News

World Kindness Day is Nov. 13^th.

Let’s try today to make kindness the norm at the University of Guelph. As humans we tend to spend time and energy focusing on the negatives that affect us. When a moment of kindness appears, it’s as if a fog has been lifted and it’s lovely. It makes us feel good. We smile. But, then the fog rolls back in and we go back to ‘the norm’ of our daily lives. We don’t put in the effort to truly appreciate and reflect on those moments. 

On October 1, 2019, Simcoe Research Station hosted their first "Station Mile" walk/run to kick off Healthy Workplace Month at the same time as the Campus Mile walk on the Guelph Campus.  It was a beautiful sunny October afternoon!

11 participants walked or ran the one-mile loop around the research station grounds and enjoyed refreshments afterwards together.  A few ran the loop twice! 

The group is now exploring a weekly run or walk together and continuing their "Step-up Challenge" by logging their steps each week. 

On October 1, 2019 faculty and staff were invited to Johnston Green to celebrate the start of U of G's third annual Healthy Workplace Month.  180+ employees came out on an unseasonably warm Fall afternoon to participate in the Campus Mile walk, run or roll through campus. 

Vice-President Don O'Leary provided opening remarks as Chair of the Wellness@Work Advisory Committee and encouraged employees to get involved throughout the month. Sarah Mau, Chair of the Wellness@Work Programming Committee, highlighted a few of the free upcoming events for faculty and staff.

The Wellness Committee at University of Guelph-Humber has planned a series of activities and events from October 1- November 1 for Wellness Month. 

Academic Services is marking this important month with a variety of events for instructors and staff. Be sure to check them out! 

Join a workshop on Overcoming Burnout, learn about Ergonomics, or participate in a Mindfulness and Meditation session.  

Have a visit with the comfort dogs, join a yoga session or share your ideas on the wellness wall.

View the full schedule attached.

During the month of August, Wellness@Work challenged employees to have "tech-free" Tuesday evenings. 

Congrats to Victoria, who has won the prize for her participation in this activity!  Learn about her experience being technology free a few evenings throughout the month:  

Through the Wellness@Work initiative we are proud to be hosting our third annual Healthy Workplace Month at the University of Guelph. The Wellness@Work Programming Committee invites you to take part in some of the fun, free activities to help boost workplace wellness across our institution.  

Here are a few featured events:

Is it art or a historic object?  The scavenger hunt is made up of pictures of Art or Objects on the U of G campus for you to find. Once you have found the item in the picture, enter its name in the crossword puzzle.

When you have completed the crossword puzzle, submit it to wellnessatwork@uoguelph.ca or send by campus mail to Sarah Joosse in Human Resources by November 4, 2019.

There will be prizes awarded by random draw from the correct entries. 

Get out there and explore our beautiful campus this October!

Hope you have been enjoying the summer and are looking forward to an exciting Fall!  Attached below is the full September Wellness@Work calendar and the Take a Hike! Challenge poster.

Wellness@Work is challenging you to try at least one new hike each week during the month of September for your chance to win a prize!

Here are a few upcoming opportunities to help you find balance during a busy start to the school year :

September 10 each year is recognized as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day. 

"Explosive - that’s the impact the suicide of a colleague will have within his or her personal network of family, friends, colleagues and co-workers. With 70% of suicides being completed by working-aged men and women between 30 and 64 years old, the collateral damage of such tragic deaths does indeed reach the workplace."

Get outside and enjoy the great outdoors!  Try a new trail or walk (anywhere!) each week in September. 

Share which trails you explored by October 1, 2019 for your chance to win a prize!  Email the list of trails you explore to wellnessatwork@uoguelph.ca to be entered in the draw.

The attached poster has some ideas of trails in Guelph, but feel free to explore others! 

The AllTrails website or phone app is a great resource to discover new local trails: https://www.alltrails.com/.