by Rosario B. Zavala, MSW, LCSW, CEAP
"Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly, “one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.”
– Hans Christian Anderson
As we begin 2021, we are once again confronted with developing our intentions to eat healthier, exercise more, and become a better version of ourselves. Such plans are also commonly given up on, or forgotten altogether. With this in mind, the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) staff have resolved to offer UM employees an opportunity to put the past several months fraught with anxiety and uncertainty behind us, and open the door to 2021’s possibilities by actively participating in activities meant to improve our collective well-being.
Click here to learn about registration details. Note: The calendar of events will be available on Monday, February 1, 2021.
This year, “Leap into Well-being”, has four weekly themes: self-love, kindness, gratitude, and connection/belonging. Our easy-to-follow month-long calendar of daily activities and practices has been designed to inspire you to thrive and flourish. We encourage you to engage in as many activities as you can accomplish and attend our weekly 30-minute webinars which reinforce each week’s theme.
Well-being has been widely defined and researched by many individuals and organizations. Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D., professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and founder & director of The Center for Healthy Minds at UW-Madison avoids a static definition of well-being as he and his colleagues continue their scientific research of this topic. Their research indicates that these four areas: awareness, connection, insight, and purpose contribute to well-being can be cultivated through daily practice and scientifically measured. Many of the practices in our 28-day challenge reflect these areas of on-going growth and development.
We introduced “Leap into Well-being” in February 2020 with great success. Three hundred ninety-six (396) staff and faculty members from all 3 main campuses and satellite locations participated. Ninety-five percent (95%) of those surveyed following the completion of the month-long event, agreed that the challenge improved their well-being. Around seventy-eight percent (78%) of respondents agreed that the challenges brought significant changes to their well-being.
“The challenge was a great way to incorporate do-able exercises without it feeling like a chore. In this hectic world full of noise, it reminds us to take a moment to think, be grateful, and take care of ourselves.”
- 2020 anonymous testimonial
As an incentive to participate in “Leap into Well-being”, you will have the opportunity to receive 300 Pure Wellness points for completing 15 activities/practices or more. In addition, you will be eligible to receive 50 Pure Wellness points for your attendance in the weekly webinars up to a maximum of 200 Pure Wellness points for webinar attendance in February.
In other words, you could potentially receive 500 Pure Wellness points in the month of February by simply engaging in the daily activities and attending all 4 webinars! As a bonus, those who complete 15 or more activities will receive a “Leap into Well-being” 2021 28-Day Challenge certificate of completion and be eligible to participate in a raffle.
We hope you will join us. Here’s to your well-being!
To learn more visit, fsap.miami.edu/leap-into-well-being.
Click here to read the full Mind and Matter Spring Edition.
