Healthy UBC | February 2022

Welcome to Healthy UBC!

This is your monthly collection of health and wellbeing stories and events from across UBC. In the February edition, we take a closer look at emotional intelligence and we speak to two of our Workplace Wellbeing Ambassadors. We're also featuring a number of events including the Travelling Health Fair, Nourish U, and the next round of the Search Inside Yourself program on Adaptive Resilience. 

Thanks for joining us, and don't forget to share this with your colleagues and encourage them to subscribe!

Editorial: Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is all about understanding and managing your own emotions. People with a high degree of emotional intelligence know what they're feeling, what their emotions mean, and how these emotions can affect other people — practicing and improving your EI can have professional and personal benefits.

Learn more

Five ways to boost emotional wellbeing

Building optimism, strengthening social connections, and setting manageable goals, are just a few of the helpful tips we share to help you boost your emotional wellbeing.

Find out more

Free events and resources

UBC’s Health, Wellbeing and Benefits team has a great line-up of free activities and opportunities coming your way this month.

• January 19 - March 9 Weekly Mindfulness Sessions with Aisha Tejani
• February 17: QPR Suicide Intervention Prevention
• February 24: Women’s Money Mindset with Vanessa Bowen from Mint Worthy
• March 7: Tax, Tips and Tricks with Dayna Holland
• March 22: Pet-ditate – Meditate with your pet
• March 24 and 31: Mental Health First Aid

Self-paced Webinars

• Integrating Consent into Parenting and Caregiving with Karen B.K. Chan (available till February 28)
• Preventing Burnout: Managing stress, emotions and our tendency to give (For Employees)
• Supporting Resilient Teams: Recognizing and Managing Burnout (For Managers & Leaders).

Take a look at all of our upcoming events

Celebrate Black History Month at UBC

This month is a time to be intentional in celebrating and recognizing Black contributions both past and present.

EIO Black History Month highlights

The Travelling Health Fair begins tomorrow

Time is running out to register for the Travelling Health Fair, our free, virtual health event in partnership with UBC Pharmacists Clinic.

Join us for webinars on preventative health, the healthy mind, and sleep habits and then book your one-on-one consultation with an expert pharmacist to help you achieve your optimal physical and mental health.

The first webinar is on Tuesday, February 15.

Register now

Build up your personal & professional resilience with the Adaptive Resilience program

This program from the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute helps to build the behaviours, mental habits and practices that promote personal resilience while growing a resilient culture within teams and organizations.

The three Zoom sessions are structured into 90-minute modules starting March 3 and continuing on March 10 and 17.

Secure your spot

Improve your relationship with food: NourishU this March

March is Nutrition Month!

Feeling frustrated, anxious or overwhelmed around food decisions? Need strategies and supports to enhance your relationship with food?

Join us, for Nourish U. A 31-day nutrition journey to transform your relationship with food. All UBC community members are welcome. 

The journey starts on March 1! Register now and complete all 31 days to be eligible for the weekly prizes and to win the grand prize: an air fryer!

Find out more and register

Keep moving with Move UBC

This February, explore ways to fit physical activity into your day (wherever you are) during Move UBC Month!

See what's happening during Move UBC

Move UBC: Pit Stop on the Go at UBCO

Come grab a coffee, hot chocolate, snacks and door prizes as we wrap up Move UBC on February 28 at 12:00 p.m. in front of the lower entrance to the gym and take a walk around the Okanagan campus.

Register Today

Become a UBCO Workplace Wellbeing Ambassador!

Are you interested in playing a vital role in championing health and wellbeing for your departments and among your peers?

UBCO HR’s Health and Wellbeing team is looking for volunteer Workplace Wellbeing Ambassadors who will support workplace wellbeing initiatives, as well as inspire others to be a part of meaningful programs.

Applications close on February 28.

Find out more and apply!

Meet Crystal and Dawn our UBCO Workplace Wellbeing Ambassadors

Want to learn more about our Workplace Wellbeing Ambassadors (WWA)? Find out exactly what a WWA can do to improve the health and wellbeing of their teams in these interviews with Dawn and Crystal.

Read the interviews

Join the Dry-Curious™ Challenge 

We’re excited to partner with ALAViDA to offer the Dry-Curious Challenge. Check out the guide with evidence-based tips to help you reduce consumption, boost wellbeing, sleep better and more. The challenge is anonymous — no email is required to join.

Click here to view the PDF guide

Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Faculty and staff resources

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) wrapped up Sexual Assault Awareness Month by providing valuable resources for faculty and staff to use year-round. You are encouraged to share these resources within your unit or department.

UBC faculty and staff also have access to all SVPRO services, including support if you have experienced or been impacted by sexual or gender-based violence, harassment, or harm. Together we can build a culture of consent at UBC.