Happy Wednesday, CVM!!
Here’s this week’s roundup of resources! There are big things ahead, so in preparation, I hope you’re finding manageable ways to take care of your needs, enjoy yourselves, and support wellbeing for yourself and those around you! As we navigate challenges big and small, the care that we invest in ourselves helps us to persevere and find our way through. I hope this week’s list helps you carve out some room for Wellbeing this week – there are plenty of links to quick reads and no-fuss resources. As always, I welcome your feedback, thoughts, concerns, ideas, and input!
SOCIAL
Zoom: Let’s be real, many of us might be experiencing a love-hate relationship with the popular video conferencing service right now. On one hand, the technology has been tremendously beneficial in helping us adapt to the need for social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, Zoom Fatigue is real, y’all! If you’ve been feeling a bit “zoomed out” lately, this article from the Harvard Business Review helps us understand why, and offers tips for reducing Zoom fatigue that are worth taking a look at. I’ve also found it helpful to think about the ways we bring human connection into our Zoom meetings. Sheri Renno recently mentioned to me that she had noticed that there’s a lot of waving at the end of Zoom meetings… She said she had wondered, we don’t do that in person, so why in Zoom? As it turns out, there are reasons for this phenomenon that have to do with our ability to adapt communication skills and social cues when the practices we’re used to are unavailable to us. When you think about it, it’s kind of amazing that as humans, our natural need for certain social patterns will find a way. It reminds us of our social resilience and inherent drive to maintain social connection. So as we Zoom on into Winter, keep an eye out for those social gestures that keep us connected – taking a moment now and then to appreciate our ability to adapt and stay connected might be a small help in keeping your relationship with Zoom a healthy one. After all, it doesn’t look like we’re breaking up anytime soon. 🙂
PHYSICAL
As daylight savings time has ended and we approach the end of the semester and coming winter, some of us might find ourselves turning to those festive treats (that are so plentiful this time of year) and overindulging as a result of the stress of the season. It might help to plan ahead a bit this year for healthy strategies to mitigate stress, such as meditation, exercise and socializing. But also perhaps a “Nutritional Tune-Up” is in order before we head into the season of winter indulgence. Integrative medicine suggests that certain nutrients and foods can help with managing stress levels. Other experts say that research linking food to stress management is limited, but stress that our bodies do need enough of certain nutrients to function properly. If you’re experiencing high levels of stress lately, it may be worth taking a moment to reflect on your recent eating habits. If you’re short time, bandwidth or motivation, peruse these snack and meal ideas for a bit of inspiration. If you’ve got a healthy go-to (for me, it’s having a mid-afternoon apple or orange for a bit of an energy boost to finish the day strong!) think about stocking up now if you have a busy week coming (ahem, exams!) Look for nutrient rich options and take it easy on the sugar and caffeine. Now’s a good time to think ahead a few weeks – a little preparation and nutritional self-care before going into a hectic time can go a long way!
EMOTIONAL/MENTAL
CULTURAL
The Council on the Status of Women’s Sisterhood Celebration committee is seeking students, staff, faculty and alum to speak to the challenges faced since February 2020. These 5-minute “TED Talk” style segments will allow for members of the campus community to share their stories, and provide a place to start as we rethink normal in a shared space. Community Story submissions are being accepted thru December 6th. 3 – 4 selected stories will be chosen and shown during this year’s virtual Sisterhood Celebration. Members of the community who identify as women can submit stories here: Sisterhood Celebration: Call for Community Stories Submission Form. If you have any questions, please contact the planning team at sisterhooddinner@ncsu.edu For more information about the Sisterhood Celebration theme or the call for Community Stories please visit go.ncsu.edu/sisterhood
The African American Cultural Center invites you to tell your truth and explore new ways of thinking about Black experiences during our Kuumba Storytelling and Coffee Hour on November 11 at 7:30 pm over Zoom. This event is part of our Kwanzaa celebration and is open to all members of the NC State community! You can register to tell your story here, and click here for Zoom registration.
CAREER
Sometimes when we’ve got a lot on our plates, we suddenly realize, “I could use some skills to better handle (x)” or “I ought to see if there is a professional development opportunity for (y)”… If ideas like these come to mind, but there’s no time right now, I encourage you to keep a Professional Development Wish List so you can keep track of areas you want to grow your skills and your career path. When you’re ready, chances are, and opportunity is available to you! NC State students, faculty and staff have access to LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com). You can learn how to access these resources for free here: https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/faq/how-do-i-access-linkedin-learning-nc-state-community-member
FINANCIAL
If you are looking to sharpen your financial savvy, but could use a diversion right now, check out Five Money Musts, and interactive game from Fidelity, that was recommended by CVM’s very own Andrew Rotz. It’s a good way to test your ability to make financial decisions, and learn where you might need to hone in on a better strategy. Game on!
ENVIRONMENTAL
Did you know that Raleigh has a Greenway system with more than 100 miles of trails to explore? In 1969, the City of Raleigh published the Raleigh Capital Improvement Plan, called “the park with a city in it,” in which a greenway system was proposed. You might have known that, but did you know that the actual plan for the Greenway was designed by a landscape architecture graduate student at NC State University, William L. Flournoy, Jr.? The unseasonably nice weather we’ve been having lately presents a great opportunity to hit the trails, relieve some stress, and take in the benefits of being in nature. A map of the greenway system can be viewed here, and for more information and a link to the Greenway App, visit the City Of Raleigh’s Website: https://raleighnc.gov/find-a-trail
Have a wonderful week ahead, everyone!
All the best,
Julia
Julia Rice
Director, CVM Wellbeing