Jumpstart your wellness, spark your curiosity and connect with your community!
This October there is something for everyone with challenges that boost your health and fitness, to educational webinars and in-person opportunities to connect. You can power up with plant-based meals, challenge your fitness, explore fall foliage and learn new strategies to support your wellbeing.
Here is what is in store:
- Challenges: There are two challenges this month, a Plant Powered Challenge or “FITober” Challenge.
- Quiz Yourself: Test Your plant power with the Veg Out: Plant-Based Food Quiz.
- Join a Guided Walk: Gather for a Fall Foliage Walk across campus.
- Flu Vaccine Clinics: Free flu and COVID vaccines are available to all Syracuse University faculty and staff, administered by Wegmans Pharmacy staff.
October is Women’s Health Month, the collection of resources includes books, articles and podcasts!
Plant Powered Challenge
Eating more plant-based foods can positively impact your health and the planet. This challenge is focused on eating more plant-based foods, all month long!
What’s included? A month-long daily printable daily challenge calendar and weekly emails on Fridays, starting Oct. 3.
Sign up for the Plant Powered Challenge!
“FITober” Challenge
Rise to the occasion, boost your strength and fitness one day at a time! Starting on Oct. 10, receive a weekly email with a daily fitness challenges designed by Syracuse University strength and conditioning coach, Tracy (Stankavage) Smith!
Plus, the option to join weekly virtual sessions on Mondays at 12:30 p.m., led by Smith.
What’s included?
- Weekly email on Fridays with your “FITober” challenge for the week ahead on Oct. 10, Oct. 17, Oct. 24 and a wrap-up on Oct. 31
- Option to join weekly virtual sessions led on Mondays, Oct. 13, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27
- Access to the “FITober” channel on the Wellness Initiative Teams group for video tips from Smith and bonus motivation
Sign up for the “FITober” Challenge!
Fall Foliage Walk
Join the Syracuse University grounds manager, Joe Quarantillo, for a guided autumn walk to enjoy the vibrant colors of the season!
Tuesday, Oct. 21*
1-2 p.m.
This will start with a meet up at the Schine Underground (Schine Student Center) for a welcome from Alex Dietrich, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer and a cup of warm cider or tea.
*Please note, this is a date change from the originally scheduled Oct. 30
Sign up for the Fall Foliage Walk!
Veg Out: Plant-Based Quiz
Put your plant power to the test with this 10-question quiz that dives into the world of plant-based eating and all the delicious ways plants fuel our bodies!
Complete by Friday, Oct. 31, to be entered for a chance to win a kitchen gadget prize pack.
Take the Veg Out: Plant-Based Quiz today!
Flu Vaccine Clinics and Blood Pressure Screening
Free flu vaccines to all Syracuse University faculty and staff, administered by Wegmans Pharmacy staff.
Flu vaccine details: The vaccine being offered is the trivalent flu vaccine*, protective against three strains of the influenza virus. The trivalent flu vaccine is preservative free; there will also be limited doses of the egg-free vaccine and senior (65+) vaccine.
*Additional information on the trivalent flu vaccine can be found on the CDC’s website.
New! In addition to flu vaccines, complimentary blood pressure screening is also being offered to registered participants and will be administered by Wegmans Pharmacy staff.
What about COVID vaccines? At this time, COVID vaccines are planned to be available at the on-campus flu vaccine clinics.
Flu Vaccine Clinics:
- Thursday, Oct. 2, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Skybarn
- Wednesday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-2p.m., Whitman, Milton Room
- Thursday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 500 Hall of Languages
Scheduling
- Appointments are recommended and walk-ins will be accommodated as available*. All scheduling of flu vaccine appointments is done via the Wegmans scheduling tool. Follow the steps in the scheduling tool and when prompted to find locations nearest to you, use the zip code 13244.
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If have questions about the campus vaccine clinics or if you need accommodations to schedule your appointment, please contact the Wellness Initiative.
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If you have questions about your scheduled appointment, contact Wegmans Pharmacy at 315.698.6730.
*Appointments will become available in the Wegmans scheduling tool 30 days prior to the scheduled flu vaccine clinic date.
Lunch and Learn with Dr. Campbell
Foods that Energize: Eating your way to a healthy weight and balanced blood sugar levels
Thursday, Nov. 6
noon-1 p.m.
304ABC Schine Student Center
Within the context of different dietary options, Dr. Campbell will discuss his research showing how to achieve rapid and powerful health improvements with a plant-based approach. Attendees will hear about research results showing that by choosing different foods, people can achieve rapid and large improvements in blood sugar control, move towards a healthier weight, and significantly reduce blood cholesterol levels, protecting health and wellbeing as much as possible for years to come.
Learn more about Thomas M. Campbell II, MD.
Register for Foods that Energize by Oct. 29!
Workshop and Webinar Lineup
Join us for workshops and webinars from experts at Carebridge, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and more! Plus, check out the “In Case You Missed It!” section below for on-demand webinars from the archive.
Take back control of the clock with innovative productivity tips to thrive at work and at home.
Presented by Carebridge Expert
Tuesday, Oct. 14
2 p.m.
Register for Maximize Hours in Your Day
Are you wishing you had more time in your day to get everything done? Are you juggling multiple high priority tasks, and not sure where to start? This session will provide participants with practical information and strategies on ways to better manage their time, enabling them to plan, prioritize, and execute tasks more efficiently. Good time management practices support increased productivity and help to reduce stress, yielding a more supportive work-life balance.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify timewasters/distractions
- Plan and prioritize tasks
- Understand procrastination and how to avoid it
- Implement ideas and strategies to manage time more effectively
Presented by: Pam Gavenda, Associate Director, Organizational Development and Training
Friday, Oct. 24
9 a.m.-11a.m.
Location North Campus
Register for Time Management
Whether you’re ready to embrace it or feeling uncertain, menopause is a natural stage every woman will experience. Menopause may feel like entering a new city without a map—unfamiliar, unexpected and sometimes unnoticed until you’re already through it.
This informative and empowering webinar will help you better understand menopause, navigate its changes and feel supported every step of the way. It will cover important topics including understanding the menopausal transition, common menopause symptoms, tips to help you cope with menopause symptoms, staying healthy during menopause and menopause and work.
Presented by Dr. Kathleen Robischon, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Wednesday, Oct. 19
noon-12:45 p.m.
Register for Navigating Menopause: Empowering Women Through Change
Interested in a simple wellness habit that can boost your mood, improve your sleep and help you manage stress? Gratitude journaling could be the perfect fit! Join this two-part virtual webinar series!
Presented by Tiffany Lord from Love & Asana
Mondays, Nov. 3 and Nov. 10
12:15 p.m.-12:45 p.m.
Nov 3: We’ll discuss the research-backed benefits of gratitude practice for your mental, emotional and physical health. Learn about five facets of gratitude and complete a quick self-inventory to get a baseline for each facet. Plus, pick up tips on creating a daily habit that fits your routine. End with a soothing meditation and journal prompt to observe how this practice resonates with you!
Nov 10: Check in on your daily gratitude journaling progress and self-inventory, share wins and ask for any additional support with integrating this habit into your routine. Enjoy another calming meditation and journal prompt to align with appreciation!
Register for Gratitude Journaling and Your Wellness
This suicide prevention training workshop is in partnership with the Barnes Center.
Data shows that approximately 21% of Syracuse University students report experiencing suicidal ideation. Effective suicide prevention relies on the entire campus community playing a role in fostering a culture of care and connection. One of the most powerful interventions we have is the simple act of checking in on those around us.
Campus Connect is an interactive training specifically developed for college and university communities. It aims to enhance participants’ knowledge, awareness, and skills in supporting students who may be in crisis. While it provides education about suicidal ideation and crisis response, it places strong emphasis on:
- Empathic listening
- Direct and compassionate communication
- Understanding one’s own emotional responses
- Strengthening referral and support pathways
This training prepares participants to respond to students experiencing a range of emotional crises but also equips them with the tools and knowledge to play a key role in our campus-wide mental wellness and suicide prevention efforts.
Thursday, Nov. 13
3-4:30 p.m.
Barnes Center 309
Presented by Melissa Parker, Counseling Clinical Director and Jess Dennison, Assistant Director in Health Promotion
Register for Suicide Prevention Training
Empathy on Empty (Source: Carebridge)
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield YouTube Page (Source: Excellus)
How to Keep Your Relationship Thriving (Source: Carebridge)
How to Support a Loved One with Mental Illness (Source: Carebridge)
Let’s Chat Immunizations (Source: Excellus)
Support for Mental Health and Substance Abuse (Source: Excellus)
Supporting a Loved One in Recovery (Source: Carebridge)
The Miracle of Movement (Source: Excellus)
The Value of Social Connections & Belonging (Source: Carebridge)
What is Self-Compassion and How Can We Practice It? (Source: Carebridge)