend and go for a bike ride
  • Work in your garden or yard
  • Hand wash your car
  • Go for a hike and have a picnic

Get ‘er done!

Goals, productivity, professional development

  • Get rid of 25 items from your house
  • Organize a space—don’t forget before and after photos
  • Set one professional or personal goal for the summer
  • Don’t check work email when you are on vacation
  • Make an emergency/natural disaster plan with family
  • Aim for a no-waste week—reduce, reuse, recycle
  • Listen to a professional/personal development podcast
  • Read an article that will help you toward a goal
  • Plan a fall/winter vacation

Sunday—fun day!

Weekend ideas with friends and family

  • Go camping
  • Visit a museum—pose like an exhibit (pictures!)
  • Catch a summer blockbuster to escape the heat
  • Have fun with animals—zoo, aquarium, or your pet
  • Go to an outdoor concert, festival, fair or sports game
  • Try an outdoor ropes course or ziplining
  • Go to brunch or have a picnic in the park
  • Visit a pool, river, lake, or coast for a water adventure
  • Tour your local town or a new city you want to see

For the love of full bellies!

Food and drink

  • Make a healthy, cool summer treat—share the recipe!
  • Organize a progressive dinner with some neighbors
  • Enjoy a treat from an ice-cream truck
  • Make real homemade lemonade (no powdered stuff!)
  • Eat your favorite summer produce—savor every bite
  • Have a BBQ and snap a photo of the grill master
  • Try a cold summer soup recipe
  • Make fruit popsicles
  • Pick up fruits and veggies from a farmers’ market

You do you!

Create your own list

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Live Online Webinar: The Art of Active Listening

Tips on Understanding the Art of Active Listening

We often spend most of our communication energy trying to get our point across and feel understood and heard by others. Challenge yourself to really listen to others and see if you notice a shift and improvement in your relationships.

What is active listening? Active listening is the act of truly taking in what someone else is saying with full attention. The purpose is to genuinely try to understand the speaker. This seemingly simple act alone can improve personal and work relationships.

Components of active listening include the following:

  • Setting aside judgement
  • Refraining from interrupting, cutting the speaker off, or jumping to conclusions
  • Remain focused – make eye contact, lean in, use open body language
  • Repeat or paraphrase what the speaker said to check for understanding
  • Ask clarifying questions

In conversations, we often skip the listening step and jump directly to labeling someone’s intentions, fix the situation or problem solve. Often the speaker just wants to get something across and feel heard. Being an active listener takes patience and practice, and the benefit of improved relationships can be worth the effort. Are you interested in improving your communications with others? Contact your EAP today for help.

Click here to register for The Art of Active Listening

Or visit sowi.MyLifeExpert.com.