jcrice3 – Page 4 – CVM Wellbeing Blog

Wellbeing Wins 2020

As we wrap up the end of our year, we’re going to look back and reflect on the Wellbeing Wins we had in 2020. We’d like to highlight the wins our community members had this year. If you have had a triumph this year in one of the 7 areas of wellbeing (Social, Cultural, Mental/Emotional, Career, Financial, Environmental), and would like to share it with the CVM community in the final newsletter for 2020, please submit it here! We’ll be collecting “wins” through December 14, 2020.

Think back on the triumphs (big or small) that you had this year in one of the 7 areas of wellbeing (Social, Cultural, Mental/Emotional, Career, Financial, Environmental). Sharing your progress will allow our community to celebrate with you, and may even inspire others in their goals for wellbeing!

Remember, we’re all about the growth mindset. For our purposes here, the little things count just as much the bigger victories. The idea is to collectively reflect, and celebrate the progress we made, in spite of a challenging year.

We’re looking to end the year acknowledging, appreciating and celebrating the good things that 2020 brought us, and reflect the wellbeing progress we can grow on next year.

Examples of Wellbeing Wins for this year might be:

Physical: I got back into basketball during the pandemic when I could no longer go to the gym
“Social: I finally learned how to use Facetime so that I could keep in touch with my grandkids, and now we have weekly visits!
Mental/Emotional: I read a book on mindfulness and really enjoyed it. I have started putting it into practice and notice a difference in how I feel!
Financial: I applied for and received a grant that will help me fund a research project I’m really passionate about
Cultural: I learned a lot about cultural differences through several discussion groups I took part in this Fall. I now have a better appreciation for why diversity matters.
Environmental: I got my kids set up at home with a special area for their online learning. It’s not the same as being in the classroom, but they are able to surround themselves with an environment dedicated to their learning that seems to be working for them.
Career: I got an offer for a great position after graduation that will allow me to continue in a specialty I’m really interested in!

Submit Your Wellbeing Win!

Questions? Email us at cvmwellbeing@ncsu.edu

Newsletters now up on the Blog!

The CVM Wellbeing blog was updated today with the CVM Wellbeing newsletters that have been sent out thus far this semester. Newsletters are sent directly to the CVM Community through the listservs.

We hope that having them here on the blog helps those who may not have as much time for email to catch up when they can – and for finding one of the newsletter items if you can’t remember which edition it was in! Enjoy.

Wellbeing Weekly – November 18, 2020

Happy Finals Week, All! Here’s your weekly resource roundup:

Social/Cultural/Emotional/Mental Wellbeing

This time of year, many look forward to celebrating holidays with family and friends – after a long and challenging year, we all need something to look forward to. However, with the steep rise in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, staying safe this holiday season will mean making adjustments to our traditions, practices and expectations of the holiday this year. The CDC provides extensive guidelines and measures to keep holiday gathering attendees safe, but the task of complying with these guidelines would take an incredibly coordinated effort, likely diminishing quality of time spent together, creating boatloads of stress, and missing the mark on the experience you were hoping for. Not to mention, any gathering poses serious risks this year – even if these measures are adhered to. It may be a good idea to seriously consider the risks – COVID exposure certainly, but also the mental and social stress involved in attending a holiday gathering this year.

For many of us, the thought of not being with loved ones during the holidays is a hard one to face. However, the holidays this year will be different no matter how you look at it – be mindful of your expectations and be open to new approaches this year. Take time to talk with your family, friends, housemates about alternative ways you might celebrate this year – come up with some new, creative and safe ways you can make your holiday season special in lieu of traditions that are just too risky this year. Choose three ways (within your control) that you can make it a meaningful holiday season for you. Document your holiday in a journal, scrapbook or through cell phone photos and videos. Identifying the positives and giving yourself things to look forward to will help you get through it. Think about how you’d like to look back on this holiday season someday – Would you regret taking the risks you’re considering if someone you love were to get sick? Or would a new approach create memories of new traditions, and a time of personal growth, resilience and joy in a difficult time? Discussing your feelings with family and friends may help you feel more assured in making responsible decisions this year – your positive outlook on doing things differently might help them feel better too.

If you’re celebrating in-person, it may be best to stick to doing so with those in your household, and focus your energies on making the most of the situation we’re in. Many folks out there (myself and my husband included) are planning a stay-at-home, scaled-down Thanksgiving this year with the help of reputable cooking and recipe sites such as this one, this one and this one. You might consider pastimes that give you a reprieve from screens such as a new board game or an old classic card game. If Zoom or other video chat services are your only way to connect with loved ones, suggest an activity haven’t done in a while, such as classic parlor games like Charades or 20 Questions, or newer, discussion-based games like Table Topics. For the Zoom-weary, having a loosely structured, fun activity to engage in together can be a helpful way to get through any awkwardness and focus the collective emotions of the moment in a positive direction.

Physical Wellbeing: Nutrition

Students and House Officers: Did you know that your health plan covers nutritional counseling sessions as well? Registered dieticians are available for phone or video consultation visits, which can be scheduled online via HealthyPackPortal or by calling 919.515.2563.

Faculty and Staff, you’ve got coverage for nutrition too! Under the 70/30 and 80/20 Plan, adult and child (age 6+) nutrition and weight management services are included under the Affordable Care Act’s preventive services, meaning that they are covered at no out-of-pocket cost to you. The Employee Benefits page provides more information on this coverage. To find an in-network dietitian, use the Find a Doctor tool and search under “Specialist” for a licensed dietitian/nutritionist. Not sure how to narrow down your options? The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a helpful page providing further guidance on selecting the Registered Dietician Nutritionist that’s a good fit for you.

Financial Wellbeing

Faculty and Staff – For many in our community, 2020 has been a financially devastating year. If you are in a position to make a contribution, the State Employees Combined Campaign presents a great way to dedicate funds each month to go to organizations that support communities and people in need. More information can be found on the North Carolina SECC website. Mat Gerard is the CVM SECC Representative for 2020. He recently sent out an email with information on this years campaign and can help answer questions you might have. Pledges can be made through mid-December, and can be made online through the link above. There is a long list of great charities included in the giving guide – I hope you will take a look and consider a gift if you are able and moved to do so.

Environmental Wellbeing

In case you missed the announcement this Fall, you may be proud to learn that NC State University has been named among 10 “Energy Elite” colleges and universities by the American Energy Society (AES).

The report, Top Energy Universities 2020, cited NC State as “the most accomplished and least recognized program in the country.” You can learn more about this accomplishment on the NC State Sustainability Blog.

Career Wellbeing

A job search can, let’s face it, feel like a full-time job in itself! For those on the hunt for jobs right now, it may be hard to find the time to conduct your search. Enter: The Making Time Workbook. Kudos to Amanda Bates, our Director of Career Services and Professional Development for providing this handy guide, which helps you manage all aspects of your job search – and make the time to do so. The workbook can be found in the Career Services Toolkit online for students.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s Wellbeing Wednesday resource roundup, and that you found an item or two that might be of use to you. Next week, I’ll take a break from sending the newsletter to enjoy some time for my own wellbeing, but will be back in your inbox the first week of December! Until then, I hope you have a safe and happy holiday break.

All the best,

Julia Rice
CVM Director of Wellbeing

Wellbeing Weekly – November 11, 2020

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
Mindfulness, Meditation, and Making It a Habit: New Community Discussion Circle option for Spring 2021! As studies have shown and you may know, mindfulness and meditation is good for our minds and bodies. Like many folks, you may have been curious about mindfulness but just don’t know how it could apply in everyday life… You might be interested in meditating but maybe doubtful about it making it work for you and your schedule? You’re not alone! This Spring, I’ll be leading a new discussion circle: “Mindfulness, Meditation, and Making It a Habit” (when time, energy, and focus may not be plentiful). This 10-week program will be framed around Dan Harris’ book: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics (books will be provided for registered participants). The book explores not only how to meditate, but how to get past the hurdles and misconceptions that can get in the way of us making a regular practice of it. Each week, we’ll dive into a chapter of the book, gathering as a larger group to discuss what we’ve learned, practice meditating together, and suggest some topics for further discussion in breakout groups or individual reflection. If you’re interested, or even curious, I hope you’ll join us!

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

photo of skycrest suspension bridge, raleigh greenway — Skycrest suspension bridge, Neuse River Trail, Photo: Wikipedia

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

Wellbeing Weekly: November 4 ,2020

Dear CVM Community,

I hope this finds you having a pleasant Wednesday afternoon. That said, it’s quite a time we’re living in. There is much happening in our country and our world that presents challenges to our Wellbeing right now. We may not be able to control larger current events, but we can each do our best to take care of ourselves and our fellow CVM community members.

One bit of good news is that there are many folks out there working hard to provide resources, programs, and services to help support your wellbeing! Though I’ve just gotten started as your Director of Wellbeing and while there is much to be done, I’ve hit the ground running and have met so many who are dedicated to this important effort. Right now, we all have plates that are very full, but we must take time to care for our wellbeing in order to sustain ourselves. Thus, one of my goals here at the end of 2020 will be to connect you each week with a curated selection of recommendations, resources, programs, and services available to you in 7 key areas of wellbeing: social, physical, emotional, cultural, career, financial, and environmental.

I hope you’ll take a look at these resources, and find at least one or two that are beneficial to you right now. Be on the lookout for more weekly roundups in the weeks to come, as well as other messages on the Wellbeing initiatives we are planning. So you’ll be hearing from me – but I also want to hear from you! Please feel free to send me your feedback, thoughts, concerns, ideas, input. You can reach me from this address, or at jcrice3@ncsu.edu. I’d like to hear from you, and look forward to getting to know you and your needs better.

SOCIAL WELLBEING

Social connection and support is crucial for our wellbeing. Studies indicate that social connectedness supports our physical and mental health, resilience and longevity. During times of adversity, social connection can go a long way to ameliorate stress and anxiety. This is not so much a resource as a recommendation – I encourage you to reach out to a loved one, friend, or family member today. Let them know you’re thinking of them. Make the connection. This simple task (a quick email, text, or online message will suffice) can go a long way to helping us feel connected and supported. And it’ll lift the other person’s spirits too – passing the wellbeing benefits forward!

PHYSICAL WELLBEING

Feeling the need for some exercise this week? NC State Wellness and Recreation’s WellRec at Home has a plethora of sessions for the body and mind. The Workout of the Week this week is a Full Body Workout with Anna Beam-Mitchell. Not your cup of tea? Check out their webpage for more – don’t forget to expand the drop-down lists to see all of your options!

EMOTIONAL/MENTAL WELLBEING

Mindfulness and Meditation with Laura Castro and Julia Rice: An introduction to mindfulness meditation and a guided session to help alleviate stress and ground ourselves in a post-election world. No politics, just peace of mind. To view the recording and take some time for your mind, visit our new CVM Wellbeing YouTube channel or access the video directly here.

Screen Shot 2020-11-03 at 12.01.29 PM.png

CULTURAL WELLBEING

BIPOC Support Space– A weekly Virtual Cope & Connect for URMs at the CVM. Each Wednesday afternoon, supportive CVM staff of color host a virtual space for CVM students, house officers, faculty, and staff of color to process, support each other, and engage in restorative conversations. This space centralizes and celebrates Blackness and welcomes all people of color. For more information, please be on the lookout each week for an email with a link to the upcoming session. You may also contact Laura Castro directly for questions about the group: lncastro@ncsu.edu

Let’s Chat: Election Debrief for International Students – Let’s Chat is an open drop-in space for international students to get support around wellness issues. During this week, we will offer space for students to debrief the election in addition to any other topics students want to talk to a counselor about. You will be asked to provide your student ID upon entering this space to ensure safety of the space. Anything shared in group conversations is expected to remain confidential among participants. Host: Office of International Services. When: Click the link below to add this event to your calendar.
Thursday, November 5 at 1 p.m. EST
Thursday, November 12 at 1 p.m. EST
Access: Click here to access the Zoom link.

PrideVMC Q4 Virtual Town Hall – Tuesday, November 10, 2020 @ 7:00-8:00pm CT. Visit https://pridevmc.org/ for details.

CAREER WELLBEING

We spend much of our lifetimes preparing for and growing in our careers. This being such a huge part of our lives, it makes sense to attend to the wellbeing of our careers at every step of the journey. For DVM students at the CVM, the Career Services and Personal Development office is “committed to empowering every DVM student to flourish in work and life.” Having a dedicated career services office at the CVM is a tremendous asset, as is Amanda Bates, Director of Career Services and Professional Development. To learn more about the resources available to students, I encourage checking out the CVM’s career services website.

FINANCIAL WELLBEING

Faculty and Staff: While you may or may not be familiar with the FASAP (Faculty and Staff Assistance Program) offered at NC State, you’re likely to hear me refer to it often. This multi-faceted program offers a plethora of resources and services to support your work-life wellbeing. Among these, did you know that FASAP provides assistance with financial issues such as: Getting out of debt, Credit card or loan problems, Tax questions, Estate planning and Saving for college. If you’re interested in learning more about these benefits yourself, you may visit the FASAP page: https://er.hr.ncsu.edu/faculty-staff-assistance-program/

Students: If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take a look at the CVM’s Personal Financial Services site: https://cvm.ncsu.edu/education/academic-affairs/financial-services/ Andrew Rotz, CFP®, CCFC offers individual financial wellness appointments, among other services. While to some, discussing finances may sound like a scary idea, taking the steps to better financial health now can make a huge difference in your wellbeing down the line.

ENVIRONMENTAL WELLBEING

Many in our community are working remotely right now. If you haven’t already, it may be time to assess your current workspace – is it supporting your wellbeing? You may find that making simple adjustments can improve the way you feel, think and work, even if your setup is less than ideal. Enter: Ergonomics! Here are tips from UC Berkeley, Boston University, and Mayo Clinic on achieving a healthier work environment while working from home.

More to come in future weeks, all! In the meantime, take care of yourselves and each other. Until then, I wish you well(being).

All the Best,

Julia Rice
Director, CVM Wellbeing