Four Seasons of Wellness

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New site changes are here! 12 Months of Wellness has changed to Four Seasons of Wellness starting December 2024.

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Hope

“There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.” – Bernard Williams

As a new year begins, many of us see it as a time of promise, an opportunity to plan, create and even adopt new, healthier habits. These traditions are a symbol of our capacity for hope and the ways in which it enriches our lives. This new year, 2025, with its lengthening days and the start of a new year will all bring more light into our days, more hope into our being.

EventsWellness resourcesTake action!

Hear the sledges with the bells --
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells --
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.

The Bells by Edgar Allen Poe

Featured events

For supervisors of full-time staff only

2-3:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, in the Kittredge Central Multipurpose Rooms

Gen Z has entered the workforce and brought a new and often nuanced culture along with them. Facilitated by Dr. Jean Twenge, this conversation on Generations in the Workplace will cover generational trends, changes in optimism, risk-taking, expectations, and work attitudes. Please join us to learn more about supporting and better understanding your employees and the generational differences that drive their workplace performance.

3:45-5 p.m. (lecture), 5-5:30 p.m. (book signing) Wednesday, Feb. 5, in CASE Auditorium

Join Dr. Jean Twenge, author and professor of psychology at San Diego State University, for a lecture and book signing reception. Dr. Twengewill discuss her research regarding Gen Z and their differences from previous generations. Topics will include a decline in independence, changes in time use, mental health trends, and motivation. This session will provide insight and applications for guiding and teaching our Gen Z students.

3-4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10

Join this workshop to learn how wellness contributes to academic success. 鶹Ժ will walk away from this session with a better understanding of what contributes to their wellness, and some activities to help maintain wellness during times of stress.

Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m. on

Participants in the workshop will learn how to use the heart/brain connection to regulate heart rhythms to immediately address their emotional state in challenging situations. The event is open to all, but .

The workshop will teach participants how to do so while uniting heart, mind and emotion; boosting resilience; decreasing stress; and improving mental and physical performance.

1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20

In this hands-on workshop, the authors of "We're Not OK: Black Faculty Experiences and Higher Education Strategies" and podcast hosts of "We're Not OK: A Community of Healing" will take a deep dive into the potential ramifications of racial disparities on belonging. Participants will examine real-life scenarios, engage in self-reflection exercises and group discussion.

Topics covered will include: the difference between inclusion and belonging, workload equity and advocacy.

Tuesdays from 2-3 p.m., Zoom

Do you want to learn new coping skills to manage overwhelming emotions or feeling out of control? This three-part workshop provides practical skills to help you get back on track and feel better fast.

Download Workbooks:
Feel Better Fast: Mindfulness
Feel Better Fast: Distress Tolerance
Feel Better Fast: Emotion Regulation

Facilitator:Lauren Smart, LPC, Molly Ewen and Brie Goodman

View more upcoming wellness events!

CU Change Lab

  • Researcher: Angela Bryan
  • Content: Transdisciplinary research to explore the social, psychological, physiological and genetic factors that are linked with health behavior.
  • Outcome: Better tailoring of behavioral interventions to increase health behavior and decrease morbidity and mortality.

Learn more about A&S research

Wellness resources for our herd

Text by Chris Johnstone, Natural Hazards Center

Learned optimism, a concept in positive psychology, teaches us to counter negative thoughts and view setbacks as temporary, specific, and external, enabling quicker recovery and improved mental health. Strategies for overcoming pessimism include healthy distractions, identifying alternative perspectives, and treating ourselves with kindness, similar to how we’d support a friend. Additionally, mindfulness, savoring positive moments and expressing gratitude are simple practices that enhance mood and overall well-being.

This community resource calendar provides a complete list of sites for free groceries, hot meals and other food assistance resources in Boulder and Broomfield counties. Select an event to find its location, website and any additional information you might need to access the resource.

LILAC Study

  • Research: Study on the effects of estrogen on body composition and vascular health
  • Participants: Premenopausal women (women with regular menstrual periods) ages 20-50 who don't smoke or currently use hormonal contraceptives.
  • Goal: Learn more about how changes in vascular function and fat gain during menopause may contribute to the increased heart disease risk in women.

    Learn more

  • CU expert: Evava (Eva) Pietri
  • Research: Basic processes in social cognition and attitudes influence various domains pertinent to real-world issues.
  • Goal: To do theoretically impactful work while also developing new and scalable interventions.
  • Current work: Reducing biases in STEM and exploring who acts as an ingroup member and fosters belonging among women with multiple marginalized identities (e.g., Black and Latina women).

Tis the season to take action!

Wednesday, Dec. 11

Stop by to pick up finals swag, snacks, self-care resources and other goodies to get you through finals week. You've got this, Buffs!

Friday, Dec. 13 from 8-10 p.m.

Enjoy a free massage, try out some stress-relief activities and fill a DIY tote bag with self-care goodies and some grand prizes! Be sure to register!

Monday, Dec. 16 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Join Health Promotion for free hot coffee, tea and cocoa. Quiet study spaces and a meditation room are also available to use.

Friday, Dec. 13 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Join the Pride Office every Friday to craft, create and converse! Drop in anytime to decompress and enjoy some Queer company.

Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 8-9 a.m.

WorkWell and the CU Rec Center have teamed up to offer a free, unique workout experience for faculty and staff! This small group class will emphasize strength and cardio through a variety of workouts like TRX, HIIT and F45.

Get a great workout, connect with your colleagues and start the day strong with WorkOutWell! Rec Center membership is not required and this class is designed as a 5-6-week small group training class.

Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mental Health First Aid training is designed to help individuals assist someone experiencing mental health or substance use concerns or crises.

Participants will learn about risk factors and warning signs, engage in experiential activities, discuss professional and self-help resources and practice a 5-step strategy to provide support. Mental Health First Aid for high education provides tailored information for college and university communities.

  • Speakers: Jim Martin (Department of Computer Science and Institute of Cognitive Science), Diane Sieber (Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society) and Tom Yeh (Computer Science)
  • Focus: Discussion about how the disruptive and powerful elements of ChatGPT and other generative AI stand to transform our world.
  • Insight:Learn what a large language model like ChatGPT actually is, understand potential norms around the usage of these tools and explore future impacts on education.