Dear Wellness Community,
In these “unprecedented times” (are they still?), many of us are sharing in some emotional unrest as the days get darker and we approach a time which might ordinarily be filled with togetherness and annual celebrations.
I’ve heard from many sound sleepers that their zzz’s haven’t been as easy to catch, and a lot of us are experiencing some sadness that is hard to shake. If some of this is ringing true, you’re not alone, nor are you falling short! (This article might shed some light on this collective angst – thanks Liz Fawthrop for the find!)
One of our major cultural failings (if I can be so bold to point one out) is that we perpetuate the myth that we must thrive under all circumstances, when in fact, stress, sadness and grief are just as much a natural part of life as excitement, joy and gratitude. Who told us that everything was supposed to be easy? No generation escapes living through a multitude of so-called unprecedented challenges.
Let’s help each other be gentle towards ourselves for not bounding effortlessly through a really tough time. This issue’s mindfulness minute is dedicated to cultivating hope which bolsters long-term resilience. We can be realistic but still find the goodness in today.
There’s plenty of fun to be had this season – and even some new restaurants to make your mouth water. And don’t miss the tips for responding to microaggressions on the job – planning ahead for handling a tough situation might make it more manageable in the moment.
We’re trying to adapt our Wellness supports along with the changing circumstances and we’d love to hear your ideas! When you think of a way we could make your day better, send it our way!
This week’s Wellness Corner authored by:
Julia Kocian, LICSW, MPH
GME Wellness Counselor
Monday – Thursday at UWMC Montlake
206.543.6408
jkocian@uw.edu
Wellness Corner Quick Links
Contents
Enjoy Fall!
- Woodland Park Zoo is easily accessible and you can reserve a safe time slot to come visit, plus you even get a Husky discount!
- Veteran’s Day coming up on November 11th is FREE State and National Park Day–take yourself out for a walk if you can.
- Fall is one of the best times to visit the Seattle Japanese Garden. You can reserve your visit time just like the zoo, and kids under 5 get in for FREE.
Calling All Parents (and potential parents)!
- Tips from UW’s own Dr. John Lynch on how adults and kiddos can participate in Halloween safely including trick or treating!
- Parents of toddlers, this course might be for you! Learn strategies for working through the hardest toddler tendencies. Or follow the Instagram account for a daily tip! (Thanks to Lauren Brown for this find!)
- Check out GME’s new awesome Growing Your Family page for helpful peri-natal work-related resources like how to navigate leave, where to find childcare, how to plan for pumping at work and so much more! If you missed the recent talk: Family Planning and Fertility & Navigating Parental Leave for Resident Physicians, you can find the recording here.
- King County Libraries is offering FREE tutoring for K-12 kids. You can submit homework issues here to get a 20-30 min time slot set up
Well-Being Index
The Resident / Fellow Well-Being Index is an online self-assessment tool that measures wellness in just 7 questions. It allows you to compare well-being to your peers, track results over time, and more – all 100% anonymously. The GME Office encourages all Residents & Fellows to take the assessment at https://mywbi.org/uw-gme.
For more information visit the GME Website.
Native Land App
Ever wondered what is under your feet? This webpage will show you where you’re standing. Download the app here.
Movie Night
Build Your Workout Plan
Black Lives Matter
- Are you looking for a book to curl up with? Buy from a Black-owned bookstore like this one. Amazon will live to see another day without your money–I promise.
- This article offers some helpful tips on how physicians can respond to microaggressions perpetrated by patients–an unfortunate reality of the medical workplace. Thanks to Dr. Kathryn Bailey for this find!
- Donate here to help support Black healing in the context of therapy.
- Malone Mukwende, a second year medical student noticed that there was enormous bias in dermatological imagery which commonly displayed conditions on white skin and she decided to do something about it. See and support her work Mind the Gap which shows signs and symptoms on Black and Brown skin. This twitter feed has additional side by side pictures.(Thank you to Incho Lee for this resource!)
Celebrating the Arts
- Try a new(old) sound with the music collection Soul of Angola Anthology
- It’s right there in the title “you won’t just watch this once!” Check out Dancegod Lloyd and his talented family here.
- I really enjoyed flipping through this Henry Art Gallery collection of teen self portraits.
- The Seattle Asian Art Museum presents its Virtual Saturday University and this week, October 24th 10am-11:30am, it’s Color in Asian Art – Material and Meaning. Tune in to learn!
- Craft classes you can do on your own for a different type of Saturday night in!
Mansplaining was never so funny!
For all of you feminists, a twitter feed that will make you laugh till you cry.
Conversation with Chef Mimi
Enjoy this chat about Black culinary life!
Happiness Class
Yale is now offering its most popular course, The Science of Well-Being for FREE!
Mindfulness Minute
“Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that it is worth doing no matter how it turns out.” – Vaclav Havel; Czech dissident, writer, statesman.
Exercises for cultivating hope:
- Plan or list one joyful thing you’re looking forward to
- Recall a time when you thought things wouldn’t work out, but they did
- Read some good news for a change
- Take one small action that feels in line with what you care most about (Give a compliment; call a friend; take a walk; what else?)
Entertainment
- Virtual Halloween events for every age!
- Podcast recs from Husky Faculty!
- A meal kit that serves 4-6, AND a zoom cooking demo, AND a chance to socialize all for under $20; I can’t get over this deal! Next one is Wednesday, Nov. 4th (you may welcome the distraction). Just look for “Cook with UW Dining” on this calendar and click for more info.
- Check out Seattle’s best NEW restaurants! (Yes, seriously.)
Gems from Treasure Valley
- Have a “home-made” dinner at Hyde House, a family owned restaurant in a Victorian house!
- Visit Idaho Botanic Garden for the Fall Harvest Fest with pumpkin patches, a straw maze, spooky stories and more! Every Saturday in October from 11am-5pm
Got Feedback for Us?
We’d love to hear it! Share your thoughts about the Wellness Corner, suggestions for future events, discounts or articles to highlight, or anything else you’d like to share. Please email your thoughts to Dipti Chrastka (diptic@uw.edu) and/or Julia Kocian (jkocian@uw.edu) and/or Andrei Dandescu (andreid@uw.edu).