When you notice yourself worrying about what\u202fmight\u202fhappen, stop and ask yourself, \u201cWhat can I do about it now?\u201d\u202fOne way to visualize this is the Sphere of Influence.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Three](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sphere-of-influence-graphic.png?resize=576%2C371&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWithin the Sphere, there are three areas:\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- No Control<\/strong>:\u202fIf there is absolutely nothing you can do to change or influence a situation, you can only assess whether you can learn from it, then let it go and refocus on something else. This would apply to things like the weather, supply chain issues this season, or flight cancellations. To reduce feelings of worry and improve your well-being, spend minimal time and energy regarding any matters that fall within this area of the sphere.\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Possible Influence but No Control<\/strong>: If there is a step you can take that may influence an outcome, person, or situation, determine what action you can take to maximize that influence, follow through, and then let it go. Resist the temptation to convince yourself that worrying about it means it is within your control.\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Control<\/strong>:\u202fIf the issue you are wrestling with is completely within your control, then you have control over your decisions, attitude, and behavior. What action can you take that you\u2019ve been putting off? What self-care practice can you initiate to support your well-being? When you practice shifting your focus and attention to what is within your control rather than allowing what is out of your control to consume your time and thoughts, feelings of helplessness and overwhelm decrease significantly.\u202f<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Make Yourself a Priority\u202f<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When asked why we don\u2019t make our well-being a higher priority, the most common answer is: not enough time. Although we can\u2019t add more hours to the day (No Control area of the Sphere of Influence), we can take actionable steps to better manage our time and carve out space to improve our overall wellness (Control area of the sphere).\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few ideas to help you focus your energy on areas you can control when it comes to your well-being this time of year.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Schedule Downtime:\u202f<\/strong>Block downtime off on your Outlook calendar like you would for a meeting or other work engagement.\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Set Positive Boundaries:\u202f<\/strong>Check out the following articles as a starting point:\u202f\n
- \n
- Tips to Establish and Maintain Healthy Boundaries<\/a>\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Leadership Blog Series: Positive Boundaries\u202f<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Be Selective:<\/strong>\u202fMost of us have an extraordinary number of demands placed on us, and this time of year often brings even more. Before you commit to anything additional, give yourself a little time to consider: Do I really need to do this\u202fright now<\/em>?\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Get Back to the Basics:<\/strong>\u202fConsider your current relationship with sleep, physical activity, and eating. What are one or two simple steps you could take to improve your physical health? Even something as small as not having your cell phone next to your bed at night or scheduling short blocks of time on your calendar to stretch at your desk can have a tremendous impact. Ensuring your basic physical needs are met helps ensure a solid foundation for all aspects of your well-being.\u202f<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Utilize Your Resources\u202f<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One major goal within\u202fMSU\u2019s strategic plan<\/a>\u202fis to support the \u201ccareer development and well-being of staff and faculty at MSU, focusing on creating a best-in-class workplace culture and welcoming environment in which excellence and opportunity thrive.\u201d From one-on-one counseling to self-paced learning opportunities, many resources are available to you as an MSU employee to improve your well-being and take care of yourself this year and beyond. Recommendations to get you started are listed below, along with contact information for specialists at MSU who can provide extra support.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
University Health and Wellbeing<\/a><\/strong>:\u202fSupports 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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)<\/a><\/strong>:\u202fMSU employees or retirees and their benefits-eligible dependents have access to the EAP, which provides confidential counseling at no cost. To best fit your schedule, EAP offers both virtual and in-person appointments.\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spartan Resilience Educational Webinars:<\/a>\u202f<\/strong>These webinars transform counseling-based skill-building into accessible media formats. These offerings integrate resilience education into the everyday living, learning, and working spaces of the Spartan community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Move More @ Work:<\/a><\/strong>\u202fAn ongoing campaign facilitated by University Health and Wellbeing\u2019s Health Promotion and Engagement office. Browse offerings, learn more about on-campus opportunities, and get moving more at work!\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Worklife Wellbeing<\/a><\/strong>:\u202fCheck out the Worklife Wellbeing seminar options to see what you might want to learn more about.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Mindful State<\/a><\/strong>:\u202fAn emerging university-wide, collaborative initiative to help Spartans learn the benefits of mindfulness and access resources to develop or strengthen their mindfulness practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
elevateU Online Learning Platform<\/a><\/strong>: Free, self-paced resources including short videos, online courses, and books around a wide variety of topics. Highlighted topics include:\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Stress Management\u202f<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cultivating Good Habits\u202f<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Optimizing your Workplace Wellbeing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Managing Change Successfully<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
HR\u2019s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) Courses<\/a><\/strong>: Instructor-led courses offered by the friendly and knowledgeable OPD team. Course dates and times are updated throughout the year, so be sure to check back soon for updated course dates\/times! Highlighted courses include (new dates\/times coming soon):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Breaking Free from Stress<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Power of Habit<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Creating and Sustaining a Positive Workplace<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Getting Things Done<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Opening Image Credit: Centre for Aging Better Age-Positive Image Library.\u202f<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
- The Power of Habit<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cultivating Good Habits\u202f<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spartan Resilience Educational Webinars:<\/a>\u202f<\/strong>These webinars transform counseling-based skill-building into accessible media formats. These offerings integrate resilience education into the everyday living, learning, and working spaces of the Spartan community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Leadership Blog Series: Positive Boundaries\u202f<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Set Positive Boundaries:\u202f<\/strong>Check out the following articles as a starting point:\u202f\n
- Possible Influence but No Control<\/strong>: If there is a step you can take that may influence an outcome, person, or situation, determine what action you can take to maximize that influence, follow through, and then let it go. Resist the temptation to convince yourself that worrying about it means it is within your control.\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n