Live Well @Work Week a success
600 faculty and staff enjoyed free wellness events
From Medicine Wheel teachings to meditation to laughs, from terrarium building to healthy eating to exercise, Live Well @Work Week motivated us to step away from our desks, and brought faculty and staff together to improve our wellness with 22 free events and sessions.
The week’s offerings
Whether you wanted to spend time with colleagues crafting or gardening, learning about campus architecture during a guided walk, or improving your nutritional knowledge, Live Well @Work week had something for everyone.
At the wellness fairs, faculty and staff learned about the many wellness resources available at the U of M and though external vendors. Visitors at the Fort Garry fair discovered the art of paper-marbling in creating sustainable bohemian wall hangings to take home, give as a gift to a friend, or put on display in their offices. Coffee and treats were available for attendees.
A terrarium workshop brought participants together in a new, exciting way. Spending the afternoon gardening was a great way to reduce stress, improve our mood and purify the air.
Other participants learned about mindfulness and how it can enrich our lives, while gaining valuable insight on how mindfulness can be incorporated into our workday.
Another highlight of the week was seeing the community come together to learn about the seven sacred teachings and the medicine wheel. Elder Norman Meade welcomed participants to the sharing circle, encouraging participants to connect with their own inner wisdom and spirit.
The planning committee received the following feedback about the week:
- “Create your own terrarium was awesome. I loved getting to take time away from work to do something fun and creative. I keep my terrarium in my office and now I get to look at it and feel happy every day!”
- “The terrarium workshop was absolutely phenomenal.”
- “My terrarium looks great in my office and provides some “life” in it.”
- “I loved learning about Indigenous ways of being.”
- “Medicine Wheel could be an ongoing series. If so, I would make every effort attend regularly.”
- “The week got me out of my office at lunch, gave me a chance to interact with other staff on campus, learn some strategies to bring back to work and personal life, such as mindfulness techniques, creating balance, and nutrition.”
Overall, this year’s Live Well @Work week was a success. The planning committee hopes to build upon the momentum and offer wellness sessions and gatherings throughout the year.
“We want our university community to thrive, both personally and professionally,” says Arlana Vadnais, employee wellness specialist, human resources.
“The goal of the week is to celebrate our health and wellness resources, and to support our community with new tools and options to enhance their lives and help them find a balanced lifestyle.”
The university is committed to creating a work environment that supports work-life balance and mental, physical, emotional and spiritual development.
If you have event suggestions or would like to partner with the planning committee to develop new sessions for our employee community, please reach out to Arlana Vadnais at arlana [dot] vadnais [at] umanitoba [dot] ca or 204-474-8323.