Dear Wellness Community,
Welcome to 2021!! We are in a New Year and a new decade. 2020 has been a long and arduous year for most everyone. We were challenged with a raging pandemic, racial unrest, police brutality, a tense election season and post-election challenges, limited social events, lot of Zooming, culminating in some positive news of a vaccine.
Some of us make resolutions each year. Believe it or not, New Year resolutions have their origins in Babylon over 4,000 years back. They have typically centered on bettering ourselves, losing weight, meeting our goals and so on. More than half of us do not succeed in meeting our resolutions by February. What if we create a reframe for our usual yearly resolution?
Maybe we can think of what we aspire for our future. It may not be about transforming ourselves, but rather finding joyful moments in the small actions we take. For me, it is watching the zoo show, knitting a cozy blanket, Zooming with family, watching the hummingbirds find warmth and nutrition as they flit around the patio, trying out a new recipe or playing a game of Scrabble.
What is your reset? What do you hope to try in 2021? This month’s Wellness Corner shares some fun trends you can try, activities to do virtually, celebrate with others, volunteer, enjoy the slowly increasing daylight around you and perhaps participate in a new challenge.
This week’s Wellness Corner authored by:
Dipti Chrastka, LMFT
GME Wellness Director Monday – Friday at Harborview 206.744.0655 diptic@uw.edu
Wellness Corner Quick Links
Contents
Some Fun DIY Trends to Try
- Hot Chocolate Bombs: You can make your own and decorate them. Perfect for a cold or rainy day! (See my daughter’s in the image to the right.)
- Knitting gives MH a boost. Here is a new fun knitting idea. Finger Knitting.
- DIY Bath Tea – Unwind after a hard day of work with a Bath tea sachet.
- Make yummy gumdrops right at home.
Black Lives Matter
- Honoring MLK Jr Day, there is a Virtual Panel on moving racial equity forward via philanthropy. Jan 21 at 6 pm Free and Online. More info here. You can also celebrate MLK virtually with UW Med., here.
- Movies to support BLM: from 1920s through the 2020s are available free on Netflix.
- So you want to talk about race with your children. Here are some tips.
Gingerbread Contest Winner!
Congrats Braiden (Emergency Medicine) for the winning entry for the Gingerbread creation. We love the creativity! (and we can’t believe you made it from scratch!) Your pizza prize will be delivered when it is safe to do so. Thanks!
Meatless Mondays at Starbucks
Museum of Flight Blood Donation
Free Fries Friday!
Medicine in Motion
Thanks Brian Ward for this entry! Medicine in Motion (MiM) is a national nonprofit organization with a new UW medicine chapter whose mission is to address medical burnout through fitness, philanthropy, and interdisciplinary community building. We put together activities, competitions, and events for students, trainees, and faculty with this mission in mind and would love for you to join us! When? January 4th – 31st Who? All medical students, residents, and faculty. How? Sign up HERE, then simply track your steps using your phone, watch, or pedometer. You can enter your step count in this Google Form. Not into walking or running? You can also use this form to convert whatever physical activity you enjoy into steps: Step Converter At the end of the month, we’ll crown the winners of the 2021 UWSOM Step Challenge!
Mindfulness Minute
- Mindful Intention Setting Activity (ideal to begin the day with): Find a comfortable place to sit. Find a posture that works best. Close your eyes and take 3 long, deep breaths. As you settle into your rhythm, notice yourself breathing. Then ask yourself these 3 questions: 1. How do I want to express myself/show up today? (Values I will uphold and display) 2. How can I be more connected? 3. One thing I can let go of today? Mindfulness Activity for Children: “Belly Buddies” Have your child pick a small stuffed toy for this activity. Have them lay on their back and have the toy on top of their belly button. Have them take a deep long breath through their nose and then exhale through their mouth. Experience the feeling of the toy move up and down with each breath.
90-Day Habit Challenge
Soar with Eagles
Hikes With Kids
Entertainment
- Seattle Waterfront Park light sculptures on Pier 62 (through Jan 31) Free.
- Lunar New Year Celebrations: Year of the Ox on Feb 12th. Exhibit at The Wing in Seattle. $17 from Jan 19 through Jan 25 from 10 am to 6 pm.
- Bellevue: Bellevue Square. Sat and Sun Jan 2 through Jan 31 (Free) Virtual celebration
- Others are celebrating around the world too: there is Kite flying (Gujarat, India) to celebrate summer solstice and approach of harvest and the Dolomite Balloon festival in Italy.
Gems from Treasure Valley
- Adult Comedy night Improv show. Ages 18 and up. $15
- Bring your kids (12 and under) to a fun maze of tunnels, nets and slides. Separate area for toddlers. Sundays in January from 11 am to 5 pm
- Sleigh ride fun in Garden Valley
- Flannel Class: Design your own flannel. Jan 31 at 1 pm.
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).