Showcasing CPS leaders and champions who personally model healthy behaviors and truly believe in creating opportunities for school employees to take better care of themselves!

Ann Baker, School Counselor

Mrs. Baker's door is always open to students and staff. She listens to everyone, and everyone knows that Mrs. Baker is there for them. Mrs. Baker provides different mental health strategies to help with overwhelming emotions. She is very knowledgeable on all mental health resources and provides these resources to families. Her caring doesn't stop at the end of a school day, as she makes herself available to everyone whenever they need her. Her heart is big and students, families, and faculty know that Mrs. Baker truly loves them and wants the best for them.

If you want to nominate an employee to be spotlighted for their wellness efforts, fill out this short Google Survey.

Ending the year with emotional well-being involves a combination of self-care practices, reflection, and positive habits. Individuals always think of the normal habits like physical activity, prioritizing sleep and nutrition, , and mindfulness, but there are a few others that will help you achieve emotional well-being. Here are some tips to help you close out 2024 on a positive note:

1. Reflect on the Year

Acknowledge Achievements: Take time to reflect on what you accomplished this year, no matter how small. Celebrate your wins.

Learn from Challenges: Identify lessons learned from difficult moments and think about how they have helped you grow.

2. Set Healthy Boundaries

Manage Commitments: Don't overextend yourself during the holidays. Prioritize your well-being by saying "no" to extra obligations that cause stress.

Alone Time: Schedule moments for solitude and relaxation to recharge you emotional energy.

3. Connect with Others

Quality Time: Spend time with loved ones and engage in meaningful conversations. Connection boosts emotional health.

Social Support: Reach out if you need help or someone to talk to. Sharing can reduce feelings of isolation.

4. Pursue Hobbies and Joyful Activities

Do What You Love: Engage in hobbies or activities that make you happy and give you a sense of fulfillment

Be Creative: Try a new project, craft, or experience that allows you to express yourself.

5. Set Realistic Goals for 2025

Reflect and Plan: Set intentions that align with your values, focusing on personal growth rather than just achievements.

Be Flexible: Life can be unpredictable, so keep an open mind and adjust your goals if needed.

By taking a proactive approach with these tips, you can create a peaceful and fulfilling conclusion to 2024, preparing yourself for a positive start to the new year!

It is not too late to join Be Well in the final step challenge of 2024! So far, CPS employees who sync with our Move Spring app have walked the equivalent of a round trip to the moon!!! Let's keep the momentum going and end 2024 on a high note!

Join the fun and engaging virtual race to stay active and energized during the holiday season. Over the course of the next 14 days, you are challenged to walk a total of 40 miles, fostering healthy habits and friendly competition. Don't be intimidated by that number! Did you know that 1 mile is approximately 2000 steps? So if you are getting our usual 8000 steps a day challenge, you will have no problems reaching 40 miles! Whether you take brisk morning strolls, lunchtime power walks, or evening steps to unwind, every mile counts in this journey to fitness and fun. Don't forget, Move Spring allows you to manually enter any activity too. So get ready to lace up, track your progress, and hustle your way through the holidays by registering here.

One thing I regularly hear from individuals about the activities we are promoting is "well I can't do that because of ..." I can respect that but I want to push back and ask you to really explore why you think you can't. Over the next few months, I am going to address some of those can'ts and hopefully turn them into cans! This month, I want to bring light the ways individuals with mobility issues can still be active!

Individuals with disabilities and chronic diseases typically have higher rates of inactivity than others simply because they don't know how to stay active and healthy. Modifying or adapting workouts to your abilities is possible! Below I have included just two programs of many out there for adaptive athletes. Did you also know that our MoveSpring app has the ability to convert any activity into steps, including wheelchair? No more excuses for not joining our step challenges!

WheelWOD

NCHPAD 14 Weeks to a Healthier You

Columbia is also full of fitness resources and professionals ready to get you moving regarding of your ability! So if you identify as having mobility issues and don't know where to turn to increase physical activity, reach out and I can try to help you get connected!

Food is part of holiday traditions, and your family may look forward to certain recipes. Luckily, there are some ways to make your favorite holiday recipes a bit healthier. Consider the following tips to transform your holiday recipes:

• Fat - for baked goods, use half the butter or oil and replace the other half with unsweetened applesauce, mashed banana or Greek yogurt
• Salt - gradually cut back the salt to see if you can taste the different. You can reduce salt by half if baked goods don't required yeast
• Sugar - reduce the amount of sugar by one third to one-half. Instead, add spices like cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg, or flavorings such as vanilla or almond extract to boost sweetness.

Healthy swaps can also increase the nutritional value of your classics. Get creative and experiment with other ways of creating healthy recipes for your most beloved holiday traditions.

December 2 - CPS Employee Step Challenge: It's not too late to join in on the final step challenge of 2024! Click here to register!

December 6, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Living Windows Festival: The District is full of holiday spirit and ready to welcome back our annual Living Windows Festival! Join us on Dec. 6th from 6-8 pm for live performances, open houses, shopping, stunning holiday decor all through The District, free horse-drawn carriage rides and visits with Santa. Parking is FREE in downtown Columbia garages after 6pm.

Below are local gyms that offer educator discounts to CPS Staff. To download the PDFs, you must open this newsletter in the internet browser by clicking "view in browser" at the top.

This newsletter is brought to you in collaboration between the following CPS departments:

• Nutrition Services
• Occupational Health
• Physical and Health Education
• Psychological Services (Outreach Counseling & School Psychology)
• School Counseling
• School Nursing