My Health and Wellbeing
Benefits and services to support the physical, mental, and financial health and wellbeing of you and your family
Word from the Vice President: Staying Happy and Healthy This Holiday Season
It's hard to believe that the holidays are almost here. Although the beauty of fall hasn't subsided yet, many of us are already anticipating the excitement of the approaching season—a time for festive celebrations with family and friends. But for some of us, the holidays can also bring more responsibilities and stress which can take an unfortunate toll on our health and wellbeing. That's why Human Resources is offering a number of initiatives in the coming weeks to keep you healthy and happy this holiday season.
No one wants to be sick during the holidays, but the H1N1 influenza virus is making an already tough flu season that much more difficult. To help you enjoy an illness-free holiday season, we ran our normal seasonal flu shot program in October and are providing a special H1N1 flu shot program later this month.
Proper nutrition is also a must for staying healthy throughout the season. Enjoy the festivities without compromising your fitness by participating in our annual Maintain, Don't Gain Holiday Weight Maintenance Program or signing up for one of our many health and wellness workshops.
And don't forget your mental health amid all the hustle and bustle. Sharpen your skills by attending a professional development program, get tips for dealing with life's challenges at one of our quality of worklife workshops, or simply relax and unwind during the Special Winter Vacation.
While the holidays can be hectic, there are plenty of resources available to help meet your needs. Here's to a happy and healthy holiday season.
Sincerely,
Jack Heuer, Ed.D.
Vice President for Human Resources
Quality of Worklife Workshops
Dealing with the demands of work and your personal life can be challenging. These free workshops, sponsored by Human Resources and led by experts from Penn's Employee Assistance Program and Quality of Worklife Department, offer information and support for your personal and professional life challenges. Pre-registration is required. You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch to the sessions. For more information or to register, visit the Human Resources online course catalog or contact Human Resources at 215-573-2471 or .
Professional Assertiveness
November 19; 11:30am–1pm; free
This seminar will teach you techniques for professional communication and how to use assertiveness to enhance your professional growth. Participants will learn about the characteristics of assertive behavior, responses to situations, choosing your battles, obstacles to being assertive, and the relationship between assertiveness, self-confidence and professionalism.
Stress Management
December 15; 11:30am–1pm; free
Stress can take an unfortunate toll on our health and wellbeing. But simple relaxation techniques can help combat the harmful effects of stress. You'll learn how to identify when you're relaxed, and how to use relaxation to improve your quality of life. This workshop will also focus on responses to relaxation, the physical and mental signs of relaxation, and specific relaxation exercises and techniques.
Maintain, Don't Gain This Holiday Season
Thanksgiving is fast approaching, signaling the start of the festive winter holiday season. While the holidays are a time to celebrate and enjoy the company of family and friends, it's also one of the hardest times of year to maintain your waistline, as many holiday celebrations revolve around food and drink. That's why Human Resources wants to help you during this challenging time by offering the "Maintain, Don't Gain" holiday weight maintenance program.
"Maintain, Don't Gain" helps you track your weight with pre- and post-holiday weigh-ins at convenient locations across Penn's campus. Inspiring messages throughout the holiday season will motivate you and keep you focused, and most participants do succeed. Of the 135 individuals who completed the "Maintain, Don't Gain" program last year, a record 93% either maintained or lost weight during the holiday season.
Participating is easy. Once you've registered, just come to the pre- and post-holiday weigh-ins and keep your weight within 2 or 3 pounds of where you were before the holidays. Weigh-ins are held at several locations around Penn's campus, including at Wharton, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Nursing and the Business Services Division. Dates and locations for pre-holiday weigh-ins are as follows:
| School of Nursing |
Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 |
10am–11:45am |
| School of Engineering and Applied Science |
Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 |
12:15pm–2pm |
| Wharton |
Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 |
10am–11:45am |
| Business Services |
Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 |
12:15pm–2pm |
Post-holiday weigh-in details will be available soon. Weights will be recorded and maintained by Human Resources staff members, and all private information will be kept absolutely confidential. You'll be given a record of your initial and final weights.
You can also create your own "Maintain, Don't Gain" team. Grab your officemates and friends on campus, give yourselves a team name, and let the competition begin! We'll track how all of your team members are doing and average your results in January. If each team member either maintains or loses weight by the final weigh-in, your team will be highlighted on the Maintain, Don't Gain Honor Roll on the Human Resources website.
For more information about the "Maintain, Don't Gain" program and to register, click here. Registration reduces wait times and gives us the information we need to provide you with inspiring motivational messages about how to tackle the greatest challenges during the holidays. Specific dates and locations for post-holiday weigh-ins will be available soon.
Questions? Contact Human Resources at 215-898-5116 or .
Nutrition Workshops
If you're like most people, you have plenty of questions about nutrition: What should I eat before and after a workout? How can I choose smarter, healthier foods at the grocery store or in a restaurant? Which vitamins should I be taking, if any? Get answers to these questions and more when you join Human Resources for an ongoing series of nutrition workshops. For more information about the workshops and to register, visit the Health and Wellness website or contact Human Resources at 215-898-5116 or .
Q&A with a Nutrition Expert
November 18; 12pm–1pm; free
It's no surprise that nutrition and exercise are vital to a healthy lifestyle. In this dynamic workshop, you'll learn how nutrition and exercise promote healthful aging, fitness, performance, and weight management. The Q&A will emphasize the benefits of healthy eating, healthful thinking, and how to stay fit. Learn what a nutritious diet entails and how to recognize and change poor eating habits. You'll also receive great recommendations for how to maintain a happy, healthy lifestyle.
Your Body: From Head to Toe—Part 2
Taking care of your health means being well informed, well prepared, and capable of making good choices when it comes to your body. This series of workshops, led by physicians and health experts from the University of Pennsylvania and the Health System, will address various health issues from head to toe and steps you can take to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Pre-registration is required for these workshops, which are sponsored by Human Resources. You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch to the sessions. For more information and to register, visit the online course catalog or contact Human Resources at 215-898-5116 or .
What Keeps You Up At Night?: The Basics on Common Sleep Disorders
November 17; 12pm–1pm; free
Do you ever have difficulty falling and/or staying asleep? Sleep disorders are common issues that affect millions of people every year. This workshop will teach you about sleep disorders such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome. You'll also learn about sleep hygiene, alternatives to sleep disorder medications, and some simple steps you can take to promote better sleep. This workshop will be led by Norma Cuellar, DSN, RN, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.
Stroke: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
December 3; 12pm–1pm; free
A stroke is a life-threatening event in which part of the brain is deprived of adequate oxygen. It's also the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer. This workshop will teach you about some of the prevention methods for strokes that can help eliminate or minimize the risk factors. It will be led by Steven R. Messe, MD, Division of Stroke and Neurocritical Care, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
H1N1 Flu Shots
With H1N1 influenza (often referred to as swine flu) adding to the normal flu season already in full swing, Penn has been working hard to ensure that our campus has access to vaccine supplies as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Our seasonal flu shot program was very well attended, and now we're able to announce our plan for 2009 H1N1 vaccinations.
As you may know, the government is making the H1N1 vaccine available for distribution through local agencies. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has been working with the University to provide the vaccine to members of the priority groups identified by CDC guidelines. Supplies of the vaccine are limited, so the H1N1 flu shots will be available only to individuals who meet those CDC guidelines. Although Penn has been scheduled to receive shipments of the vaccine on certain dates, there is a chance that we may not receive the supplies exactly as scheduled. Because of this, the dates and locations for Penn's H1N1 flu shot program for faculty and staff should be considered tentative. However, we invite eligible faculty and staff to register for the H1N1 vaccination now.
Visit the flu shot program website for the most up-to-date information on the H1N1 vaccination program and instructions on how to pre-register. You can also contact Human Resources at 215-898-5116 or for more information.
Remember that the uncertain nature of this program may change some of the program details, so you're encouraged to take advantage of other opportunities to receive the H1N1 vaccination that may be available to you.