Enhance employee well-being during Wildcat Pause Day
In preparation for Wildcat Pause Day on Oct. 17, faculty and staff are encouraged to take intentional steps to reduce stress, refocus their energy and find opportunities to balance their health and productivity.
By incorporating small, healthy habits into your regular routine, you embody our next-gen values and support a healthier, more connected campus.
Whether it's finishing up a project, connecting with a colleague, or taking a moment to reflect, the most important thing is that you prioritize your well-being.
Follow these tips for healthy habits
Below are eight ways everyone can recharge during Wildcat Pause Day, or any time of the year.
Unplug from digital devices
While you might not be able to disconnect from technology completely, try silencing unnecessary notifications, even for an hour.
Use this time to mentally reset, organize your thoughts and focus on a task without distraction.
Move your body
Just 20 minutes of movement is a great way to recharge your energy and can be a huge mood booster.
Take a campus well-being walk with First Lady Linton or enjoy your free day pass at K-State's Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex.
Try something new
Step outside of your comfort zone and Line Dance for Well-Being.
Also, consider attending Lifestyle Rx: Moving Beyond the Pharmacy, or How Health Begins at the Table, presented by Sara Bonnes, M.D., professor of medicine, medical director of the Healthy Longevity Clinic at Mayo Clinic Rochester.
Breaking from routine can provide a fresh perspective and renewed sense of energy.
Manage your schedule proactively
Take charge of your time by planning a day with fewer distractions and no meetings.
If meetings are unavoidable, turn them into walking meetings. Work on some of your favorite things to do in your role.
Or, use this day to catch up on projects, reorganize your workspace and check off smaller tasks that might have been piling up.
Reconnect with nature
Have lunch outside and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. Visit the K-State Gardens or take a walk around the Konza Prairie.
Manhattan is filled with outdoor spaces to help reset your mind and body.
Practice mindfulness
Focus on being present and take a meditative walk through the Gardens.
Or participate in the Faculty and Staff Well-being webinar series.
Connect with others
Connect with a colleague that you don't often see. Grab some friends for coffee or join a 'Cats Connect group. Organize a team potluck or wellness challenge.
The key is to spend meaningful time with others.
Rest and recharge your way
If eligible, utilize your discretionary leave day or vacation time to care for yourself.
Slow down and allow yourself to take breaks that help restore your energy and focus.
Wildcat Pause Day is time for your well-being
Your schedules are busy, and a pause might be the difference between accomplishment and burnout. Please work with your supervisor to determine how best to utilize Wildcat Pause Day.
Wildcat Pause Day is not about pressing pause on everything, but about creating balance that improves your personal and professional health. The most important thing is that you prioritize your needs. So, Wildcats, let's take a step back, breathe and press pause together!
Find more details on events and activities on the Wildcat Pause Day website.