Jan. 15, 2019

Seven essential resources you need to rock your New Year's resolutions

How to keep your health, wellness and career development goals alive this year

Author

Jodi Egan, University Relations

MacEwan Hall in winter
Take advantage of the resources the university has to offer to make your goals a reality. Riley Brandt for the University of Calgary

We’re a few weeks into 2019, and many of us are still going strong with our New Year’s resolutions. Whether yours is returning to the fruits and veggies after weeks of holiday treats, prioritizing your mental health, or developing a new skill in the workplace, the university has amazing resources to support you and your goals.

1. Make your health a priority with the Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)

Offered through Homewood Health, EFAP offers a range of supports and services. From wellness programs for emerging health and wellness concerns, to crisis services for immediate and acute concerns, get your resolutions moving in the right direction with EFAP Lifestyle and Specialty Coaching available to all faculty and staff.

Health goals

  • Nutrition
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Weight management
  • Smoking cessation

Life balance goals

  • Child care and parenting
  • Elder and family care
  • Relationships
  • Financial consultation
  • Legal advice

Career goals

  • Career planning
  • Workplace issues
  • Retirement planning
  • Shift worker support

For many of these topics, EFAP also provides in-person, over-the-phone, live chat or video counselling services 24/7 — all completely free and completely confidential.

If you don’t have an activated EFAP account, sign up at homeweb.ca.

As we all look to improve ourselves this year, take advantage of the resources the university has to offer to make your goals a reality.

Take advantage of the resources the university has to offer to make your goals a reality.

Riley Brandt for the University of Calgary

2. Plan ahead for your career growth with a UNavigate self-assessment

Identify your strengths, interests, skills and experience with self-reflection and assessment exercises offered through UNavigate — a career development program all employees can use to explore their unique and individualized career growth at the University of Calgary. Because what is a fit for you may not be a fit for another, UNavigate has a number of different tools to assist you on the road to self-assessment:

3. Ask your colleagues and managers for professional feedback

After completing a career self-assessment of your personal interests, skills and strengths, take the next step — ask for feedback from peers, managers, and direct reports. Feedback is essential for career exploration and can help you to maximize your potential, raise awareness of your strengths and identify areas of improvement.

4. Build your skillset — start a new hobby or learn a new professional skill

Training and Development offers a variety of programs, workshops, e-learning, guidebooks, articles and more on an topics aimed at developing staff for their current role as well as for future opportunities and career growth.

But more than that, all faculty and staff have free access to Lynda.com, an online resource with instructional videos on the latest technology, software, skills and hobbies of your choosing. Learn everything from photography to advanced computer programming.

More than 2,000 UCalgary faculty and staff are using their free Lynda.com account to develop their skills and reach their goals.

Over 2,000 UCalgary faculty and staff are using their free Lynda.com account to develop their skills

Riley Brandt for the University of Calgary

5. Ditch the stigma around mental health — take The Working Mind workshop

The Working Mind provides faculty and staff with resources to maintain positive mental health and resiliency while increasing mental health awareness and reducing the stigma around mental illnesses. Managers can take advantage of courses to help create a supportive environment, strengthen the organizational culture and contribute to a healthy workplace.

6. Learn strategies to navigate the hurdles this year may throw at you

Want to strengthen your ability to face life’s challenges, cope with change, overcome obstacles or rebound from setbacks? Examine your emotional, social and physical wellness and learn strategies to increase your personal resilience at the Building Personal Resilience workshop. Develop the skills you need to better navigate everyday conflicts, as well as life’s unexpected hurdles.

You can even request a Building Personal Resilience presentation for your faculty or unit.

7. Explore the countless resources available in your workplace

Take your success into your own hands by exploring all the benefits and services available for faculty and staff at the University of Calgary. Learn more by visiting:

With many of us looking to tighten our financial belts after the holidays, talk to a financial coach for free with the university's Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), Homewood Health.

Talk to a financial coach for free with the university's Employee and Family Assistance Program.

Stock Snap

Tags