Invest in Yourself

Many of us are likely all too familiar with well-being buzzwords like “mindfulness” and “self-care”. Over the past year, I would bet a few of us have even read an article or two on managing stress, looked for a list of self-care hacks or listened to a podcast on managing productivity and focus. As we continue to navigate these ever-changing times, now more than ever, I think that taking time to invest in ourselves is important.

Research has shown that making well-being a priority has a range of benefits, including lowering the risk of chronic conditions, reducing stress levels, improving the quality of life and reducing the risk of workplace burnout.

I’m sure a few of you might be thinking, “Sure, that sounds great, but I’m really busy and don’t have time for anything extra right now.” Or, “Thanks, but ‘self-care’ sounds a little too woo-woo for me.” I hear you. I’m not proposing that any of us sit on a mediation cushion for hours on end or sign up for a week-long silent retreat (unless you want to!). Instead, I hope we might all be reminded of the value of carving out 10-15 minutes a day to take a few deep breaths, go for a walk, connect with a colleague or attempt to be more fully present while going about our day-to-day tasks.

In addition, I wanted to share a few staff resources offered by UGA’s and USG’s Well-being programs that I discovered this past year that have made a positive impact in my own life. These programs aim to provide a holistic approach to well-being and range from daily mindfulness meditations, fitness challenges, financial planning, personal health coaching, incentive programs, workshops and webinars, supervisor support, personal counseling sessions and many more.

To learn more about UGA and USG Well-being opportunities, check out these resources:

• Visit the UGA Well-being site for a full listing of offerings.
• Join the UGA Well-being Listserv by signing up or emailing a request to join to stay up to date on upcoming events.
• Visit the Training & Development website to view upcoming classes.
• Check out The University System of Georgia Well-being website to learn about their offerings.
• Contact UGA’s Well-being Coordinator, Kiz Adams (706- 542-7319) with questions, or feel free to reach out to me (706- 583-0698), if I can help connect you with any resources.

You are your best resource and worth investing in. Making time (no matter how little) to take care of our ourselves allows each of us to show up as our best selves for our colleagues, students, alumni, donors and, of course, our family and friends. It’s a far from perfect process and a never-ending pursuit, but it’s a meaningful endeavor—one that can yield significant benefits for you and the people in your life.