Be Your Healthiest, Best Self in April
Join the 2025 Syracuse Workforce Run Team!Syracuse University is a proud participant in the 2025 Syracuse Workforce Run – an annual 5K that brings people together to promote health and exercise while supporting a great charity. Employees of all abilities and fitness levels are welcome and encouraged to participate in an evening of fun, movement and socializing with colleagues! This year’s event will be held on Tuesday, June 10. You must register by Tuesday, May 6 to receive your unisex performance-blend Syracuse University team T-shirt. |
Stress Awareness Month is an annual observance focused on increasing awareness of stress, its causes and strategies for effective management. This month offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on the impact of stress not only on our overall well-being but also on our cognitive functions, particularly executive functioning.
Introducing: Mindful Mondays (6-week series)
Are you mindful or mind full? In just 30 minutes you can develop skills to manage stress and enhance focus by tapping into mindfulness and wellness practices.
Session Flow:
- Affirmation: Begin with a positive statement to set the tone
- Meditation: Guided mindfulness meditation to center the mind
- Stretching/Movement: Gentle exercises suitable for a chair or mat to promote physical relaxation
- Journaling: Reflective writing (5 minutes) prompted by a specific question or theme
Join Karen Taylor Bass for Mindful Monday to learn practical tools to manage stress, improve focus and foster a positive work environment.
Mondays, April 7-May 12
Noon-12:30 p.m.
Webinar lineup
Take advantage of a variety of webinars focusing on shaking off stress and giving your brain the break it deserves.
The prefrontal cortex, often referred to as the “executive brain,” plays a crucial role in essential tasks such as decision-making, planning, working memory and self-regulation. When stress levels rise, these cognitive functions can become impaired, hindering our ability to think clearly, plan effectively and manage behavior. This can, in turn, impact our performance both personally and professionally.
Dr. Christine Tyrrell Baker will introduce you to the role that executive brain plays in your life. From attention, to regulating emotions, to performance, the prefrontal cortex plays a global role in coordinating your brain activities. Join Dr. Baker in this webinar to explore how your lifestyle choices impact your brain function.
Thursday, April 10
Noon-1 p.m.
Register for Give Your Brain the Edge
Stay tuned for part 2 in May—Give Your Brain the Edge: Neurofeedback 101!
Even the most empathic person can become so overwhelmed by the chronic stress associated with caregiving that negative attitudes start to take over. This concept is known as compassion fatigue.
Join Carebridge to explore the root causes and symptoms of compassion fatigue as well as provide strategies for overcoming it.
Tuesday, April 15
Noon-12:45 p.m.
Self-compassion is a powerful tool when it comes to managing stress. Instead of being hard on ourselves during tough times, practicing self-compassion allows us to respond with kindness and understanding; our thoughts and how we speak to ourselves matter.
Join Carebridge to explore how to incorporate self-compassion to reduce stress and increase happiness.
Thursday, April 17
2-3 p.m.
Register for What is Self-Compassion & How Can You Practice It?
Stress, anxiety and burnout are increasingly common in today’s fast-paced work environment, but they don’t have to be overwhelming.
Join Excellus BCBS for this workshop to learn effective strategies to build resiliency, you can navigate stress more easily and ward off burnout altogether.
Thursday, April 24
Noon-1 p.m.
Register for Building Resiliency to Manage Life’s Curveballs
Step Up Challenge: Get Moving, Have Fun, Win Prizes!
Get ready to step into action with this department-led steps challenge! Form your teams, sync up your StepUp Pedometer App and let the friendly competition begin! StepUp works with just your phone in your pocket. or you can easily synch wearables.
How it works:
- Form your team: Gather your team (there is no maximum or minimum). Have one person from your department will create your team ao compete in the challenge. Each team member will track their steps using the Step Up Pedometer App.
- Weekly prizes: Every week, there will an opportunity to win team prizes. At the end of the challenge, the team with the highest steps (based on the average number of steps per team member) will score the Step Up grand prize, so keep those feet moving!
- Leaderboard & banter: Join the Step Up Teams Group to share your progress, cheer each other on and have a little fun with some lighthearted banter. Who’s in the lead this week? Who’s a little behind? Let’s see those step counts climb!
This is all about fun, fitness and a little bit of friendly rivalry. So grab your sneakers, step it up and let’s see which department can take the lead!
Are you ready to Step Up? Let’s do this!
Nature and Happiness Quiz
Research indicates a strong link between nature and happiness, with exposure to nature and a sense of connection to it associated with increased well-being, reduced stress and improved mental health.
Take this month’s the quiz by Friday, April 25 to be entered to win a portable JBL speaker!