The winter fitness class schedule is packed with options for UD employees, but Employee Health & Wellbeing also has lots of other new happenings to make sure the new year is as healthy as can be.

A better registration process

Beginning on Jan. 15, Employee Health & Wellbeing will offer a streamlined process for employee programs and fitness classes in 2018. In an effort to reduce paper and manual sign-ins, a new recreation portal boasts an online registration format, which allows employees to check-in to a class and guarantee a spot. Employees can manage memberships, class passes and see a complete order history. The portal was designed in partnership with Athletics & Recreation and allows employees to easily move back and forth between Employee Health and Wellbeing, and recreation offerings. The new system is accessible from a computer or mobile device; it is housed externally from UD and will not require VPN to access. A short how-to video further explains the new registration process.

All-Access Membership events and programs

Introduced in mid-2017, the All-Access Membership gives UD employee, retirees and spouses a chance to enroll in popular Employee Health and Wellbeing offerings throughout the year. In addition to many fitness classes, the following January offerings are included in the membership:

Painting Party: Managing Stress through Art

Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Ewing Room, Perkins Student Center

Explore how painting and being creative can elicit a number of stress reduction responses. Painting is a wonderful technique that empowers the user through use of art and creativity. This event is open to employees and their families. Register in advance.

Sushi Rolling Class

Jan. 24 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Willard Hall Food Lab

Instructors provide recipes and offers tips and tricks for participants to build their cooking skills and recreate the same dishes at home. Register in advance.

A Day of Mindfulness

Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Courtyard Marriott

The day features a radically fresh approach to New Year's resolutions, helping to identify and release limiting beliefs and bring deeper clarity and possibility to your life. Topics will include self-management, stress reduction and effective coping, interpersonal communication and team-building skills. Dr. Mike Mackenzie (Behavioral Health & Nutrition) will explain and take participants through mindfulness practice, breath awareness, guided imagery, journaling and group discussion. Lunch and refreshments will be served. Spots are limited. Register early.

New year, new questions

With a new year upon us, Employee Health & Wellbeing is asking UD employees to anonymously submit their burning health questions via this form. Then each month this year the Employee Health & Wellbeing newsletter will focus on an area of health, offering the latest research to answers the specific questions.

“This is a time when many of our homes and offices are full of talk about sweeping New Year's resolutions,” said Beth Finkle, director of Employee Health & Wellbeing. “So we’re taking a bit of a different approach. We're focusing on New Year’s ‘evolutions’ — small ways you can modify your current lifestyle to improve your health and happiness.”