Wellness by the month

Each month Health Services and the IDEA Office will highlight several areas
of health & wellness and provide additional suggestions and resources. 

2023

december

Winter Wellness Bingo 2023:

Join Health Services and Healthy & Well at LBNL this Holiday Season for 4 weeks of healthy eating, moving, thinking and being with Winter Wellness Bingo! Challenge yourself to do a wellness related activity every day or once a week and see how many squares on the bingo board you can fill in. We've got activities, links & resources for suggestion activities. 

You are welcome to sign up at any point during the 4-weeks. 

Dates: Tuesday, November 28 - Friday, December 22

Celebration: Wednesday, January 3

Sign up to participate

Bingo Board

Ergo Angle:
This month the ergo team encourages you to think about what has worked in the last year and new habits you want to cultivate in 2024. Check out the December newsletter.

Benefits Corner:

Updated Sick Leave Policy - Read the full story

The Lab's All Access Employee Resource Group (ERG), with Human Resources, led a revision to the RPM Sick Leave policy to better support mental health. The amended language specifically supports sick leave usage parity between mental and physical illness and aims to reduce the stigma of mental illness and disabilities. 

Nutritional Wellbeing:

Feel-good holiday recipes from UC

The holiday season is just about here and we’re discussing everyone’s favorite topic — food! Whether you’re planning get-togethers with loved ones or looking for a healthy treat while you snuggle up on the couch, check out these recipes from UC kitchens.

Cook Well Berkeley

Brought to you from Be Well At Work, this page has a list of amazing recipes and handouts on everything from 10 Ways to Cook Eggs to Pantry Staples. 


Upcoming Events (for all events, check out the calendar)

Creativity is important at every age! Arts-based activities provide older adults living with chronic health issues opportunities for authentic self-expression, increased joy, and improved quality of life throughout all stages of their illness. Please join us for this fun, hands-on workshop designed to spark joy in you and the older adult you are caring for. No art experience is necessary


One Minute for Wellness Slides - Dec 2023

November

Health Services: Holiday Travel Health Tips - Holiday Season is right around the corner! Health Services shares 6 tips to keep yourself healthy during winter travel.

Ergo Angle: Strategies to Recharge: As we usher in a new fiscal year and prepare for the upcoming holidays, November presents a golden opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge. In the midst of setting new targets and goals, it's crucial to also prioritize self-care and rejuvenation.

Benefits Corner: Open Enrollment is here! Oct 26 - Nov 17th Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to maximize the comprehensive health benefits available to you as a Lab employee. Be sure to check what you have and make any changes before 11/17. 

The Science and Practice of Gratitude: We all know that gratitude is a good idea, but did you know that there's research on the positive impacts of a daily practice? Research suggests that consciously giving thanks can have profound effects on our well-being and relationships. 


Healthy & Well at LBNL 5-Day Gratitude Practice - Nov 13 - 17th

The simple practice of paying attention to the good things in our lives - from the small (my latte was delicious) to the profound (my spouse gave birth to a healthy baby) - and then translating those thoughts into concrete language by writing them down makes us more aware of them and deepens their emotional impact. The more we pay attention, the more we notice and that can shift the emotional tone of our daily lives. 


Sign up and join us in a Google Space to post three things you’re grateful for each day for a week. 


Upcoming Events (for all events, check out the calendar)


Good Reads: 

Gratitude Practices: 

Gratitude Meditation: 

Podcasts: 

Watch: 


One Minute for Wellness Slides - Nov 2023


October

Vision and Eye Health:
We eat right, we exercise, we stay hydrated. Could we be doing more to care for and protect our eyes? Check out the link for information about common eye disorders and diseases and tips for prevention and risk management.

Ergo Angle:
Celebrating National Ergonomics Month 

Benefits Corner:
Open Enrollment is coming up Oct 26 - Nov 17th Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to maximize the comprehensive health benefits available to you as a Lab employee.

Self-care during challenging times:
We’ve all been there - life seems stressful, complicated, and difficult. How do you take care of yourself when life is challenging? We’ve got a few suggestions and resources to help. 

On-Site Counseling Services Available
Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 4, Employee Assistance will offer in-person counseling services by appointment at the Lab’s hill site on select Wednesdays in Building 26. Employees can also schedule video, telephone, or in-person appointments at the Tang Center on the UC Berkeley campus. Call (510) 643-7754 or email employeeassistance@berkeley.edu to schedule an appointment. 

September

September is Flu Awareness Month
This fall spread love and not the flu. Get more information about the flu and the flu vaccine with this PDF from Health Services. And look for announcements about flu shots at the clinic this fall. 

Work/life balance
You’re back from your vacation, school is in session and life is once again in full swing - how do you find the right balance between work and the rest of your life? Check out the Molecular Foundry’s Community Agreement on Work Life Balance for a few suggestions. You can use it for yourself or bring it to your team to start a discussion on the topic. If you want to learn more about how and why they developed it, check out the IDEAs-in-Action Case Study about their efforts. 

If you need a spark of inspiration for self-care, the Healthy & Well website always offers suggestions for getting outside, exercise, mindfulness, and ways to create community at the Lab. 

Maybe you need someone who can support you - did you know that Kaiers and HealthNet insurance plans come with wellness coaches? You can get one-on-one guidance and support from a dedicated wellness coach who can help you set goals and stick to them. For questions about other health plans, please contact our Health Care Facilitator

August

Don’t Forget to Hydrate!
August is HOT! The days are hotter and longer as we head into the Dog Days of Summer and hydration is the key to helping us enjoy this sun-filled time.

Ergo Angle: Ergo for Children
With kids going back to school, it’s a great time to give them cool ways to practice ergonomics… without them even knowing it’s good for them.


Benefits Corner: Retiring soon or thinking about retiring? The Benefits Office has a great lineup of seminars this month on topics ranging from social security, retirement saving plans and preparing for retirement.

One Minute for Wellness - August 2023

Eldercare

Caring for an elder or dependant adult can be difficult in many ways. How do you navigate challenging conversations about driving, living situations, finances or the need for additional help? As the caregiver, how do you support yourself through this experience? 

The Eldercare Program through the Employee Assistance Program provides a wealth of resources and support for Berkeley Lab employees. 

The Elder Care Program offers:

Please note: You do not have to be living with the person you are concerned about, nor do you have to be actively caring for them in order to request an appointment.

Schedule an Appointment

Fall Eldercare Workshops

The Elder Care program offers monthly educational workshops and webinars on topics related to aging and caregiving presented by professionals and peer advocates.

This fall topics include Senior Living, Clutter & Hoarding, The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Kids and Parents and Sparking Joy Through Creativity. 

Caregiver Connect:
Caregiver Connect is a psychoeducational support group for caregivers concerned about or caring for an elder or younger adult with a chronic health issue. Caregiver Connect provides a safe space to discuss and gain support regarding your caregiving situation. The group meets virtually on the first Tuesday of the month, and the third Friday of the month from 11 am -12 pm. Drop-ins are welcome and you are not required to attend both groups each month.

These small group meetings are facilitated by Elder Care Counselor Natasha Boissier, LCSW. To register, please email Karen Patchell: kpatchell@berkeley.edu

Additional Information: 


July

July is Sun Safety Health Month
Take care in the sun! Spending time outside is a great way to be physically active, reduce stress, and get some Vitamin D. You can work and play outside without raising your skin cancer risk by protecting your skin from the sun. Learn more with these tips and resources.

Ergo Angle: Ergo on the Road
Working remotely this summer? How do we stay ergonomic in new set-ups, shared housing and hotels? These tips and tricks from the Ergo Team will keep you safe.

One Minute for Wellness - July 2023

Mindfulness

Bring a little mindfulness to your summer! It seems like mindfulness is everywhere these days and there’s a reason for it. Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness, even for just a few weeks, can bring a variety of physical, psychological, and social benefits such as increasing self awareness, building resiliency, reducing bias and improving focus and compassion. 

What is mindfulness? 

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not be overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. It's the ability to maintain a moment-to-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.

Good Reads:


Watch:

Podcasts: 


Choose your own adventure:

Luckily, cultivating mindfulness doesn’t require us to sit on a cushion with our legs in lotus position. Nor is there just one way to practice. The list below offers a variety of options:

Apps: 

June

It’s summer and this month we’re sharing ways to get outside and enjoy all the Bay Area has to offer. Plus, did you know how much getting outside and enjoying a bit of nature - whether it's your neighbor's garden or a local open space - can improve your sense of well-being? Spending time in the natural environment is good for your physical and mental health so we've gathered a few suggestions for ways to get outside.

Check out the full list on the Healthy & Well Website - Get Outside


One Minute for Wellness - June 2023


Outdoor Suggestions: 



Family Activities: 

Good Reads: 


Podcasts:


Practices:


Upcoming Events:


MaY

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Explore the resources below and reach out to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if you need support or guidance. 


One Minute for Wellness - May 2023

Mental Health Awareness Month Zoom Background 


Websites: 

Toolkits: 


Good Reads: 

Videos:


Upcoming Events for Mental Health Awareness Month:


April

march



Connection-Belonging-Community continued: 

Good Reads:

Podcasts: 


Practice of the Month:

FEBRUARY

Three Short, Easy, Fun Workouts: 


Be Well at Work February Workshops:


Good Reads:


january


Good Reads: 


Get started with Mindfulness from UCLA:


2022

December




November

October

September



August


People are heading back into the Lab, the office, or the cubicle. Once there, they look around and realize…this place is a bit of a mess. What to do? These tips will help you keep yourself safe while tossing all those old files.



July

How a stroll outside can help build lasting happiness. Why you should try it: We're often too distracted to notice our surroundings. This practice can help you tune in to the beautiful, pleasant things in your everyday environment. 

June

Eldercare Summer Program

This summer, Be Well at Work Elder Care Program will provide a three part experiential series targeting the emotional wellbeing of Family Caregivers.  


May

April


March

February

January

One Minute for Wellness Slides

2021

December

November

October

September

August

July

June

Additional June Resources:

May 

Mental Health Resources - May is mental health awareness month. Check out the Mental Health page on this site for Lab and community resources, the All Access drop in group and more. 

Stroke & Blood Pressure Awareness  Learn about the signs and symptoms of a stroke and healthy ways to reduce your risk. Stroke and Blood Pressure Info

April 

Stress Management - Health Services has compiled a list of tips, tricks and suggestions to help. 

April is Alcohol Awareness Month with a focus on education about alcoholism and addiction and with the aim of reducing the stigma associated with these challenges. 

Building Community - Social connections are essential to our well-being and emotional health. Berkeley Lab has a variety of ways to connect with your fellow employees - everything from daily stretch breaks to Employee Resource Groups.

January 

Fitness - Start your year off on a healthy note with tips and suggestions to get you moving.

2020