Nurturing Wellness
Resources to Support Educator Well-Being
December 2023
Meet Your New Wellness Coordinator
Bridget Lolli is our new School Wellness Coordinator. She has been involved in the local medical, fitness, and wellness community for over 15 years. Bridget has been a part of the Columbia Public Schools community for the past several years both as parent and as a school nurse at the elementary level. Prior to that she has worked as a nutrition/fitness coach and nurse, serving a variety of populations. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences from Mizzou, a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from Loyola Chicago, and a Masters in Public Health from Mizzou. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist. She has a passion for helping people achieve their wellness goals and establish healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
Maintaining Mental Health During the Holiday Season
Looking ahead to holiday gatherings, events and activities may fill you with anticipation and excitement, along with a little angst. Here are some coping strategies to help you take care of your mental health during the holidays:
- Practice mindfulness and meditation - Mindfulness can be a valuable mental wellness tool. It can be particularly helpful if you are traveling or dealing with an unusual schedule. If you're new to this practice, explore the numerous online resources and apps to help you!
- Preventing burnout - it's ok to say no - For many, the holiday season can bring joy, but it can also bring more stress. It is important to prioritize what brings you joy! It's okay to say no to situations that stress you out, whether that's attending a party with people who have mistreated you or buying cookies instead of baking from scratch because that creates too much stress.
- Take a break - Many families have that one member who can turn a pleasant conversation into a family feud. There is no shame in removing yourself if you see situations like this arise. Get up and leave the room until everyone is calm.
- Get some fresh air and sunlight - Getting outside to breathe in fresh air and soak in the sunlight can help you relax and lift your mood, even in the cold! Many people struggle with some feelings of depression during the winter months. Numerous studies have pointed to the mental health benefits of spending time in nature and in the sun!
- Financial stress - Holiday spending can easily leave people in debt, especially with this year's inflation. Try to avoid overspending and focus on celebrating together and showing affection by being present, engaging, and supporting each other. Limit spending on gifts by considering a Secret Santa or giving homemade or handmade items.
PHYSICAL WELLNESS
'Tis the Season to Be Healthy
The holiday season is finally here, which typically brings family, festive parties, exchanging gifts, and sharing delicious meals with loved one! Unfortunately though, it can also be the time of year where all your healthy habits go out the window. Despite us knowing physical activity can help prevent weight gain and release stress over the holidays, finding time for fitness may be hard because of the cooler weather and busy schedules. Here are three tips to help you fit in fitness over the holiday season.
1. Schedule activity into your daily routine. Schedule your physical activity in advance by putting it on your calendar and treating it like an important appointment. Incorporate physical activity you enjoy doing at the most convenient time to accomplish your fitness goals during the busy holiday season.
2. Incorporate easy activities to get moving during the holidays. Including these activities will help you achieve your physical activity goals:
-park at the far end of the parking lot
-take extra laps around the store before checking out
-use the stairs instead of escalators or elevators
-dance to your favorite holiday music
-work out at home to an exercise video
3. Create healthy holiday traditions. Adding seasonal activities to your holidays can be fun and also create healthier holiday traditions. Walk around your neighborhood instead of riding in your car to look at holiday lights and decorations. Incorporate winter activities such as sledding, ice skating, snow skiing, or taking a winter nature hike. After a holiday dinner, organize a walk, basketball or football game to catch up with family members while incorporating fun physical activities.
OCCUPATIONAL WELLNESS
NUTRITIONAL WELLNESS
Giving Your Favorite Recipes a Healthy Makeover
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.
FINANCIAL WELLNESS
ITEMS OF CONTINUED INTEREST
Upcoming Wellness Opportunities
December 5 @ 12:00 PM - Mental Health America presents Making the Holidays Happy(er) with Mental Health Tips and GeneSight. This year, in partnership with Myriad Genetics, join us as we discuss tips on how to celebrate the holidays with a focus on mental health. Sign up here
December 18-19 - Free 2-Day Trauma Conference: The Body Keeps the Score- Trauma Healing Through the Senses with Bessel van der Kolk, though registration includes virtual access to recordings for 14 days. Sign up here
Free Counseling Services
Employees who are benefit eligible (working 30 hours or more per week), their spouses, and children age 13 and over are eligible to receive services at the EAP free of charge.
For more information click on the brochure on the right, or to schedule an appointment, contact the EAP at 573-815-6034 or at eap@boone.health.
Boone Health Employee Assistance Program is located at 1605 E. Broadway, Boone Medical Plaza 2, Suite 200, Columbia, MO 65201.
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