[{"id":7439,"date":"2026-11-09T06:28:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T06:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7439"},"modified":"2026-11-04T21:30:39","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T21:30:39","slug":"motivational-monday-182","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/11\/09\/motivational-monday-182\/","title":{"rendered":"Motivational Monday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There is always help available! Check out RamStrong<\/a> under Emotional Well-being to find more information on the Employee Assistance Program and TimelyCare!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There is always help available! Check out RamStrong under Emotional Well-being to find more information on the Employee Assistance Program and TimelyCare!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":640,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7439"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7441,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7439\/revisions\/7441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7284,"date":"2026-11-06T05:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T05:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7284"},"modified":"2026-08-18T14:46:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T14:46:43","slug":"funny-friday-305","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/11\/06\/funny-friday-305\/","title":{"rendered":"Funny Friday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":640,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7284\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7436,"date":"2026-11-05T06:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T06:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7436"},"modified":"2026-11-04T21:24:04","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T21:24:04","slug":"november-is-here-lets-make-these-30-days-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/11\/05\/november-is-here-lets-make-these-30-days-count\/","title":{"rendered":"November is here – let’s make these 30 days count!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\ud83c\udf41\" NOVEMBER IS HERE \u2014 LET’S MAKE THESE 30 DAYS COUNT! \"\ud83e\udd0e\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new month doesn’t need grand plans, expensive adventures or picture-perfect moments. Sometimes, the best memories are made with a warm cup in your hands, a good book by your side, a quiet walk, and a heart full of gratitude. \"\u2615\"\"\ud83d\udcd6\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This November, make room for: \"\ud83c\udf42\" Little adventures and beautiful memories. \"\ud83d\udd6f\ufe0f\" Slow mornings and peaceful evenings. \"\u2764\ufe0f\" More laughter, kindness and meaningful moments. \"\ud83c\udf05\" New experiences and fresh beginnings. \"\ud83d\ude4f\" Gratitude for what you have and hope for what’s ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t let November become just another page on the calendar. Fill it with moments that make you feel alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little reminder: You don’t have to do everything on this list. Just do more of what makes life feel beautiful. \"\u2728\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NOVEMBER IS HERE \u2014 LET’S MAKE THESE 30 DAYS COUNT! A new month doesn’t need grand plans, expensive adventures or picture-perfect moments. Sometimes, the best memories are made with a warm cup in your hands, a good book by your side, a quiet walk, and a heart full of gratitude. This November, make room for: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":640,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7436"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7438,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7436\/revisions\/7438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7428,"date":"2026-11-04T20:27:11","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T20:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7428"},"modified":"2026-11-04T20:27:11","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T20:27:11","slug":"beat-the-seasonal-blues-with-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/11\/04\/beat-the-seasonal-blues-with-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"Beat the seasonal blues with movement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Now that the clocks fell back, it gets dark earlier, and that can make us feel a little down. Moving your body is a simple, feel-good way to boost your mood during these shorter days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why do darker days affect how we feel? 
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After daylight saving time ends, the sun sets an hour earlier. The end of your day feels like it comes sooner. Daylight keeps shrinking deeper into winter. If you commute, the sun may already be setting when you head home. With less daylight, your sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) may shift. You may notice less energy, poor sleep, mood changes and even food cravings. Learn about how SAD works and ways to beat it here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does exercise boost mood and energy?  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Physical activity releases \u201cfeel-good\u201d chemicals like endorphins and dopamine. These brain chemicals can lift your mood and make you want to move more. Over time, regular exercise can help you feel less tired. Why?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular exercise supports better sleep. Morning workouts can boost your energy for the day. They can also help you feel sleepier at bedtime.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercising earlier in the day helps you get sunlight. Sunlight supports a healthy circadian rhythm. It also helps your body make vitamin D, which supports mood, immunity and bones. Sunlight is one of the best ways to fight SAD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise also helps you build a routine, manage stress<\/a> and make social connections. If you\u2019re fighting seasonal depression, connection and routine can make a big difference.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working out at the same time each day adds structure. If working out alone isn\u2019t your style, try group classes or an accountability buddy. Exercising with friends or a community can give you something to look forward to. That alone might lift your mood. Find out if social or solo workouts suit you best.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some tips for exercising when the days are shorter?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n