Get your daily dose of wellness

Understand the physical impact of working remotely 

Did you know that changing your routine overnight (i.e., commuting to your couch instead of your office) can have a significant impact on your body? Learn how your body is reacting to your new routine and tips for how to adjust. Hint - you may want to think about putting your shoes on! 

Manage conflict while working remotely 

On any given day, conflict in the workplace is bound to happen. With the heightened stress and anxiety that many people are experiencing while working from home in the midst of a pandemic, how we communicate and interpret messages from others can be greatly impacted by our emotions and our change in environment. Fortune provides three great tips for managing conflict while working remotely. Most importantly? Give yourself and your colleagues some grace and remember that we are all going through this together!  

Find a balance between kids, life, and work

If you have kids home from school while you are working, you have probably already realized that this presents a challenge when it comes to accomplishing everything on your to-do list. One mom sheds some light on how her expectations for sheltering in turned into a  much different reality and four key things that helped her manage it all. Balancing everything is never going to be perfect but what matters is you try your best and find little things that work for you! 

Maintain your energy all day

When you're stuck at home the days can seem to drag - but they don't have to! Virgin Pulse approaches the day in three stages and gives you simple tips to amp up your energy depending on what stage you're in. 

Work remote like a pro

Whether the transition to working remote feels like a gift or a challenge, the key to making the most of it is finding a routine that works for you. Check out this short video of 5 tips for working from home during COVID-19 to get started! Then, evaluate your physical workspace to ensure that it's working for you. Mayo Clinic's guide to office ergonomics has simple ways to stay comfortable no matter where you decide to set up shop for the day. 

Dance away afternoon brain fog

There are a lot of ways to try and fight that inevitable slump we all hit during the day when your eyes feel heavy and your brain feels foggy. Maybe you try boosting your energy by getting up to stretch, walk a lap, drink some water, or even pop outside for a quick dose of vitamin D. There is no wrong answer when it comes to what works for you, but one neuroscientist suggests that that most effective way to fight the fog is to dance it out! Learn more about the benefits of dance workouts and try the 18-minute dance cardio party! 

Walk indoors 

On rainy days, it's hard to get out of the house for some fresh air and exercise. If you want to get more steps than just walking to the bathroom and kitchen, try walking inside! Check out these five YouTube videos that will get your heart pumping and make walking inside more interesting and fun than you might expect! 

Create your own circuit 

Who needs a gym with fancy equipment or a personal trainer - not us! Circuits are a staple workout but they can seem daunting to dream up without some professional help. Get your heart and your creativity pumping with this simple guide to creating your own circuit workout at home - no equipment needed!  

Workout at the "office"

When your gym isn't an option, turn to your new home office for some physical activity. From simple stretches to back pain relief, these visual guides will give you some quick exercise routines to squeeze in between conference calls. All you need is a chair and a little bit of motivation! 

Get up and dance

You can break a sweat without lifting a weight - just dance! Salsa your way to a stress-free day, or breakdance over breakfast! There is no formal training needed to move your body to the music - but if you are looking for a new hobby, try out some dance tutorials and learn a routine. Check out this YouTube channel for beginners or just search dance tutorials to find something that makes your toes tap!

Get moving with fitness apps

Typically, when you think about being on your phone or computer you think of sitting in place for a long time - but your devices can be great tools for staying active while you're at home! With the Down Dog app, you can choose from Yoga, Yoga For Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout for free until May 1st (and until July 1st for students, teachers, and healthcare professionals). Each workout is fully customizable - from the length of time to the type of music!  

Stay heart healthy at home

To ensure the health and safety of our community members, the American Heart Association (AHA) has changed the annual Metro Detroit Heart & Stroke Walk/Run to a virtual event. Be sure to participate in the “Virtual Walk” on June 13, 2020! In the meantime, there are other great ways to stay connected to the AHA! You can volunteer, donate, or simply check out their amazing coronavirus resources that include tips on staying active and eating healthy. 

Shop safely at farmers markets

Warrior Wednesdays are even more fun in the summer because you can head over to Woodward & Warren and shop at the WSU Farmers Market! While Wayne State may not have a farmers market this year, you may be able to shop other local options like Eastern Market. Resuming any of our usual summer activities can raise the question of safety. Before you pop over to the market, check out this list of 7 tips for shopping safely from Better Homes & Gardens.

Choose the healthiest veggies

If you are looking for quick, healthy, and easy meals, vegetables are the way to go! Throw them in the oven for a quick roast, toss them in a salad for a hearty lunch, or just pop them in your mouth raw for a delicious snack. In addition to being simple to prepare, vegetables are full of key nutrients, making them an essential part of your diet and overall health and wellbeing. If you are trying to decide which veggies to add to your grocery list, check out this nutritionist's list of the 20 healthiest vegetables.

Store your groceries properly

When you are home all day every day, you make a lot more food than you may have otherwise. To make more food you need more groceries, and to limit your trips to the store you have to stock up each trip! There is just more thought and planning that goes into feeding ourselves and our families these days! One key tip in the neverending cycle of grocery shopping is to make sure you are storing your food in the best way possible. Proper storage will help ensure that you reduce waste, save a couple of pennies, and always have your favorite ingredients on-hand!  

Strengthen your immune system

If you are looking for ways to take care of your health and protect yourself from illness - start from the inside out! Strengthen your immune system by making sure you are getting all the nutrients you need from the food you eat. Check out this article on how to eat your immune system strong. Interested in taking a more personalized approach to your nutrition? Schedule a one-on-one session with our Registered Dietician, Debbie Cavender. This amazing benefit is available to all WSU employees at no cost! 

Try not to eat all of your snacks in one day 

When you're home all day it's easy to fall into a routine of stopping at the fridge every time you get up to go to the bathroom.. or stretch your legs.. or make a call.. or take the dog out.. or feel feelings. Basically, it's a miracle if you don't eat up all of your quarantine snacks in one day! Check out these tips on how to not eat everything in the fridge while you work from home.

Make a smoothie

Smoothies are a quick, easy, and healthy meal that you can pack full of vitamins and nutrients! An added bonus is that you can make a delicious smoothie from just a few key ingredients and use up things you already have in the house. Try protein-packed options or learn the golden ratio for green smoothies that don't taste like grass. Our go-to is the bluey smoothie from the American Heart Association. Now go dig up that blender and get your creative smoothie juices flowing! 

Learn about supplements

The use and effectiveness of supplements can be a polarizing topic. Supplements can have a lot of health benefits, but can they be helpful during the coronavirus? Check out this article from Everyday Health to learn what we know so far and decide if supplements are right for you!

Learn to make your own jerky or fruit leather

Making your own jerky or fruit leather is a great way to use up meats or produce before they spoil and avoid a trip to the grocery store. Whether you like the practical benefits or you need a fun new hobby - prepare to have a full belly during isolation because dried meats and fruits can last up to a month! Plus, the jerky recipe is from our resident Detroit neighbor - Carhartt!

Track your water intake

Staying hydrated is a key component of staying healthy - but it's not always easy to drink enough water during the day. There's no better time to work on creating a simple, daily habit! Check out these science-based benefits of H₂O and simple ways to make sure you get your daily amount. Our top pick is drinking infused water! Next time you get your groceries delivered, add some produce to the list and try out these creative combos. 

Stock up on healthy staples

Meals are made simple when you have a pantry full of basics! Broken down into five categories, this list of staples can help you whip up a grocery list with ease. Running low on food? Before you hit the store, see the CDC's current recommendations for running essential errands like grocery shopping during COVID-19, or consider getting your groceries delivered with services like Shipt or Instacart! 

Try art therapy

Did you know that Wayne State's College of Education offers a Mental Health and Wellness Clinic (MHaWC)? This amazing program is a graduate student training clinic that provides services designed to improve the mental health and well-being of the students, families, and the community throughout the state of Michigan. In addition to counseling and psychotherapy, they also offer art therapy sessions! Art therapy uses the creative process involved in artistic self-expression to help people relieve stress, increase self-awareness and/or explore their creative potential. If you are looking for therapy or counseling, be sure to check out the MHaWC website to learn more about their programs.

Get help with substance abuse

Almost 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment. If you or a loved one have been struggling with addiction, there are resources available to help you develop strategies and support around coping and recovery. It's never too late to get help, and if you are looking for a place to start, try SMART Recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Women for Sobriety.

Know how and where to get help

It's okay to not be okay. If you are struggling mentally or emotionally, if you feel like you are a risk to yourself or others, or if you do not feel safe in your home or current environment, we urge you to reach out and get help. There are resources available online, through text message, or over the phone during the pandemic. Visit our where to get help webpage for a list of resources.

Combat corona-related insomnia

Getting good, quality sleep is a crucial component of your health, with the benefits of sleep including improved mood and memory, reducing the risk of heart disease, assisting with weight loss, and so much more. With the added stress and anxiety of COVID-19 weighing on our minds, it may be harder to fall asleep these days! The Henry Ford Health System provides helpful sleep tips to ensure that you get a full night of Z's!

Cope with increased feelings of stress

With another extension of the Michigan stay at home order, there is still much uncertainty surrounding when we will be able to return to work, see our loved ones, or even just go out to eat again. If you are feeling heightened amounts of stress and anxiety during this time, you are not alone. Stay informed with the CDC's tips for stress and coping during coronavirus (including parents and people at higher risk). We also recommend these six tips for coping with stress, fear, and worry (if you are in crisis and need help, there are resources at the bottom of this page) or trying the 4-7-8 breathing technique for relaxing your body. The key to managing stress is to find what works for you, so keep exploring and check back here for more ideas! 

Find humor while at home

Some say laughter is the best medicine - even (and sometimes especially) in times of crisis. TIME has a great article that explores the need for humor now and in the coming months. So, take a moment out of each day to have some fun - whether you scroll through memes on social media, watch stand-up specials on Netflix, or just tell jokes with your family and friends. Try and make sure you come out of quarantine with a few extra smile lines. 

Deal with isolation

It is a big transition to suddenly be working from home, unable to see friends and family, and wishing you could just swing by Target whenever you wanted (Ah, the good old days!). A lot of us went from being around people all day to having the majority of our conversations with our cat. If these changes have you feeling isolated, there are ways to cope. Learn how to manage isolation from a pro - Astronaut Scott Kelly.

Take care of your mental health

Whether you adjusting to working in isolation or you are feeling increased anxiety around the impact of the coronavirus, it is important to take care of your mental health. Meditation and mindfulness can be helpful practices and you don't have to be a seasoned pro to try them. Check out these 7 meditation and mindfulness apps with free tools for coronavirus anxiety.

Virtually connect with the Campus Health Center

Campus Health Center (CHC) is an amazing resource for students, faculty, and staff located right on campus! Although they have remained open Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, you may be working remotely and not able to attend an in-person appointment. Lucky for us, they also offer phone and video appointments! To schedule an appointment, call 313-577-5041. Additionally, they are transitioning all of their health programming to be completely virtual. Check out the CHC website to learn more about upcoming webinars, virtual programs, and resources on topics like general wellness, nutrition, handwashing, stress and anxiety, and much more!

Know the risk of summer activities

The weather is warming up and everyone is ready to get outside for some fun in the sun, the end of the stay at home order is in the distant future, and let's face it - people are feeling fatigued and want to experience a little bit of "normal" life again. With all of this in mind, it may seem like we have transitioned from a place of strict rules to more of a grey area in terms of what is safe and what isn't. The next time you are trying to decide if you should go to the park, hang out in a friend's backyard, or take a trip to the beach, refer to NPR's list of summer activities and their associated risk levels. 

Cope with the challenges of social distancing

We have been social distancing or even fully isolating for two months now... for two months! That's a long time to feel disconnected from friends, family, and the rest of the world. Even though social distancing is for our safety and the safety of others, that doesn't mean it's easy. If you have been struggling with social distancing, check out this Forbes article that explores why social distancing is so hard and how to cope - and be sure to give yourself (6-feet of) grace. 

Learn how to be a great saver

Saving money can be a challenging habit to develop and maintain, but it is an important piece of your financial wellness! If you feel you could be better and storing away some extra bucks, we recommend this list of simple tips for saving money. This list helps shed light on the fact that saving doesn't have to be overwhelming and you don't have to have a lot of extra money in order to be a great saver! 

Take control of your finances

Are you wondering about the future of your finances? It may seem more important than ever to explore ways to save and invest, set your family up for financial success, manage debt, or create a long-term plan for retirement. Schedule an individual, virtual financial consultation with Fidelity (online or at 1-800-642-7131) or TIAA (online or at 1-800-732-8353) at no cost! Did you know Fidelity and TIAA also offer webinars that cover a wide variety of financial wellness topics? The Fidelity webinars and TIAA webinars are available to everyone at WSU, whether you have an account with them or not.

Think about how to use your stimulus check 

Thanks to the CARES Act, you may have already received your stimulus check. With a new chunk of cash sitting in your bank account, you may be wondering what to do with it! Your options may seem limited while you are stuck at home, but now is a perfect time to plan how best to use that money! Check out this quick resource from Marsh & McLennan with information about the stimulus package and a few considerations to keep in mind when spending (or saving!) your money.

Find ways to make learning fun

Are you and/or your kids experiencing burnout from your new homeschool arrangement? You're not alone! We have hand-picked some online resources that cover a range of educational topics to help mix it up and have some fun while learning. Interested in science and space? Explore the surface of Mars with real images from NASA's Curiosity rover. Does your child love to read? Watch your favorite celebrities read children's books with Storyline Online. Do you have a history buff in the house? Travel across the globe with History for Kids. Interested in a little bit of everything (including games, animals, crafts, and more!)? Don't forget about the classic - National Geographic. National Geographic Kids has tons of interactive content to explore!  

Get help with lesson plans 

If you have school-age children, we know that you are doing double duty as both parent and teacher right now! In addition to what your school provides, there are plenty of resources online to help you create lesson plans, continue the learning, or fill in the gaps. We recommend checking out Scholastic and Khan Academy. After you take a peek, we hope you can go take a much-needed break! 

Support your kid's mental health

The impact of the coronavirus can be felt by everyone - including our children. Like us, having their environment, schedule, and social interactions completely change can create or increase feelings of stress and anxiety. There are resources available to help your children focus on mindfulness - check out these apps designed for either younger kids or teenagers.

Keep your kids moving

If you have kids home from school or childcare, you know that balancing work and keeping the kiddos entertained can be a challenge! Help them burn off some of that energy with free, fun videos focused on movement and mindfulness (designed by child development experts). We just can't promise they won't still interrupt your conference calls! 

Challenge your brain

Looking for something to do without having to leave the house, or even use much physical energy? Take some time to exercise your mind and check out Popular Science's Head Trip. This webpage is full of optical illusions, brainteasers, and fun activities that will have you scratching your head! 

Get ready for summer in Michigan

When the weather starts to warm up in Michigan, planning your summer activities is practically a ritual! While planning isn't easy and our summers might look a little different, there are still some Michigan staples to explore. Check out the DIA and Henry Ford from home, or take a virtual road trip with Pure Michigan's tours around the state. Want to actually get outside but don't know what's open? The DNR has a helpful list of parks, facilities, activities, and more! 

Get your vitamin Z 

One of the staple nice weather activities for Detroiters is taking a trip to the Detroit Zoo! Since it looks like we won't be going to the zoo anytime soon, why not bring the zoo to you? Visit all of your furry and feathered friends with live webcams or check out the lesson plans and coloring pages for the kiddos! 

Tap into the outdoors from your computer

Are you an animal lover? Are you dreaming of a beach vacation or a relaxing hike in the woods? Connect with furry friends in action or relax with mother nature through live webcams! From the coast of Lake Tahoe to the African Riverbank, choose your favorite livestream and transport yourself to another environment!

Pop on a podcast

Podcasts can be a great way to explore your favorite topics, discover new information, and find a source of inspiration. Pop in your earbuds while you're working, walking the dog, or cleaning the house. We recommend First Thought Podcast with Jacqueline Wilson (Wayne State's very own first lady!). In this weekly podcast, she covers important issues like managing stress and the benefits of decluttering. You can listen to podcasts on a variety of platforms like Youtube, Spotify, iTunes, or Apple Podcasts - just search for your favorite topics!

Visit a virtual amusement park

Did your Disney plans get put on hold? You can experience the best rides Disney World has to offer right from your couch. Save your pennies and ride along with all your favorite characters! Check out fun ways people are recreating the rides at home - all it takes is some props and a little imagination. 

Take care of our planet

This pandemic has created feelings of isolation, but everyone across the Earth is in this together. April 22, 2020, marked 50 years of celebrating Earth Day - a day dedicated to demonstrating support for environmental protection across more than 193 countries. Human health and planetary health are inextricably linked - to protect one, we must protect the other. Explore all the amazing ways you can continue to celebrate our planet and get involved: take the Earth Day daily challenge, explore 30 "isolutions" for coronavirus self-isolation, practice environmental education at home, or test your knowledge with this oceans and plastic pollution quiz.

Bring your Warrior spirit home with you

If you are missing campus like we are, there are still fun ways to stay connected while you are away! Wear your Wayne State gear on Warrior Wednesdays, relax with a WSU coloring page, browse photos of campus, bake some green and gold cookies, or take your kiddos on a tour with W! Did you know Old Main is home to two bonded peregrine falcons? See what they're up to on the Wayne State falcon cam! Hopping on a Zoom meeting? Use a fun Wayne State background and pretend you're on campus! We can't wait to hear all the creative ways you channeled your Wayne State spirit from home! 

Tackle your virtual bucket list

Wish you could travel the world right now and immerse yourself in some culture? Was a visit to the Smithsonian on your bucket list?  How about catching a Broadway show or touring the Palace of Versailles? CNN Style has whipped up a list of all the ways you can tour a famous gallery or catch an amazing show without leaving the house (or spending a dime!).