To help us navigate these stressful times, Employee & Family Resources is offering a weekly webinar series. Join EFR on June 10 at 10 a.m. for Back to the Workplace: Managing the “New Normal” with Skill & Grace and on June 24 at 2 p.m. for Peaceful Mind in the Midst of Uncertainty.

Register here. All webinars are live, but will be recorded and available for later viewing if these dates and times do not work with your schedule.

EFR has also created a series of podcasts called Emotion Well Podcast.  The podcasts are available on their website, as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

If life is weighing you down, EFR offers a variety of Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) resources to help you now, or anytime. You can reach EAP by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website at https://www.efr.org/login/. All EAP benefits are confidential and available 24/7/365.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

If you have been sitting in front of your laptop these past few weeks, now is the time to head outdoors for a walk, run, or bike ride—while maintaining social distance.

Normally we celebrate National Bike Month in May. As with everything else, this year looks different due to COVID-19. To adjust, Bike to Work Week has moved to September 21–27, 2020, with National Bike to Work Day scheduled for Tuesday, September 22.

Despite these changes, you can still dust off your bicycle and get pedaling now. If your bicycle needs a tune-up, a number of local bike shops are open for business. There are also mobile bicycle repair trucks that will come to your home to service your bicycle while maintaining social distance.

If you are not a bicyclist, how about heading outdoors for a walk or run? Do you need a nudge? The first Wednesday in June (June 3) is Global Running Day. It can be a stroll around the block or a 5-mile run. Do it alone or with your family.

If you would like to participate in a formal event, Fleet Feet is hosting “My Big Run Virtual Race” on June 3. You can choose from five distances: 1 mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon. Simply pick a distance and submit your results. The $10 registration fee will get you a virtual race-day kit, training tips, and chance to win some prizes. Find more information.

See you—from a distance—on the trails!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Many people turn to food to cope with emotions. If you find yourself struggling with emotional or stress eating during this unusual—and often stressful— time, you are not alone.

Allowing yourself to enjoy an extra dessert or some sweet or salty snacks is understandable. However, if you cannot seem to step away from food, the quick fix of cookies or cake can ultimately make you feel worse, both physically and emotionally. This can drive anxiety and worsen your mood. Here are five tips that may help.

Make a schedule or daily meal plan. Just like scheduling your work routine, you can schedule your meals. This includes times for your main meals and snack breaks. If it helps, post it on a calendar. Select a location to eat your meals and snacks like your kitchen table and keep that place separate from where you work and relax. Finally, prepare your snacks in advance to control portion size and select healthier options.

Become aware of your triggers. When do you most often reach for food?  When watching TV or scrolling through social media?  When working on a project?  Next, ask yourself how hungry you are.  Are you eating from hunger or emotion?  Keep a record of your triggers in a journal.  By understanding what prompts the eating, you can learn to anticipate these moments and find a healthier way to cope.  Maybe it is calling a friend, deep breathing, journaling, meditation, or taking a walk.

Keep temptations out of the house. Make the healthy choice the easy choice by surrounding yourself with nutritious options. Buy fewer processed, high-salt or high-sugar snacks. Load up on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins. Do not forget your beverages. Skip the soda and replace it with flavored water.

Get exercise and plenty of sleep. Both physical activity and rest are important for managing stress and emotions. The better you feel, the less likely you are to make poor eating choices.

Get support when needed. Sometimes you cannot do it alone. When this happens reach out to a friend or family member for support. Registered dietitians and counselors, including Employee & Family Resources, can help.

The bottom line: increased anxiety can cause you to abandon your healthy eating intentions. But, with a little thought and planning, you can continue to make good food choices and maybe even boost your mood and immunity.

—  Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The Des Moines Corporate Games is an annual company-based competition normally held June 1–July 31.  Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Iowa Sports Foundation to adjust this year’s games. They are developing plans for alternative activities that allow employees to have a positive experience while maintaining social distancing. This includes launching a Des Moines Corporate Games Virtual Challenge to allow companies to compete and earn points while keeping safe. Some of the virtual events include the fitness walk, yoga, fitness class, and trivia. Other events could move later in the summer (if possible). They are also adding additional opportunities for employees to earn company points.

Corporate Games is still working through the changes but are anxious to get teams put together to start the process. Activities will be held in the evening and on weekends, are free (except cart rental for golf, if this event remains on the schedule), and are open to all full-time and regular part-time employees, interns, and retirees.

If you are interested, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Please join the Human Resources department in welcoming five new full-time Drake University employees for the month of April.

Leroy Douglas, Facilities Planning and Management, Facility Maintainer III
Alma Ortiz, Facilities Planning and Management, Facility Maintainer III
Terri Schlak, University Advancement, Assistant Data Specialist
Henry Becker, Public Safety, Public Safety Officer
Nathan Jacobson, Drake International, Education Abroad Coordinator

— Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

In March, the All Staff Council (ASC) created a chat group in Microsoft Teams called “Staff—Remote Work Support Group.”  This group was formed to share remote work best practices, obtain crowd-sourced responses to remote work inquiries, and connect staff from across campus. If you’re not part of this group, here is a sample of what’s been shared. If you are a staff employee and interested in joining, please send an email to ascspecialinterest@drake.edu. 

Working from home. What seemed impossible has become the daily routine for many. Thanks to technology, including ITS remote best practices, we are creating a blueprint that will serve us well going forward.

Taking care of work and your children. One of the biggest challenges for parents is juggling work and parenting, while also taking on the role of teacher. Websites such as educateiowa.gov and National Geographic at Home offer online education tools. For those wishing to focus on this topic, the ASC recently created a Teams chat “Parents Group.” To join this chat group, please send an email to jenny.jones@drake.edu.

Wellness tips. Taking care of yourself can often be a challenge. Throw in a pandemic, closed gyms, and social distancing and your well-being can take a hit. But there are a multitude of resources to help, starting with Drake’s Group X virtual workouts. The ASC recently created a “Wellness Group” Teams chat for those who wish to focus on this topic. To join this group, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Other resources. The “Staff—Remote Work Support Group” has become a repository of helpful, and sometimes just plain fun resources. Whether you want to use a video background in Teams, are looking for some free entertainment (online classes, games, movies, etc.), or are simply trying to find some 20-second songs to sing while washing your hands, this chat group has it.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

May is Mental Health Month, and given the challenging circumstances we are all facing, it is an important topic to address. While one in five people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health.

The good news is there are practical tools that you can use to address your mental health and reduce the amount of anxiety you may be feeling with COVID-19. With so many factors out of our control right now, focus on what you can control such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, getting enough sleep, following the CDC guidelines, and limiting the amount of news you consume, while still staying informed.

If you are taking steps to manage worry and anxiety during this COVID-19 pandemic, but they don’t seem to be helping, there are additional resources available.

Employee and Family Resources (EFR) is offering weekly webinars to help address stress and anxiety during the pandemic. Past topics include All about Attitude, Coping with COVID-19, Stress and Resiliency, and Navigating Change in Times of Uncertainty. Access past recorded webinars  and view upcoming webinars.

EFR has also created a series of podcasts called Emotion Well Podcast.  They can be found on their website, as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

If life is weighing you down, EFR offers a variety of Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) resources to help you now, or anytime. You can reach EAP by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website at https://www.efr.org/login/. All EAP benefits are confidential and available 24/7/365.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The Des Moines Corporate Games are an annual company-based competition normally held June 1–July 31. Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational. Activities are held in the evening and on weekends, and are free (except cart rental for golf). The games are open to all full-time and regular part-time employees, interns, and retirees.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Iowa Sports Foundation to get creative with these games. They are developing plans for alternative activities that allow employees to have a positive experience while maintaining social distancing. This will include launching a Des Moines Corporate Games Virtual Challenge. This weekly challenge will be designed to allow companies to compete and earn points while keeping safe. Some of the traditional events will be given this virtual option including the fitness walk, yoga, fitness class, and trivia. Other events may be postponed and moved to a later date in the summer (if possible). They are also planning to add additional opportunities for employees to be active and earn company points.

Corporate Games is still working through the changes but are anxious to get teams put together to start the process.

If you are interested in more information or to register for these games, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Drake’s Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows participants to set aside pre-tax dollars for child or adult daycare. Per IRS Regulations, participants may adjust their current FSA contribution if a change in status occurs. Such changes include an increase or decrease in the cost of care, or an increase or decrease in the need for care.

To reduce or discontinue your current Dependent Care FSA election, please complete/return the mid-year change form within 30 days of the change in status. Should your need for daycare change in the future, you may adjust your election again within 30 days of the change in status.

For questions, contact Advantage Administrators at 800-383-1623 or Marlene Heuertz at marlene.heuertz@drake.edu.

— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

If you have some extra time at home while practicing social distancing, why not use it to learn a new skill, brush up on current skills, or take a deep-dive into a topic that has always interested you?

Welcome to “e-learning” where you can learn just about anything you want without setting foot in a classroom. Online courses are offered for credit, not for credit, or just for fun. From learning new computer and tech skills to adopting a new hobby, learning opportunities are available.

If you are not entirely sure what course to focus on first, think about your current position and what skills would help you at work. Also think about something outside of your daily duties that you have always wanted to learn.

Once you have a topic, where do you find classes? While there are a number of available websites, two of the more familiar sites are Coursera and edX. Each site offers both free as well as for a fee courses.  They are often free to audit, or listen to, but you can pay to receive a certificate. Class Central is another good site with a seemingly endless amount of free online courses on a range of topics.

If you are ready to take it a step further, Drake University has a wonderful and growing list of online classes, including bachelor and master’s degree programs. Finally, if you would like to learn a new language, Cowles Library offers free Mango languages training. To access this resource, go to myDrake and click on Mango Languages under Learning Resources.

If taking a full online course is more of a time commitment than you are ready to take, consider watching a webinar. Webinars are a great way to learn more about a specific topic in a short period of time. Check out free webinars on websites such as Hubspot. Or plug into a motivational speaker at Ted Talks.

Taking a class could be the beginning of a journey to more learning. But, even if the completion of a single course is enough, learning a new skill or discipline may be the perfect way to socially connect with others, while expanding your boundaries.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources