Highlights | Prioritize community this fall
- The transition into fall can disrupt routines, add stressors and distract from self-care time.
- Connecting with your community is one way to help ground yourself during the changes of back-to-school season.
- Don’t forget to eat regular meals and stay up-to-date on your vaccines.
In our series, One Fun Thing, we’re collaborating with Anne Browning, PhD, Chief Well-Being Officer and associate dean for Well-Being at the UW School of Medicine, to bring you small, specific and low-effort ways to have more fun, plus a question to help you check in with yourself and others, and well-being resources.
It’s almost fall, and between back-to-school shopping and apple picking, your routine is likely changing, which can add stress to your week. As you’re getting back in the swing of the soon-to-be rainy days and 4 p.m. sunsets, keep this self-care checklist in your back pocket to help keep you energized and ready to tackle the upcoming season.
Fall self-care checklist:
- Revisit your schedule: Whether you need to help your kids pack for the day, re-map your morning commute to avoid back-to-school traffic or reschedule your evening walk to the afternoon when the sun is still out, plan for these tasks ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about them the day of.
- Prioritize mealtimes: When schedules get busier, it’s easy to push back mealtimes (or forget to eat altogether). However, making sure to eat fulfilling meals throughout the day can help keep you energized and focused during the workday and nourished in the evenings. Consider meal-prepping so you don’t have to worry about making lunches throughout the week.
- Find community with your friends and coworkers: Remember, you aren’t the only one in the throes of a new fall routine — use the opportunity to chat with your community to de-stress and discuss the upcoming season.
- Check your vaccine status: Make sure you and your kids are up-to-date on vaccines to keep healthy. Make appointments for flu shots, COVID-19 boosters and, if you have kiddos, check their school’s vaccination requirements.
Question of the month
A way to check in with each other and ourselves. Use this question to connect with co-workers at your next meeting, to start a conversation around the dinner table or as a journal prompt.
Back-to-school season is a great time to learn something new: What’s something you’re excited to learn or a new skill you’d like to try?
Resources
- Register for the Mindful Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities series.
- Learn to navigate common challenges of maintaining a healthy sleep pattern with irregular working hours in the Shift Work and Sleep: Strategies for Restful Nights (or Days) with Dr. Catherine McCall event on Sept. 27.
- Request help from a peer supporter, or through the Washington Employee Assistance Program.
