Do one thing for your wellbeing this January
02 Jan 2025
Take part in our free programme of events for our ‘Starting Well in 2025 Campaign’ this January
The new year can be a challenging time for many of us as colleagues navigate post-holiday blues, the cold weather and pressures a new year can bring. However, January presents a great opportunity to focus on our own wellbeing, try something new, and set a positive tone for the year ahead. Each week we offer a programme of wellbeing activities designed to give you the time and space to focus on your physical health, mental wellbeing and connecting with others.
‘We invite everyone across the University to ‘Do One Thing’ for your wellbeing this January. Our programme of free events including a variety of active sessions, webinars, on-campus health education and checks and opportunities to connect with colleagues. We know finding time to look after our physical and mental wellbeing can be difficult, but join us in making a commitment to prioritise your wellbeing this year in a simple way by trying one thing for your wellbeing. What will you do this January? We hope you enjoy our programme and look forward to seeing you at one of our events!’
Helen Brewis, Head of Wellbeing and Maizy Jenner, Wellbeing Manager
Events
Get active – try one of our sports sessions
Monday 6 January to Friday 31 January
Our UoM Sport Team are offering a full month of free exercise classes to try out between Monday, 6 to Friday, 31 January. There is a wide range of in-person and virtual classes available offering an opportunity for movement during your day including yoga, zumba, pilates and much more.
Please note lane swimming sessions and the reflexology workshop will not be available to book until 2 weeks before the event is due to take place. Please contact gail.heathcote-milner@manchester.ac.uk if you have any questions about a class.
Manage Stress and Boost your Nutrition
Tuesday, 14 January
How to Support Good Wellbeing and Manage Stress Through Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Webinar, 11:00 -12:00
The food we consume directly impacts our mood, how we feel and our energy levels. When experiencing periods of stress, the food choices we make are very important. Delivered by Nutritional Therapist Fiona Hutchison, this session will cover what stress actually is, how it can affect our health and nutrition and lifestyle practise you can implement to support good wellbeing and help with the effective management of stress.
- In case you missed it watch a recording of the session - Manage Stress and Boost your Nutrition
Learn more about mental health
Thursday 23 January
Samaritans Webinar: Challenging Myths About Suicide, 11:00 – 12:00
The Samaritans will be joining us to deliver a webinar focused on challenging myths about suicide. Talking about suicide is difficult, however it is a subject that we cannot ignore with the continued increase in suicide deaths in the UK year on year.
The webinar will include:
- Samaritans introduction
- The profile of suicide in the UK
- Five common myths about suicide
- Samaritans: there for everyone - contacting us and how we can support you
- Time for questions
Please note this webinar will discuss sensitive topics people may find difficult.
Check in on your health
Wednesday, 22 and Tuesday, 28 January
Prevent Breast Cancer: Let’s Talk About Breast Health! Mobile Breast Awareness Hub on Campus, 10:00 – 13:00, Bridgeford Street.
Prevent Breast Cancer’s mobile breast awareness hub will be visiting campus, and we’d love for you to stop by for a chat (and a free brew!). Their friendly staff and ambassadors, who’ve been personally affected by breast cancer, will be there to share their stories, answer questions, and help you feel more confident about spotting the signs and symptoms and provide resources for staying breast aware. It’s a relaxed and informal way to learn how you can take charge of your breast health. Come by, have a brew and chat with their friendly team. Visit Prevent Breast Cancer Charity UK | Predict Prevent Protect to learn more.
Tuesday, 4 February
Health Check Clinic, 11:00 – 13:30, Whitworth Committee Rooms D and F, Ground Floor, Whitworth Building.
Our Occupational Health team will be running a FREE pop-up Health Check Clinic between 11:00 – 13:30.
Building access information can be found via these links: Committee Room D and Committee Room F.
You do not need to book a health check slot, you can just turn up. All staff are welcome.
Time to reflect
Journaling
Journaling is a positive starting point to help you become more aware of your mental health, track your day to day feelings and triggers, and identify helpful coping strategies. Journaling can also help you manage tasks and ‘to-do’s’ by pulling information out of your brain and getting it down on paper. Start today – give the positivity journal link below a try. This journal has been developed by a UoM member of staff.
Financial support
Take some time to reflect on your current finances and access tools and support to help you plan for the year ahead: