Employee Wellness
-
EMPLOYEE WELLNESS NEWS & UPDATES
-
Team SPPS Runs Anyway Despite Race Cancellation
Several SPPS staff members signed up and trained to participate in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend. While the 5K and 10K went on as planned on Saturday, Sunday's 10 Mile and Marathon were canceled due to unsafe event conditions. Many runners chose to run on their own, whether the full distance or a modified route. Congratulations to all for your perseverance and hard work!
-
Spring Newsletter 2023
This quarterly newsletter contains updates and information related to SPPS insurance benefits and offerings, workers’ compensation, wellness, and more!
-
Marathon Weekend Registration
Over four decades strong, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend represents the community’s signature running and fitness event. Join 25,000+ participants and 300,000+ fans for a weekend of personal triumphs, community spirit, and events for the whole family.
-
RESOURCES AND HELPFUL LINKS
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
-
Sand Creek EAP offers up to 4 sessions per year of free, confidential assessment for short-term counseling, referral, and follow up. Professional counselors are experienced in helping people identify and find solutions to personal issues such as:
- Relationships
- Financial Concerns
- Parent/Child Issues
- Depression
- Substance Abuse
- Job Stress
- Gambling
- Childcare or Eldercare
- Loss and Grief
- Other Life Concerns
Using Sand Creek EAP is completely confidential, provided at no cost to you, and available to both you and your household family members.
- 651-430-3383
- 1-888-243-5744
- Sand Creek EAP Main Website
- Sand Creek EAP Brochure
Tobacco Cessation
-
Tobacco Cessation Information & Resources
Smoking and using tobacco harms nearly every organ in the body. Smoking causes immediate and long-term health issues, and can lead to cancer, heart disease, and other respiratory diseases.
Quitting tobacco can be one of the best things you can do for yourself and those around you, but it can also be one of the most difficult things you may ever do. Look into some of the various resources provided by SPPS through your Medica or PEIP insurance.
-
SPPS Tobacco Policy
Saint Paul Public Schools provides an environment free from tobacco and tobacco-related products and devices to comply with the law and protect the health of our students, employees and others in District facilities, on District grounds, and at District activities.
Everyday Wellness Tips
-
Choose to Volunteer
Regular volunteering is associated with many physical and mental health benefits by keeping your mind and body active.
Reach out to any of these organizations to find the volunteer opportunity that best fits you.
- Greater Twin Cities United Way www.gtcuw.org
- Catholic Charities www.cctwincities.org
- Volunteer Match www.volunteermatch.org
- Doing Good Together www.doinggoodtogether.org
- Open Arms MN www.openarmsmn.org
- Salvation Army https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/twin-cities/
- Hands on Twin Cities www.handsontwincities.org
- Feed My Starving Children www.fmsc.org/
- Science Museum of Minnesota https://www.smm.org/volunteer
- Minnesota Humane Society volunteer@mnhumane.org
- Mississippi National River and Recreation Area miss_volunteer@nps.gov
- East Side Learning volunteer@eslcmn.org
- Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity volunteer@tchabitat.org
"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." - Arthur Ashe
-
Choose to Move
Incorporate these simple activities into your day to keep moving:
- Start the work day with a quick, five minute walk
- Stand at your desk every hour for at least five minutes
- Walk to the furthest restroom, drinking fountain or copy machine
- Reserve five minutes of your lunch for a walk to re-engergize
- Park in the furthest parking spot in the lot
- Use the stairs when possible
-
Choose to Relax
Consider using some of these techniques to manage stress:
Breathing Exercises: use this breathing exercise to help calm your body and refocus your mind:
- Sit with your shoulders back, neck relaxed, feet on the floor and hands resting on your lap
- Close your eyes if you feel more comfortable and are able to at the time
- Inhale through your nose for the count of 4,3,2,1
- Hold your breath for the count of 7,6,5,4,3,2,1
- Exhale through your mouth for the count of 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1
Repeat up to a maximum of five times.
Positive Self-Talk: Self-talk is one way to deal with stress. We all talk to ourselves; sometimes we talk out loud but usually we keep self-talk in our heads. Self-talk can be positive ("I can do this" or "Things will work out") or negative ("I'll never get well" or "I'm so stupid").
Negative self-talk increases stress. Positive self-talk helps you calm down and control stress. With practice, you can learn to turn negative thoughts into positive ones.