Winter can be a difficult time. As the days get shorter and the evenings get darker, it can feel harder to take care of yourself and that can impact your mood. It can also be an isolating time for some people. To recognise this, the Staff Wellbeing Team is working with teams across the University to launch their winter wellbeing campaign, which reflects the five steps to wellbeing: give, notice, move, connect and learn.
- Give – Gift donations for care leavers throughout December
Acts of kindness can boost our mental wellbeing. We are asking for donations for local care leavers. A care leaver is a young person above the age of 16 who lived some or all of their childhood in care and has to leave the care system at 18. For many care leavers Christmas can be an especially difficult time of year, and they often spend it alone. Every year Southampton City Council relies on donations to give them a gift at Christmas. We will have gift donation stations across our campuses.
- Notice – Find the elf prize draw throughout December
It’s too easy to spend a lot of time worrying about past events or the future. Being more present and paying more attention to the world around you can improve your mental wellbeing. We have hidden elves in different communal locations across our campuses and online for you to spot. Simply scan one of their QR codes to enter our prize draw to win a UoS catering voucher.
- Move – Indoor activities from Elf & Wellbeing throughout December
Exercise improves our mental health in many ways but during the winter months, many of us miss a lunchtime walk or post-work run. The Elf & Wellbeing team will be sharing inspiration of different indoor activities you can do, no matter the weather.
- Connect – Opportunities to connect throughout January
With increased time indoors and a change in regular routines, winter can prove a challenging time with many adults reporting feeling lonely. Festivities have ended and finances are low, so we want to find a relaxed way to connect. We will be sharing opportunities for you to connect with colleagues.
- Learn – New year, new skills throughout January
Learning new skills can boost our mental wellbeing and January is a time to reflect and plan for the year. Why not take a moment to think about what you will learn in 2025?
For more information on all of the above, visit the dedicated winter wellbeing SharePoint page.