Health & Wellness News
UW-Madison Identity & Inclusion
February 2021
Be Healthy
Focus on your mental health, your physical health, and our communities’ health! Giving and sharing with others can also help our sense of well-being as we recognize what is truly important in life. Choose to do what works well for you, and possibly be inspired with what follows in this newsletter.
Wellness Events & Activities
Find many UW-Madison health and wellness events on UW-Madison’s wellness calendar.
What’s Next for COVID-19? Lessons Learned for 2021 and Preventing a Future Pandemic
Tuesday, February 23
4:30 – 5:30 PM CST
Global Health Institute Director Jonathan Patz, M.D., MPH, and Professor of Pathobiological Sciences Kristen Bernard, Ph.D., M.S., DVM, will join Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences Ajay Sethi, Ph.D., MHS, in a discussion about lessons learned from COVID-19 and preparing for the next pandemic. The panelists explore what’s been learned from the coronavirus epidemic and the challenges still facing the world and discuss what’s needed to prevent the next pandemic. Register here.
Meditation and Gratitude
Thursday, February 25
11 AM CST
Join Dekila Chungyalpa, Loka Initiative Director at the Center for Healthy Minds, for a virtual, live guided meditation focusing on giving gratitude, receiving resilience and practicing interdependence with nature. Free. Find out more here, and learn more about meditation here.
Workplace Workouts: Yoga/Functional Strength and Stretch with RecWell
Wednesday, March 3
11:30 AM – 12 PM CST
Take a break from your work day to get up and move! In Workplace Workouts, a personal trainer will lead 30-minute virtual lunchtime classes. You’ll learn exercises that can be done anywhere, with minimal equipment. All fitness levels and abilities are welcome, and you do not need to be a Rec Well member to participate. Free. Participate here.
Calling Badgers! Join RecWell for ‘Active Badger Day’
Thursday, March 4
All day
Each spring, Rec Well inspires Active Badgers everywhere to get up, get outside, and get moving. Inspired by National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day, it’s a full day of opportunities to play hard, get fit, and live well. Check out this schedule for more information.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit
March 11-12
Student Affairs will be presenting UW-Madison’s first Mental Health & Wellbeing Summit, featuring UHS, Rec Well, and the CHM. Keynote speaker Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, host of the podcast Therapy for Black Girls, is followed by a day of well-being workshops and activities. The event is geared toward students, but all are welcome.
Employee Well-Being Resources
Find much useful information at the employee well-being page. You will find monthly lunch and learns hosted by LifeMatters, campaigns (i.e. America Saves Week) and other opportunities.
Be Creative with Wheelhouse Studios
Join Wheelhouse Studios for open studio use, for virtual workshops and courses and more. Find out more here.
WedMD Well Wisconsin $150
How health coaching can help you earn $150
For University employees with State health insurance, you can check off the “well-being activity” portion of your Well Wisconsin incentive by completing three coaching sessions via phone call of online Coach Connect chats.
REMEMBER: You earn $150 by completing a well-being activity, a health assessment, and a health check. Visit webmdhealth.com/wellwisconsin for more details.
Articles
Looking to fix your sleep schedule?
Read “Overcoming Sleepless Nights” by UW-Madison student and RecWell writer Maddie Harrienger to understand how to better help your body sleep soundly and peacefully though the night.
Blood Donations
Donating much in demand to help others survive can be done easily. Visit redcrossblood.org and enter your zip code to sign up for a donation drive today.
Join the All of Us Research Programs Advancing Research
Join the All of Us Research Program to help advance medical research and improve the future of health in Wisconsin and beyond.
Financially Support Our Communities
Simply log-in at giving.wi.gov as UW, select DONATE NOW, see your last year’s giving, modify as you choose, and submit. Contributions will be accepted through March 15, 2021.
Incorporating Resilience into Teaching and Learning
“Today, I looked up resilient. It comes from the Latin word resilire: to leap back! Leap!” Find out more about revolutionizing your learning here courtesy of Global Learning Partners.
COVID-19 & Immunizations
Information about UW-Madison vaccine eligibility and other resources can be found at uhs.wisc.edu/medical/covid19vaccine. Checking with your physician’s office and local pharmacies is also recommended.
What is useful to know about COVID-19 vaccines? Read more about COVID-19 vaccines and variants here (courtesy of People’s Pharmacy).
Resources
- Take a virtual RecWell group exercise class, or try a new recipe with a loved one on Facetime or Zoom.
- Employee Assistance provides no cost confidential counseling and referral.
- The Office of Child Care and Family Resources provides one-on-one consultations in addition to many other resources to support your family during this time.
- LifeMatters, a free resource to UW-Madison employees
- The Center for Healthy Minds offers a free guided medication on appreciating friends and loved ones.
- Many more UW-Madison employee well-being resources are here and student resources are here.
- Here is a list of 10+ resources to assist students with mental health and well-being.
Safer Badgers App
Find the latest information, FAQs, and related campus messages on the COVID Response website.
Campus testing sites are drop-in.
Learn how to “pool your drool” and avoid a rejected saliva sample.
Eat Well
Chicken and Rice Soup With Celery, Parsley and Lemon
Chicken soup with rice: a combination so lovable, Maurice Sendak devoted a whole book to it. Ali Slagle has updated it with celery, parsley and a generous amount of lemon. Fast-cooking boneless thighs make it possible to pull together on a weeknight. View this recipe.
Credit: New York Times
Ditch the Vending Machine for These Healthy Desk Snacks
Health and Wellness News
Created by: Jim Rogers; co-editor: Kalli Anderson
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