November 2025 Work-Life workshops, events
Happy Fall! November is here and so are cooler mornings. It's that time of the year where we need to warm up our vehicles before we head out in the morning and grab a jacket before going outdoors to walk our dog in the evenings. Or is that just me?
Recently, I was on UK’s campus, and I walked by an employee that said, “I love this weather.” Then he looked at me and said with a smile, “I’m wearing a polo, and you’re all wrapped up.” It reminded me that cozy and comfortable is going to vary this season depending on who you ask. For some of us the fall is a welcome cool down and for others it’s a not so welcome reminder that winter is on the way. Perspective is everything, right?
This thought reminded me of the importance of maintaining a healthy perspective about one’s work-life management. We are all on a unique real-life journey full of highs and lows. Some days are amazing and smooth, while other days or seasons are a bit rocky and challenging. Depending on who you ask, you will get different answers. And that’s okay. Managing work and life responsibilities may be going well for some while it’s a challenge for others. We are reminded to take life one day at a time.
There is some good news to support you. UK offers a variety of work-life and well-being resources and services to support faculty and staff in the areas of mental health, emotional resilience, elder care, parenting, pet care, nutrition, physical fitness, financial and more. You are encouraged to utilize the resources that meet your needs. We offer confidential consultations, department presentations, workshops, small group sessions, support groups, special events and more. Check out the Work-Life and Well-being services website as well as the full list of workshop and events on the website calendar.
Join us in November for our Work-Life Series, Caregiving in its many forms. We will offer many virtual opportunities and a couple of in-person connections including a brown bag lunch for parents on Nov. 7 and a caregivers’ gratitude activity on Nov. 18. All of us are managing our self-care while others are also managing childcare, elder care, pet care and more. Caregiving is a daily responsibility that requires planning, flexibility, resilience, patience and so much more. We encourage all employees to keep doing their best and seek support when needed.
Please RSVP and attend the opportunities that interest you. If you are interested in a virtual workshop, but you cannot attend the live workshop, you can RSVP and receive the video recording link after the workshop. Please note that we will not record the two in-person activities or the two virtual support group meetings.
As always, thank you for sharing the Work-Life opportunities with your team and the employees in your area via meetings, emails, listservs, newsletters, bulletin boards, electronic boards, or monitors, etc.
NOVEMBER 2025
Work-Life Tip of the Month - Focus on what you can control and only peak at what you cannot.
Parenting Tip of the Month - Use a book or movie to engage your child in a conversation about a specific topic such as characteristics of a good or bad friend, how to process grief and loss, healthy ways to manage stress, managing fear, what to do with big emotions, keeping commitments or being a good friend.
Elder Care Tip of the Month - Gather Treasures. Caregiving is not wholly about illness, aging, disability, burden and stress. Please let caregiving reveal its beauty to you. When you’ve committed yourself to be there for your loved one, there are moments you’ll remember forever, lessons you’ll apply to the rest of your life, and attitudes that will be permanently adjusted as a result of your caregiving experiences.
The seven types of rest you need — and how to get enough of each
Are you tired of being tired? We’ve all had those days where we swear we’ll catch up on our rest, only to wake up the next morning still feeling exhausted. Read more
BONUS ARTICLE! How to Stop putting pressure on yourself — give yourself a break from self-imposed stress: https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-stop-putting-pressure-on-yourself-3144724
Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, Nov. 4, 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. Caregiver self-care bingo. Register here.
- Thursday, Nov. 6, Noon - 1 p.m. Caring for the self at work: Trauma-informed tools for resilience. Register here.
- Friday, Nov. 7, Noon - 1 p.m. Working Parents Brown Bag lunch (on campus), at Lewis Honors College. Register here. No agenda, just chat, relax, and connect.
- Tuesday, Nov. 11, Noon - 1 p.m. Teen and young adult driver safety tips. Register here.
- Wednesday, Nov. 12, Noon - 1 p.m. Stories of care: Sharing hope, wisdom and connection. Register here.
- Thursday, Nov. 13, Noon - 1 p.m. College funding: Prepare early for financial aid, scholarships, and tuition discounts. Register here.
- Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2 - 3 p.m. Build a bouquet: Gratitude in bloom for your well-being (on campus), Gatton Student Center. Register here.
- Wednesday, Nov. 19, 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Working Parents “Real Talk” chat. Register here.
- Wednesday, Nov. 19, Noon - 1 p.m. Elder caregivers support group. Register here.
FYI reminders and helpful links
- Calendar of all upcoming workshops and events: https://hr.uky.edu/calendar
- Work-Life and Well-being website: https://hr.uky.edu/work-life-and-well-being
- UK Employees Discounts website listing: https://hr.uky.edu/benefits/more-great-benefits/employee-discount-program
- Working Parents website resources: https://hr.uky.edu/work-life-and-well-being/working-parents
- Elder Care resources: https://hr.uky.edu/work-life-and-well-being/elder-care
- Join the UK Working Parents Network: https://hr.uky.edu/work-life-and-well-being/working-parents/working-parents-network
- Crisis in Relief in situations involving faculty and staff (CRISIS): https://staffsenate.uky.edu/crisis