Waves of Wellness

Waves of Wellness is a newsletter designed to support UVM Employees' health and wellbeing. Each issue will offer inspiration, explore a different wellness theme, and offer tips and resources to activate and engage our community.

Waves of Wellness 1: Balancing Professional Success and Personal Wellbeing

Body
wellbeing

How can we balance professional success with personal wellbeing?

Statistics show that work-life balance improves job satisfaction and reduces burnout. According to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Work in America Survey, the “Surgeon General defines work-life harmony as the integration of work and non-work demands through the human needs of autonomy and flexibility.”  

Read Waves of Wellness 1 for perspective and ways to balance better.

Waves of Wellness 2: Stress & Healthy Weight Management

Body
fruit and vegetable arranged in a circle

How can we shift our habits to support our energy needs?

Summer days can feel long—and keeping up with demands on our energy can be daunting! Many of us only have a moment to ourselves by the time evening falls and we can easily slip into a pattern of late-night snacking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42% of U.S. adults are affected by obesity. Research from Harvard Medical School found that late-night eating can actually increase hunger—and risk of obesity. We can flip the script on habits that don’t help us! 

Check out Waves of Wellness 2 for tips, resources, and recipes for support.

Waves of Wellness 3: Connect with Nature to Replenish Your Whole Self

Body
two old, huge trees

How can we shift our habits to support our energy needs?

Reconnecting with nature — even in small ways — can be a powerful way to regain clarity, replenish energy, and rediscover priorities.

Nature guides us back to what’s important, enabling us to live with greater intentionality. This edition of Wave of Wellness offers some resources and tips to help you connect and thrive.

Check out Waves of Wellness 3 for tips, resources, and recipes for support.

Waves of Wellness 4: Cultivating Collective Wellbeing at Work

Body
Ernesto Mendez

How can we cultivate a heart-centered team?

Ernesto Méndez, PhD, is doing more than leading important work in agroecology—he’s helping shape a culture of care and connection at UVM.

In our work as Integrative Health and Wellness Coaches, we have the honor of collaborating with UVM employees across a variety of roles. These employees recognize, both individually and collectively, the transformative power of wellness.  

In this edition, we’re shining a light on how groups can create powerful spaces for wellbeing. When leaders and teams prioritize health, connection, and psychological safety, a shared experience is developed that positively shapes how we work together. 

Check out Waves of Wellness 4 for tips, perspectives, and resources for support.

Waves of Wellness 5: Strengthening Teams through Humor

Body
three people laughing while looking at a laptop

How can laughter make us more productive?

Humor is a secret superpower  that can make the workplace more fun, engaging, and productive. It encourages creativity and teamwork, leading to better ideas and solutions. It sounds simple, but it sets the tone: we’re here to work hard, but we’re also here to enjoy the ride.

A Stanford University study published in the journal Social Behavior and Personality found that leaders with a sense of humor are seen as 27% more admirable and motivating than those who don’t joke around. This same study overview highlights that humor buffers stress, mutes negative emotions, and enhances job satisfaction and performance. 

Check out Waves of Wellness 5 for tips, perspectives, and resources for support.