[{"id":7038,"date":"2026-06-26T07:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T07:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7038"},"modified":"2026-04-29T19:20:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T19:20:06","slug":"funny-friday-287","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/26\/funny-friday-287\/","title":{"rendered":"Funny Friday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"653\" height=\"731\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/04\/july-17-26.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7040\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/04\/july-17-26.jpg 653w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/04\/july-17-26-268x300.jpg 268w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 653px) 100vw, 653px\" \/><\/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-7038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7038","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=7038"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7038\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7115,"date":"2026-06-25T18:52:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T18:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7115"},"modified":"2026-06-25T18:52:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T18:52:33","slug":"julys-well-being-programs-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/25\/julys-well-being-programs-2\/","title":{"rendered":"July&#8217;s Well-being Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>July 2026 &#8211; Employee Well-Being Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>July is packed with opportunities to support your financial, physical, emotional, and professional well-being. We invite you to explore this month&#8217;s free Employee Well-Being programs and encourage you to share them with your colleagues and teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This month&#8217;s lineup includes sessions on student loan repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), time management and productivity, debt reduction strategies, budgeting and financial wellness, nutrition and gut health, exercise and mental health, caregiving as part of the sandwich generation, and more. We also have opportunities to recharge through Deep Stretch and Guided Meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re looking to strengthen your finances, improve your health, enhance your leadership skills, or simply take a well-deserved pause during the workday, there&#8217;s something for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All programs are free for VCU employees. All sessions are virtual, making it easy to participate from wherever you work. Employees can register through Talent@VCU to receive session links and reminders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to our live programs, don&#8217;t forget to explore our on-demand resources, including new Work Life Playlists on Teaching Our Children About Money, Living Well: Simple Strategies for Health &amp; Balance, and Dealing with the Elephant in the Room, as well as additional webinars available through RamStrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you for helping us promote a culture of well-being across VCU. Please share these opportunities with your colleagues and encourage them to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, we can help our workforce thrive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>July 2026 &#8211; Employee Well-Being Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>These VCU programs are free to attend and most are virtual unless specified below! Register in Talent to receive links.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><a><\/a><a>Tuesday, July 7<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 12 pm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Navigating the Student Loan Landscape: PSLF Updates and Repayment Strategies<br><\/strong><em>(Presented by VCU HR, VCU Financial Wellness Center and SCHEV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Student loan repayment and forgiveness programs continue to evolve, making it challenging to keep up with the latest developments. Join representatives from SCHEV and the VCU Financial Wellness Center for an update on the current student loan environment, including the latest information on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), repayment options, and borrower resources. Whether you&#8217;re working toward loan forgiveness, exploring repayment strategies, or simply trying to understand what recent changes mean for you, this session will provide practical guidance and helpful next steps to support your financial well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Register:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/8c0a79b2-94e2-4177-a05f-646496e71be6?session=00e415e7-beb1-4cce-91e8-cd49f156451e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Wednesday, July 8<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 11 am<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Master Your Time. Maximize Your Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Presented by VCU HR and Dr. Dwayne Whitehead, GEHLI)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What separates highly effective leaders from everyone else? It\u2019s not that they have more time \u2013 it\u2019s that they make better decisions about how they spend it. In this session, we\u2019ll explore the Eisenhower Matrix, a powerful framework used by leaders to prioritize tasks, delegate effectively and focus on what truly moves the needle. You\u2019ll learn how to distinguish between what\u2019s urgent and what\u2019s important, reduce time spent on low-value activities, empower others through delegation, and create more space for strategic thinking. Whether you\u2019re leading a team, managing a project, or simply trying to get more done without burning out, this practice session will help you work smarter, lead better, and reclaim control of your calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/3d623daf-ed0b-44b9-a25e-759865e175dc?session=4f595baf-f22b-4346-a0a6-db7077e628c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Thursday, July 9<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 12 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a><strong>How to get out of Debit<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Presented by VCU HR and Virginia Credit Union (VACU))<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes debt can feel like a mountain you\u2019ll never finish climbing. In this session we will help you start cutting down on your debt until it\u2019s a thing of the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/ff53460a-65cb-47f2-a048-d12d207274a1?session=66279246-3c49-44db-a534-84ff0e317a9b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Monday, July 13<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 10 am<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Managing My Money<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Presented by VCU HR and Fidelity)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this workshop, you will learn to identify the three core components of a sound budget and understand how to begin to build (or rebuild) your emergency savings fund and get control over prioritizing your debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/8c9b646c-7650-4e37-b4ac-c672ec415170?session=ec486198-d658-47da-bae0-7bf2b6ef63a3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><a>Tuesday, July 14<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 12 pm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gut Check: Why Fiber Matters More than you think<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Presented by VCU HR and Employee Health)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join Employee Health\u2019s dietetic intern for a practical look at how fiber supports digestion, and overall well-being. This session will give you easy, realistic strategies to boost your fiber intake every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/0902dc90-d309-4604-a35f-15180710ff58?session=b854db1c-2cda-499e-826a-4475f219521b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Tuesday, July 14<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 12 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deep Stretch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Presented by VCU HR and VCU Recreation &amp; Well-Being)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a slower 30-minute practice focused on active stretching of muscles &amp; opening of connective tissue. Release built up tension, prevent injury, increase blood flow to muscles, &amp; increase long-term flexibility. This class will leave you feeling refreshed &amp; relaxed as you head into the summer. No equipment requirements though a yoga mat is recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/6221e4d7-b6ac-4c24-9d62-f85ea628139f?session=31380f16-b902-4955-898d-0ff600ab2ef9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Thursday, July 16<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 12 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a><strong>LegalShield &amp; IDShield: Affordable Protection for Everyday Life<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Legal and identity theft issues can happen when you least expect them. Join us for an informative session to learn about LegalShield and IDShield, two employee discount programs designed to help you navigate legal matters and safeguard your personal information. Discover how these plans provide access to legal support, identity monitoring, fraud protection, and restoration services, giving you and your family added confidence and peace of mind. Whether you&#8217;re planning for the future, facing a legal question, or looking to strengthen your identity protection, this session will help you understand the resources available and how to enroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/2ba62c19-c6ca-40c2-9dda-6eaf4e8dce22?session=0d4551e9-a846-44a4-a478-40a115826e32\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Wednesday, July 22<sup>nd<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 12 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Connection Between Exercise and Mental Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Presented by VCU HR and Anthem EAP)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Exercise is great for our bodies and our hearts love it too! It boosts our immune system, helps to reduce our risk for contracting many diseases and plain makes us look better. But what can it do for our mental state? Join this session where we will explore how exercise contributes to a healthy brain, what actually happens to our brain when we exercise and why it is so essential to our mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/ddaaa8c3-a09e-47ec-b7f0-da0e16f792a7?session=ca287769-b54c-4869-8cb5-59e2513becd4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Thursday, July 23<sup>rd<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 12 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a><strong>Holding It All Together \u2013 The Sandwich Generation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Presented by VCU HR and Atlantic Union Bank)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you raising a family and taking care of your aging parents? Sometimes \u201cholding it all together\u201d can be very challenging mentally, physically and of course financially. Join us in conversation on practical financial strategies for raising your children and caring for your aging parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/b1e3b6aa-8569-40c5-a715-1d6dd7b9b47c?session=037f61bb-45bd-48ce-85fe-7fc1448125be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Thursday, July 23<sup>rd<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 12 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Guided Meditation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Presented by VCU HR and VCU Recreation &amp; Well-Being)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a break from the noise to find a quiet reflection in the middle of your day with this virtual guided meditation. This meditation is suitable for all levels of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/ebf576a3-e9e3-4a6c-b00a-ab204b45e354?session=f1f1f9dd-9652-4532-9841-2918164f7c85\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Thursday, July 30<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;\u2013 11 am<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Money Psychology: Beyond the Numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Presented by VCU HR and TIAA)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this session, you will explore how emotions and habits shape money choices \u2013 and how to align them with your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/ui\/lms-learning-details\/app\/event\/5de661d9-ea97-4cb7-a718-f3f31f0454f5?session=4cadd1d0-0bef-453f-afab-f79ed9dbad2f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Talent@VCU<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>On Demand Webinars:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.csod.com\/catalog\/CustomPage.aspx?id=221000415\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Work Life Playlists<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;\u2013 New!&nbsp;<strong>Teaching Our Children About Money, Living Well \u2013 Simple Strategies for Health &amp; Balance<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Dealing with the Elephant in the Room<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Virginia Credit Union \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vacu.org\/learn\/families\/watch-money-talk-with-aging-parents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Money Talk with Aging Parents<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ramstrong.vcu.edu\/on-demand-sessions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/ramstrong.vcu.edu\/on-demand-sessions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>RamStrong On Demand<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And remember to take care of yourself this July!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"899\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-2-1024x899.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-2-1024x899.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-2-300x263.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-2-768x674.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-2.jpg 1262w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Have a safe and happy 4th of July!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"977\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-1-977x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7117\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-1-977x1024.jpg 977w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-1-286x300.jpg 286w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-1-768x805.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/july-1.jpg 1021w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>For VCU Health team members: <a>VCU is pleased to share opportunities to attend university well-being programs with the broader VCU community, including colleagues at VCU Health, VCU Dentistry, and other affiliated entities. <strong><em>Please note that certain sessions\u2014such as those offered by financial vendors who serve only university employees\u2014will not be included.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can now find <strong>direct links to these programs on the VCU Health intranet<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/intranet.vcuhealth.org\/sites\/employee-health-services\/SitePageModern\/79390\/employee-health-services\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong> The links are located to the right of the RamStrong logo at the bottom of the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a>Keep in mind that some features or services highlighted in the university programs may be limited to university employees or may apply differently to employees of VCU Health or other entities. If you are not a university employee and have questions about how a program or service applies to you, please reach out to your entity\u2019s HR department for guidance. VCU Health employees who are interested in these options are encouraged to reach out to their HR department to inquire about the availability of similar programs or resources.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>July 2026 &#8211; Employee Well-Being Programs July is packed with opportunities to support your financial, physical, emotional, and professional well-being. We invite you to explore this month&#8217;s free Employee Well-Being programs and encourage you to share them with your colleagues and teams. This month&#8217;s lineup includes sessions on student loan repayment and Public Service Loan [&hellip;]<\/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-7115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7115","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=7115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7115\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7081,"date":"2026-06-24T04:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T04:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7081"},"modified":"2026-06-09T16:39:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T16:39:24","slug":"did-you-know-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/24\/did-you-know-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Did you know?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The\u00a0<strong>Suit Yourself Closet<\/strong>\u00a0out of VCU Career Services offers\u00a0gently used professional clothing and styling services to VCU students. There are two locations: one on the Monroe Park Campus and one on the MCV Campus. All clothing is\u00a0<strong>free<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>for students<\/strong>. Students can visit the closet twice a month and can take up to six items during each visit. They own the clothes they take from the closet \u2014 there is no need to return! We accept donations year-round, unless we are on a temporary donation pause; interested donors should first contact\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:SuitYourself@vcu.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SuitYourself@vcu.edu<\/a>\u00a0to inquire about donating clothing or other closet supplies (e.g., storage bins, racks). Learn more at:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/careers.vcu.edu\/resources\/suit-yourself-professional-closet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/careers.vcu.edu\/resources\/suit-yourself-professional-closet<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"762\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/June-24-2026-1024x762.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/June-24-2026-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/June-24-2026-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/June-24-2026-768x572.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/June-24-2026.jpg 1212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0Suit Yourself Closet\u00a0out of VCU Career Services offers\u00a0gently used professional clothing and styling services to VCU students. There are two locations: one on the Monroe Park Campus and one on the MCV Campus. All clothing is\u00a0free\u00a0for students. Students can visit the closet twice a month and can take up to six items during each visit. [&hellip;]<\/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-7081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7081","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=7081"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7081\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7083,"date":"2026-06-23T04:47:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T04:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7083"},"modified":"2026-06-09T16:49:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T16:49:22","slug":"build-your-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/23\/build-your-brain\/","title":{"rendered":"Build Your Brain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Build Your Brain: The Power of Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>June is Alzheimer&#8217;s and Brain Awareness Month\u2014the perfect time to focus on long-term cognitive health. While we can&#8217;t stop aging, we can build cognitive reserve, which is the brain&#8217;s ability to adapt, solve problems, and function effectively over time. The most accessible way to build it? Pick up a book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why Reading Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reading isn&#8217;t passive; it is a full-brain workout. It strengthens neural pathways by forcing multiple brain regions to collaborate to process language and visualize narratives. Taking time to read also drastically reduces daily stress and promotes better sleep\u2014both of which are critical factors for protecting your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tap Into Virginia\u2019s Free Digital Libraries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don&#8217;t need to spend money to keep your mind active. Virginia\u2019s public libraries offer thousands of free eBooks and audiobooks through the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/libbyapp.com\/interview\/welcome#do-you-have-a-card\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Libby<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;app. With a valid library card\u2014which many&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vpl.lib.va.us\/vla-regions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">local branches<\/a>&nbsp;allow you to apply for online\u2014you can instantly borrow digital titles directly to your phone, tablet, or Kindle. Of course, you can always check out physical books once you have a membership, as well. Most local libraries in Virginia also have several events each week for all ages, as well as provide resources like computer access, faxing and printing, notary service, and reservable study and meeting spaces- often for free or low cost for members!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Your Exercise:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Commit to reading or listening to an audiobook for just 15 minutes a day. It is a simple, cost-free way to support your wellness journey and keep your mind sharp. Happy reading from the CommonHealth team and stay tuned for next week\u2019s brain challenge!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"203\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-23-26.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7084\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Build Your Brain: The Power of Reading June is Alzheimer&#8217;s and Brain Awareness Month\u2014the perfect time to focus on long-term cognitive health. While we can&#8217;t stop aging, we can build cognitive reserve, which is the brain&#8217;s ability to adapt, solve problems, and function effectively over time. The most accessible way to build it? Pick up [&hellip;]<\/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-7083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7083","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=7083"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7083\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7088,"date":"2026-06-22T07:23:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7088"},"modified":"2026-06-09T19:24:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T19:24:34","slug":"motivational-monday-162","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/22\/motivational-monday-162\/","title":{"rendered":"Motivational Monday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"731\" height=\"823\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-22-26.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7089\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-22-26.jpg 731w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-22-26-266x300.jpg 266w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><\/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-7088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7088","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=7088"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7088\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7036,"date":"2026-06-19T07:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T07:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7036"},"modified":"2026-04-29T19:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T19:19:17","slug":"funny-friday-286","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/19\/funny-friday-286\/","title":{"rendered":"Funny Friday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"847\" height=\"807\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/04\/july-10-26.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/04\/july-10-26.jpg 847w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/04\/july-10-26-300x286.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/04\/july-10-26-768x732.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 847px) 100vw, 847px\" \/><\/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-7036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7036","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=7036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7036\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7079,"date":"2026-06-18T06:26:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T06:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7079"},"modified":"2026-06-09T14:28:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:28:38","slug":"start-planning-summer-fun-save-with-exclusive-virginia-commonwealth-university-discounts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/18\/start-planning-summer-fun-save-with-exclusive-virginia-commonwealth-university-discounts\/","title":{"rendered":"Start Planning Summer Fun &amp; Save with Exclusive Virginia Commonwealth University Discounts\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fonts.gstatic.com\/s\/e\/notoemoji\/17.0\/2600_fe0f\/72.png\" alt=\"\u2600\ufe0f\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Summer is here\u2014now\u2019s the perfect time to start planning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Booking a vacation\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Planning a weekend getaway\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exploring local activities and events\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Looking for everyday savings\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>VCU Discounts helps employees save on it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Savings on:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Theme parks &amp; attractions\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hotels, travel &amp; experiences\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Local entertainment &amp; events\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dining, shopping &amp; everyday essentials\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Plus:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expanded local deals available near YOU<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting started is quick and free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"795\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/e-18-26-795x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/e-18-26-795x1024.jpg 795w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/e-18-26-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/e-18-26-768x990.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/e-18-26.jpg 908w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 795px) 100vw, 795px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.savings.workingadvantage.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/vcu.savings.workingadvantage.com<\/a>&nbsp;to enroll and start saving today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New deals are added regularly, making VCU Discounts your go-to resource for year-round savings on experiences, products, and services.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer is here\u2014now\u2019s the perfect time to start planning! Whether you\u2019re: VCU Discounts helps employees save on it all. Savings on: Plus: Getting started is quick and free! Visit&nbsp;https:\/\/vcu.savings.workingadvantage.com&nbsp;to enroll and start saving today. New deals are added regularly, making VCU Discounts your go-to resource for year-round savings on experiences, products, and services.<\/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-7079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7079","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=7079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7079\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7077,"date":"2026-06-17T06:14:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T06:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7077"},"modified":"2026-06-09T14:15:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:15:54","slug":"soak-up-the-morning-sun-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/17\/soak-up-the-morning-sun-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Soak Up The Morning Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A few minutes of sunshine when you wake up can help balance your mood and improve your sleep.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/healthymonday.us11.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=1830e3c3d9dd1f0d36ffaa91b&amp;id=b1157eb005&amp;e=3d56f51b50\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Morning light<\/a>&nbsp;supports your body\u2019s natural circadian rhythm, helping you feel more alert during the day and promoting better rest at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This week, try sipping your coffee outside, taking a quick sunrise walk, or simply stepping into the light first thing. Even on cloudy days, those early rays can make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"882\" height=\"945\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-17-26.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-17-26.jpg 882w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-17-26-280x300.jpg 280w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-17-26-768x823.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 882px) 100vw, 882px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you enjoy an early-morning dose of sunshine? You\u2019re not alone. Humans evolved to be outdoors, and spending time in the sun remains one of our most ancient pastimes. And for good reason. In the right amounts, the sun\u2019s light is a potent natural health tonic, helping your body regulate sleep, boost vitamin D levels, fight depression, support bone and muscle health, and improve immune function.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But not all sunshine is created equally; you\u2019ll reap the most significant benefits from sunlight when you soak up the rays early in the morning. The reason has to do with your body\u2019s circadian rhythm, a 24-hour internal clock that responds to changing light patterns. Getting sunshine as soon as you wake up helps the body reset and regulate sleeping patterns, allowing you to go through the day feeling more energized and alert. This Monday, follow the steps below to increase your post-wakeup sun exposure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Enjoy Your Morning Coffee Alfresco&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Try carving out a few minutes in the morning to drink your coffee or tea beneath the sunshine. This simple change can help you stay alert throughout the day and sleep easier at night. Another option is to bring a small table outside and have breakfast in the backyard or on the patio.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Go for a Post-Sunrise Stroll<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s nothing more tranquil than a sunrise walk. Not only will it clear your head and get you ready for the day, but it\u2019s a prime opportunity to enjoy some morning rays. Go with a friend, partner, or family member, and help boost that daily step count.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Read Outdoors&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start your day by reading a book or the morning newspaper beneath the sunshine.&nbsp;The time passes quickly, and you\u2019ll go back inside feeling ready to take on the world.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Don\u2019t Fear the Clouds&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A cloud-filled sky can still be a source of sunlight. The sun\u2019s ultraviolet rays are powerful enough to filter through clouds and reach the surface of the Earth (and still burn your skin if you\u2019re not careful). During a heat wave, an overcast morning may be the opportune time for extra sun.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Wear Sunscreen<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Spending more time in the sun inevitably puts your skin at greater risk of sunburn or blistering. Try using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher\u2014even on a cloudy or overcast afternoon\u2014and reapply throughout the day. Opt for a mineral-based sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide if you have sensitive skin or want to avoid certain chemical ingredients.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A few minutes of sunshine when you wake up can help balance your mood and improve your sleep.&nbsp;Morning light&nbsp;supports your body\u2019s natural circadian rhythm, helping you feel more alert during the day and promoting better rest at night. This week, try sipping your coffee outside, taking a quick sunrise walk, or simply stepping into the [&hellip;]<\/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-7077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7077","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=7077"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7077\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7075,"date":"2026-06-16T06:07:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T06:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7075"},"modified":"2026-06-15T13:59:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T13:59:01","slug":"a-12-minute-meditation-for-challenging-emotions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/16\/a-12-minute-meditation-for-challenging-emotions\/","title":{"rendered":"A 12-Minute Meditation for Challenging Emotions &#8211; plus Free ice cream today!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There&#8217;s a free ice cream event by Feedmore and Moose Tracks today, June 16 in Monroe Park!\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/feedmore.org\/events\/moose-tracks-10k-scoops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/feedmore.org\/events\/moose-tracks-10k-scoops\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"885\" height=\"652\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-095813.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-095813.jpg 885w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-095813-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-095813-768x566.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guided meditation, we use a technique based on Dan Siegel\u2019s Name It to Tame It to be with challenging emotions in a way that\u2019s accepting and self-compassionate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-15-26-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7076\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-15-26-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-15-26-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-15-26-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-15-26.jpg 1107w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We all have moments that bring up&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindful.org\/a-mindful-guide-to-navigating-difficult-emotions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">challenging emotions<\/a>&nbsp;for us, and it can be difficult to know how to deal with them when they inevitably arise.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kim invites us to view this practice like a lighthouse guiding ships through the stormy seas of the mind. This&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindful.org\/category\/mindful-skills\/meditation\/guided-meditation\/\">guided meditation<\/a>&nbsp;offers a sanctuary for those seeking to face and process difficult emotions with grace.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kim\u2019s approach involves grounding techniques to establish a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindful.org\/cultivating-a-sense-of-presence-and-awareness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sense of presence<\/a>, identifying and naming emotions to acknowledge them fully, exploring the physical sensations tied to these emotions, and finally enveloping oneself in tenderness and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindful.org\/how-to-be-more-compassionate-a-mindful-guide-to-compassion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">compassion&nbsp;<\/a>through touch, words, or visualization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-guided-meditation-for-challenging-emotions\">A Guided Meditation for Challenging Emotions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A 12-Minute Meditation for Challenging Emotions by Kim Armstrong<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: A 12-Minute Meditation for Challenging Emotions with Kim Armstrong\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/1YV4GFYjIGVGTl1LOurZaY?go=1&amp;sp_cid=9ec791796fea50adf353592d6dcf3d0e&amp;utm_source=oembed&amp;utm_medium=desktop\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Begin by finding a comfortable posture of your choice.<\/strong>&nbsp;You can do this practice while sitting, standing, or lying down. Shift your body to find what\u2019s comfortable.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Whenever you feel ready, close your eyes.&nbsp;<\/strong>If closing your eyes is uncomfortable for you, you can simply lower your eyes and soften your gaze.&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Take a few relaxing breaths.&nbsp;<\/strong>Close your mouth and breathe in slowly through your nose. Then let it out through either your nose or your mouth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Let\u2019s start with the \u201cR\u201d of REST.&nbsp;<\/strong>The \u201cR\u201d of rest invites us to begin by relaxing our attention. Allow your attention to completely relax from any need to be focused or fixated. If you notice that your attention becomes fixated or distracted, that\u2019s okay. Simply begin again and just relax.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Next, draw your attention to a sensation in your body as a way of grounding.&nbsp;<\/strong>This could be the feeling of your feet on the ground, your hands resting on your thighs, or your bottom in the chair. Just notice it.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Now, go to a memory of the last week or so, where there has been some sort of challenging emotion.&nbsp;<\/strong>Pick something that doesn\u2019t feel too overwhelming.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>See if you can simply notice with curiosity and kindness what was going on for you.&nbsp;<\/strong>What thoughts and feelings were you having about the experience?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gently name the feeling(s) to yourself, as if you were greeting it in passing.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong>Name it like you\u2019re validating the experience and the emotion of someone that you care for.&nbsp;<em>Fear, anger, shame,&nbsp;<\/em>etc. You might even greet them like you would a passing neighbor, not lingering, but just acknowledging.&nbsp;<em>Hello, despair. I see you there.&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tune into your body as you experience that emotion.&nbsp;<\/strong>Notice where you are experiencing this emotion in your body\u2014maybe like a tightness in your chest, a tingling, a fluttering, tension in your hands or feet.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Now, place a soothing hand, even just imagining it somewhere, on your body that would feel comforting to you.&nbsp;<\/strong>This could be placing your hand on your heart, or giving yourself a hug\u2014whatever would feel soothing and reassuring.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>You might also gently say some words to yourself.&nbsp;<\/strong>For example,&nbsp;<em>May I feel ease in this moment. May I get through this challenging emotion with curiosity and compassion. I know I\u2019m doing my best.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Thank you for your practice today.&nbsp;<\/strong>I hope you found it supportive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read the article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindful.org\/a-12-minute-meditation-for-challenging-emotions\/?utm_source=morg-eventemail&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=junecampaign-2026&amp;utm_term=editorial&amp;utm_content=email3&amp;mc_cid=010e518b91&amp;mc_eid=2c44ac7852\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There&#8217;s a free ice cream event by Feedmore and Moose Tracks today, June 16 in Monroe Park!\u00a0https:\/\/feedmore.org\/events\/moose-tracks-10k-scoops\/\u00a0 In this guided meditation, we use a technique based on Dan Siegel\u2019s Name It to Tame It to be with challenging emotions in a way that\u2019s accepting and self-compassionate. We all have moments that bring up&nbsp;challenging emotions&nbsp;for us, [&hellip;]<\/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-7075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7075","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=7075"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7075\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":7086,"date":"2026-06-15T07:22:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T07:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=7086"},"modified":"2026-06-09T19:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T19:23:09","slug":"motivational-monday-161","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/06\/15\/motivational-monday-161\/","title":{"rendered":"Motivational Monday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"530\" height=\"671\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-15-26-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7087\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-15-26-2.jpg 530w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/413\/2026\/06\/june-15-26-2-237x300.jpg 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><\/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-7086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086","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=7086"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]