Healthy Workplace Month Blog

Benefits to Gratitude

The Ergonomics Program at the University of Guelph aims to assist faculty and staff to work safely.  Ergonomics applies scientific theory, principles and methods to explore the relationships between the worker job tasks and the workplace.  Ergonomics removes barriers to quality, productivity, and safe human performance by fitting products (equipment), tasks and environments to people.

It is no surprise that time spent in nature reduces stress and promotes wellness. Mathew White and his colleagues conducted a study with almost 20 000 participants and found that spending 2 hours a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Whether this is time spent alone or with family, the Arboretum has a variety of options to engage with nature.

This can include: 

As Jon Kabat-Zinn says, “The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” Little moments can change the tone of your whole day.

The University of Guelph 2021 United Way Campaign will help make our community a better place to live by contributing to 50 different agencies and 72 different programs in Guelph Wellington Dufferin.  The United Way invests in five Impact Areas - Connected Kids, Adequate Basic Needs, Supports for Seniors, Sense of Belonging and Positive Mental Health.  Please join us and show your local love. Last year - in the middle of a pandemic, no less - you amazed us all by raising more than $537,000 to support United Way-funded charities.

What is Gratitude?

To many of us gratitude can be saying “thank you” to someone to show appreciation for a gift we are given or when we have been helped. Gratitude is not just an action; it is also an emotion and when gratitude becomes intentional and habitual it can result in longer lasting positivity.

Gratitude can also look like:

The Wellness@Work Programming Committee is challenging you to a new Gratitude BINGO game for healthy workplace month. 

Download the file below to participate in the Wellness@Work Gratitude BINGO challenge throughout the month of October.  Everyone who participates will be entered into a draw for a prize!   

All you need to do is print the bingo card and mark off squares as you complete them.

Fall is my favourite season. Something about the vibrant colours, falling leaves, and crisp air makes me pause and appreciate the beauty all around us.  For me, October has always brought a renewed focus on mindfulness and gratitude in my everyday life.

This Fall in particular, I am finding the importance of infusing mindfulness into my day and wanted to share a few tips that have helped me over the years.

Each year, U of G joins together to support the United Way.  Typically, there are a variety of in-person fundraising events and activities across the University.  This year will look different due to COVID-19, but the need is still there.

Many students have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The Guelph Student FoodBank provides food for current undergraduate and graduate students who are in need of emergency food.