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Find Your Calm: Tools for Everyday Well‑Being

Published on April 9, 2026April 9, 2026 by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

April is Stress Awareness Month, a reminder that everyday stress can take a toll on both mental and physical health. Learning to manage stress effectively is an important part of maintaining overall well-being and happiness. MSU offers a variety of resources to employees to help you feel more balanced.

NEW – Calm Health App: Recently launched in late 2025, the Calm Health app is available at no cost to MSU employees and eligible dependents, offering personalized, psychologist-developed programs and tools to help manage stress, improve sleep, and support overall mental and physical well-being.
Campus Meditation Map: Beal Scholar Anhad Viswananth created this incredible meditation map to highlight the best spots to meditate around campus.
Fitness Resources to Stay Active: Watch your stress dissolve as you become more active this spring. Warmer weather is on its way, and it’s the perfect time to get outside and run, kayak, walk, or swim.
University Health and Wellbeing (UHW): UHW supports our university community with health and well-being equitably woven throughout all aspects of Spartan life. They offer a variety of resources for employees, including:
- Midday Moves: Take a break from end of the semester stress with a Finals Flex stretch, mobility, and mindful movement routine. Bring an exercise mat or a towel. Two ways to join: in-person at the MSU Library or via Zoom.
- Desk Decompress: Join one of these 30 or 15-minute virtual classes to relax and decompress while stretching and strengthening the wrist, shoulders, and spine. Join on a Monday for a full-body movement, or a join on a Thursday to work upper-body throughout April.
- Spartan Resilience Education Programs: University Health and Wellbeing provide opportunities for any Spartan, anywhere, to develop or strengthen the skills needed to effectively respond to their unique collection of challenges. Through a variety of media and teaching formats, they seek to ensure that resilience education is accessible, inclusive, and ever-present as part of the “Spartan Experience.”
- Employee Assistance Program: The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential short-term counseling and referral service provided at no cost to MSU faculty, staff, graduate assistants, retirees, and their insurance-eligible dependents who are located within the state of Michigan. Classes and resources to help reduce stress are updated on the EAP website often.
- Listen to the Wellbeing at MSU podcast to hear from leaders across MSU.
- View all UHW events, webinars, and more.
Walking at MSU: There are many things to see and do on MSU’s 2,100-acre campus. Join these MSU campus walking tours and make the most of our beautiful campus and gardens.
- On April 9, join the Beal Botanical Garden for a Spring into Conservation tour to explore diverse conservation efforts, look at Michigan’s rare plants, including their work preserving the state’s only fertile population of the Michigan Monkeyflower.
- On April 29, join Beal Botanical Garden Spring Ephemerals walk for a garden walk exploring the spring ephemerals that are so brief in their floral display. Bring binoculars, you may catch some early spring birds migrating north.
- View all Beal Botanical Garden events.
Breaking Free from Stress Course: This course offered by HR’s Organization and Professional Development department will help you learn how to be less reactive to other people and events and live your life from a deeper perspective of common sense and wisdom.
How to Disconnect From Work: Taking time away from work, in the forms of breaks, vacation time, or strengthening boundaries around employees’ workdays, is important. View these resources to learn more about balancing your time and work schedule.

A Commitment to Wellbeing at MSU

As announced by MSU University Health and Wellbeing, Michigan State University was recently recognized as one of Michigan’s Best and Brightest in Wellness, earning the Best of the Best Large Business honor in 2025. This award, presented by the National Association for Business Resources, celebrates organizations that prioritize the health and wellbeing of their communities.

From mental health support and resilience programming to campus-wide wellness initiatives, this recognition reinforces MSU’s commitment to creating a supportive environment where Spartans can thrive.

Stress can look different for each individual, so take care of yourself using these resources and beyond. Have another resource you’d like to add to the list? Let us know in the comments!

Spartan scenes: Sailboat, Sparty, Tennis Ball

Get Active this Spring: Fitness Resources for MSU Employees

Published on March 10, 2026March 12, 2026 by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Warmer weather on the horizon means more opportunities to get outside and get active! If you need some ideas to encourage you and your family get active this spring, the following resources and opportunities are available for MSU employees:

In-person Opportunities

Biking: One of the easiest ways to add exercise to your daily routine is to attach it to an activity or habit you perform already, such as your commute to work. MSU Bikes provides support with commuter resources to help you bike to work with confidence, including a 1-on-1 Bike Commuter Assistance service which helps you find the safest, lowest-stress route to and from campus to your neighborhood. MSU Bikes also rents bikes to departments for staff to use during the work day with their Department Fleet Services. Bikes are a great way to get around campus for meetings, lunches, errands, or a nice break! Save the hassle of traffic, offer a healthy alternative for your staff breaks/on-campus transportation, and avoid problems finding car parking by adding a bike to your department transportation fleet. If you’re working remotely, find several Greater Lansing area biking groups to join instead. The MSU Bikes Service Center also offers new and used bikes, rentals (long and short term), as well as a repair service.
Sailing, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, and Kayaking: The MSU Sailing Center is located on Lake Lansing in Haslett just east of campus. The Sailing Center strives to provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environment for all participants. Consider participating in one of their many programs, including a learn-to-sail course, paddle sports, group outings, and private lessons. MSU employees can receive a discounted rate for membership.
Midday Movement Series: On the third Wednesday of each month, stop by the MSU Library for a variety of classes to help get you moving this spring! From 12:10 to 12:50 p.m., get your move on and bring athletic shoes, water, and a towel. Register here to save your spot.
Tennis: At the MSU Tennis Center you can book a court for singles or doubles or participate in one of their adult instructional classes or drill sessions. There’s something for everyone with classes geared toward both beginners and pro-level players.
Golf: MSU Forest Akers offers teaching programs for golfers of all ages and abilities, including adult group classes (currently full but waitlist available) or private instruction, and a casual golf league for all skill levels (league is full but fill out the form to sub). MSU employees can also access the golf range and courses at discounted rates.
MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness Services: MSU faculty and staff can purchase a membership to access the many services provided at MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness, including swimming, group fitness classes, and much more.

Virtual Opportunities

MSU Benefits Plus offers a bunch of fitness and wellness discounts, including gym memberships and personal training. After you log in to MSU Benefits Plus, select Deals from the top navigation, then Gyms and Health Clubs to see all current offerings.
Sign up for virtual chair yoga, midday movement series, and Desk Decompress through the Move More @ Work programs provided by University Health and Wellbeing.

Articles and Resources to Increase Motivation:

University Health and Wellbeing offers current, evidence-informed information employees can use to further their understanding of fitness. Topics covered include Benefits to Being Physically Active and Ways to Move More During the Workday.

Get Active this Spring: Fitness Resources for MSU Employees

Published on March 19, 2024March 27, 2024 by Megan MacGregor2 Comments

Warmer weather on the horizon means more opportunities to get outside! If you need some ideas to help you and your family get active this spring, the following resources and opportunities are available for MSU employees:

In-person Opportunities

Biking: One of the easiest ways to add exercise to your daily routine is to attach it to an activity or habit you perform already, such as your commute to work. MSU Bikes provides support with commuter resources to help you bike to work with confidence, including a 1-on-1 Bike Commuter Assistance service which helps you find the safest, lowest-stress route to and from campus to your neighborhood. MSU Bikes also rents bikes to departments for staff to use during the work day with their Department Fleet Services. Bikes are a great way to get around campus for meetings, lunches, errands, or a nice break! Save the hassle of traffic, offer a healthy alternative for your staff breaks/on-campus transportation, and avoid problems finding car parking by adding a bike to your department transportation fleet. If you’re working remotely, find several Greater Lansing area biking groups to join instead. The MSU Bikes Service Center also offers new and used bikes, rentals (long and short term), as well as a repair service.
Sailing, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, and Kayaking: The MSU Sailing Center is located on Lake Lansing in Haslett just east of campus. The Sailing Center strives to provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environment for all participants. Consider participating in one of their many programs, including a learn-to-sail course, paddle sports, group outings, and private lessons. MSU employees can receive a discounted rate for membership.
Tennis: At the MSU Tennis Center you can book a court for singles or doubles or participate in one of their adult instructional classes or drill sessions. There’s something for everyone with classes geared toward both beginners and pro-level players.
Golf: MSU Forest Akers offers teaching programs for golfers of all ages and abilities, including adult group classes (currently full but waitlist available) or private instruction, and a casual golf league for all skill levels (league is full but fill out the form to sub). MSU employees can also access the golf range and courses at discounted rates.
Swimming: Present a valid staff or faculty ID to use one of the pools available on campus for laps or open swimming during designated pool hours.
Group Fitness Classes: MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness offers a variety of group fitness classes with membership pricing for MSU employees.

Virtual Opportunities

MSU Benefits Plus offers a bunch of fitness and wellness discounts, including gym memberships and personal training. After you log in to MSU Benefits Plus, select Deals from the top navigation, then Gyms and Health Clubs to see all current offerings.
Sign up for a virtual Chair Yoga, Good Form Walking/Running, or Spring Active Office Workshop classes through MSU Health4U.

Articles and Resources to Increase Motivation:

The MSU Health4U team provides current, evidence-informed information employees can use to further their understanding of fitness. Be sure to check out their articles about preventing back pain and the connection between movement and sleep.

Get Active this Spring: Fitness Resources for MSU Employees

Published on April 5, 2022March 28, 2023 by Megan MacGregorLeave a comment

Updated March 2023

In-person Opportunities

Biking: One of the easiest ways to add exercise to your daily routine is to attach it to an activity or habit you perform already, such as your commute to work. MSU Bikes provides support with a variety of commuter resources to help you bike to work with confidence, including a 1-on-1 Bike Commuter Assistance service which helps you find the safest, lowest-stress route to and from campus to your neighborhood. If you’re working remotely, there are a variety of Greater Lansing area biking groups you could join instead. The MSU Bikes Service Center also offers new and used bikes, rentals (long and short term), as well as a repair service.
Sailing, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, and Kayaking: The MSU Sailing Center is located on Lake Lansing in Haslett just east of campus. The Sailing Center strives to provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environment for all participants. Consider participating in one of their many programs, including a learn-to-sail course, paddle sports, group outings, and private lessons. MSU employees can receive a discounted rate for membership.
Tennis: At the MSU Tennis Center you can book a court for singles or doubles or participate in one of their adult instructional classes or drill sessions. There’s something for everyone with classes geared toward both beginners and pro-level players.
Golf: MSU Forest Akers offers teaching programs for golfers of all ages and abilities, including adult group classes and private instruction, and a casual golf league for all skill levels. MSU employees can also access the golf range and courses at discounted rates.
Swimming: Present a valid staff or faculty ID to use one of the pools available on campus for laps or open swimming during designated pool hours.
Group Fitness Classes: MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness offer a variety of group fitness classes with membership pricing for MSU employees.

Virtual Opportunities

MSU Benefits Plus offers a bunch of health and wellness discounts, including a virtual gym membership through GlobalFit. After you log in to MSU Benefits Plus, select Employee Discounts from the top navigation, then Health and Wellness – GlobalFit will be one of the options.
Sign up for a virtual Chair Yoga or Good Form Walking/Running class through MSU Health4U.

Articles and Resources to Increase Motivation:

The MSU Health4U team provides current, evidence-informed information employees can use to further their understanding of fitness. Be sure to check out their articles about preventing back pain and the connection between movement and sleep.

Winter Events, Activities, Holiday Shopping, and Courses

Published on November 1, 2021November 1, 2021 by Megan MacGregorLeave a comment

As the colder weather sets in and the holidays approach, take note of the following opportunities on campus or in the surrounding area for you and your family. Please note: the events below are subject to change at any time. Please confirm event details, safety policies, etc. directly with each event listed.

Family/Kid Friendly

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – MSU Abrams Planetarium Family Shows: In November, check out Violent Universe: Catastrophes of the Cosmos and The Little Star That Could. They also offer sensory friendly shows on the third Sunday of the month.
Nov. 6 – Family Day: Perspective: Make creative connections with our exhibitions through free hands-on and interactive family fun throughout the museum. All ages are welcome. See all upcoming events at the MSU Broad Art Museum here.
Nov. 19 – Silver Bells in the City: Millions of lights. Thousands of people. One very special guest. Lansing’s premiere holiday event.
Starts Nov. 20 – Wonderland of Lights at Potter Park Zoo: Tour grounds with friends and family as thousands of lights and decorations transform the zoo into a holiday spectacle.
Nov. 21 – CADL-Downtown Branch Sensory Friendly Movies: Join in on the 3rd Sunday of the month for sensory-friendly family-friendly movies when we turn the lights up and turn the sound down. Feel free to get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Snacks provided.

Holiday Shopping

Nov. 4 – Dec. 23 (every Thursday, Friday and Saturday) – Michigan Made Holiday Art Exhibition: Showcasing established and emerging artists, enjoy holiday shopping and opportunities to support makers in the local economy.
Nov. 5 – 2021 MSU Houseplant & Succulent Sale: All sales from this fundraiser help support the gardens, including funding for garden maintenance, educational programming, and support for our undergraduate student employees.
Nov. 5 – Arts Night Out: Shops host a special sale, exhibits, arts and crafts demo, live performances.
Second Friday of the Month – Second Friday Shop Hop in Old Town: Hop around to multiple participating businesses for specials, make and takes, pop up shops, local artist, and more.

Music

Nov. 2 – MSU Percussion Ensemble: Presenting a range of contemporary works performed by members of MSU’s percussion ensemble.
Nov. 3 – Robin Theatre Presents: MikeyyAustin & the Soulcial Club: Lansing-based artist and activist, MikeyyAustin and his band, The Soulcial Club, were recently highlighted by NPR Music for their Tiny Desk submission. Check out all upcoming performances at the Robin Theatre.
Nov. 3 – MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series: The Westerlies: This arty brass quartet of childhood friends from Seattle mixes ideas from jazz, new classical, and Appalachian folk.
Throughout November and December – Wharton Center for the Arts presents a variety of musical performances, including Spartan Spectacular, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, Songs of Comfort and Joy, Leslie Odom, Jr The Christmas Tour, and more.

Performance and Art

Nov. 3 – Whose Live Anyway? 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions.
Nov. 14 – Print Club!: Print Club! is a LGBTQ+ affirming social club founded by Lansing artist Randi Richards (they/them/she/her) dedicated to making space for those that love ink to work together, share, and build skills without financial barriers.

Personal/Professional Development Opportunities

Nov. 3 – Introduction to Process Mapping: Learn how to define key process improvement terminology, identify common elements of process maps, reduce barriers to success, and create a process map. If you take this course, consider taking the follow-up Promapp, Interactive Process Creation course on Dec. 1.
Starts Nov. 8 – Understanding Shame and Building Shame Resilience: Join MSU’s certified Daring Way Facilitator Lisa Laughman for this 7-week course based on the work of Dr. Brené Brown.
Starts Nov. 8 – Crucial Conversations: Learn step by step tools for promoting open, honest dialogue around high-stakes, emotional, or risky topics.
Nov. 11 – Family Affinity Group: How to Support Your Children’s Learning from Technology: In this session, we’ll talk about what we know from research about children and screens and how caregivers can use that information to support their children’s learning.
Dec. 1 (register by Nov. 17) – The Power of Habit: Based on “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg, in this course you will learn how habits are created and how to replace undesirable habits with productive ones.
Dec. 9 – Building Cohesive Teams: Explore strategies to increase team cohesiveness and establish positive day-to-day interactions to enhance communication, build team awareness and cultivate trustworthiness in the work culture.
Dec. 9 – Family Affinity Group: Depression, Anxiety, and Other Common Mental Health Challenges in Youth: Learn about the most commonly-diagnosed mental health challenges in young people as well as ways to help them be successful in managing them.

Sports/Fitness

Nov. 20 – Silver Bells 5K: Participants will be able to run/walk the 5K marked course in downtown Lansing or from home virtually.
Nov. 25 – Lansing Turkey Trot (in-person or virtual): Proceeds from the race go to support High School and Middle School Cross Country and Track programs, and Youth Running Clubs through the Michigan Running Foundation grant program.

Do you have an event you’d like us to consider including in a future article? Please email HR.CommunicationsList@campusad.msu.edu with the details.