2020 Wellness Calendar

Photo Credit - Kyrenian

new decade, new you!

2020 MMI/SLR

Wellness Calendar

A new decade doesn't start very often.

So, use 2020 as a catalyst to inspire change in your life. Embark on a journey to make yourself happier, your body healthier, and your mind calmer. This calendar is designed to assist you on this quest by providing inspiring writings and helpful wellness tips all year round. The path to overall wellness is like a journey over a bridge – there's always a risk of falling off, but when we do, we have to get back on and push forward. Use this calendar as something to help you keep your balance and provide you support as you become the most awesome version of yourself.

HOW TO USE THIS CALENDAR: Download a copy for yourself.

Read the introductory blurb and wellness tip every month and try to put them into practice.

Take note of wellness activities being hosted by MMI/SLR. Events are added all the time, so look on the MMI/SLR Intranet for the most up-to-date information.

LEGEND: Office Closed Wellness Events General Events

YEAR OVERVIEW | 2020

MMI/SLR HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: January 20, 2020 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Community Service) | May 25, 2020 – Memorial Day | July 3, 2020 – Independence Day (Observed) September 7, 2020 – Labor Day | November 26, 2020 – Thanksgiving Day | November 27, 2020 – Day After Thanksgiving December 24, 2020 – Christmas Eve | December 25, 2020 – Christmas Day | December 28, 2020 – Boxing Day (Observed) | January 1, 2021 – New Year's Day

Accept and forgive your past to embrace your future.

We all have habits we'd rather not possess, things we've done for years we think are too late to change. But emerging is bravery and the understanding that you do not need to live perfectly to become a healthy person, a good parent, or a loving partner. So go for it – change that habit. The sapling does not beat itself up for not breaking through the earth fast enough – it is content that it made it pushed through and changed in the first place.

e g r e em JANUARY 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

CERVICAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH | NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH TIP: Transform your habits by "habit stacking" and linking old habits with new ones. For example, if you want to practice having more gratitude, list five things you're grateful for every morning when you brush your teeth. Or if you want to meditate more, do it right after you make your morning coffee.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

JANUARY 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

New Year's Day MMI offices closed

1

2

3

4

10

11

17

18

24

25

Wellness Bookclub

5

6

7

8

9 Wellness Bookclub

12

13

14

15

16

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Wellness Bookclub

MMI Day of Service

19

20

21

22

23 Wellness Bookclub

26

27

28

29

30

31

e v lo

Love is an action. And you cannot take action if you are not well financially, medically, or otherwise.

You can't do all the wonderful things life has to offer if you don't have the health to do so.

Love yourself by taking care of your financial wellbeing by attending a class on personal finance. Love yourself (and your heart) by learning more about heart disease in honor of American Heart Month and Go Red for Women. Love yourself by giggling at the groundhog bounding out of his hole on February 2. Caring for yourself gives you the means to live your best life, which in turn brightens the lives of the people around you.

FEBRUARY 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

AMERICAN HEART MONTH TIP: Bacteria associated with gum disease can move from your mouth into your bloodstream, inflaming your blood vessels and increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke. So double down on your oral health – checking in with your dentist and making a point to floss and brush daily will protect more than just your chompers.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

FEBRUARY 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1 Groundhog Day

2

401(k) Sessions

Wellness Bookclub

401(k) Sessions

3

4

5

6

7

8

Valentine's Day Wellness Bookclub

9

10

11

13

Medicare Workshop

Presidents' Day

16

12

17

18

14

15

Wellness Bookclub

19

20

21

22

26

27

28

29

Go Red for Women Lunch & Learn Noon

23

24

25

w o gr

Life is always blooming with new possibilities.

It's never too late to become the best and brightest version of yourself. Gain a baseline understanding of where you're starting health-wise. Gain knowledge to empower yourself to change. And gain the courage to take the plunge. Growing is sometimes uncomfortable, but remember the words of writer Anaïs Nin: "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

MARCH 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH TIP: All food gives us energy, but some are better fuel than others (like, technically you can use an iPhone as kindling for a fire, but why would you do that?). If you need long-lasting energy, try a complex carbohydrate like oatmeal or protein- and nutrient-rich eggs and beans. Other great options are tuna, sardines, avocados, blueberries, brown rice, and sweet potatoes.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

1

2

3

International Women's Day

Yoga

MARCH 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

4

5

6

7

11

12

13

14

401(k) Webinar Women and Investing

8

9

10 St. Patrick's Day

Yoga

Onsite Biometrics

Onsite Biometrics

Onsite Biometrics

New Haven, CT

Cheshire, CT

Springfield, MA

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

23

24

25

26

27

28

30

31

Yoga Lunch & Learn

22

Importance of Eye Health

Yoga

29

l a b

e c n a

Control your life's center of gravity.

Where does your life lean – toward stress or toward relaxation? For most of us, it's stress.

New normals creep up on us, and we become accustomed to our hearts always beating out of our chests. In honor of National Alcohol Awareness Month, try other methods for coping with stress rather than reaching for a glass of wine, like journaling, meditating, or doing more recreational activities like paint nights or ballroom dancing. Life is a handstand – by making a few simple adjustments, we don't always have to feel like we're falling over.

APRIL 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

NATIONAL ALCHOHOL AWARENESS MONTH TIP: If you make a mistake, do you start to think things like "I can never do anything right"? Negative self-talk automatically increases your stress level (and does nothing to help solve your problems).

Instead, talk back to your thoughts with things grounded in reality like "I do some things right and some things wrong – I'm human," and watch your stress melt away.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

APRIL 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

April Fools' Day

1 Yoga

Lunch & Learn

2

Passover

3

4

Good Friday

Stress Reduction Techniques

5

6

7

Easter

8

9

10

11

15

16

17

18

22

23

24

25

29

30

Tax Day

12

13

14 Earth Day Paint Night

19

20

21

Charity Race

Massage Therapy

Cheshire, CT Relay

Cheshire, CT

26

27

28

t p a ad Learn to enjoy change.

To avoid predators, chameleons have evolved to have the ability to change their skin to blend in with their surroundings. Nature gives us the lesson that we cannot control most of the things that happen to us, but we can control our reaction. Like the chameleon, choose how you're going to react to what's happening in your life. Too little time after work to do something recreational? Organize a book club to hold at lunch. No motivation for exercising? Sign up with some coworkers for a 5K and train together. Change isn't that hard – just ask the chameleons.

MAY 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH I HEALTHY VISION MONTH TIP: Sometimes it feels like life chooses our options for us and we feel powerless and overwhelmed.

But we still can make choices when big changes happen. For example, moving into a new home seems daunting, but breaking down tasks into tiny chunks ("put silverware in a box" or "change address for Newsweek subscription") can make things seem infinitely more manageable.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

MAY 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

COMING THIS MONTH:

Lunch & Learn - Women's Health MMI/SLR Hike

Cinco de Mayo Massage Therapy

1

2

Massage Therapy New Haven, CT

Cheshire, CT

3

4

Mother's Day

5

6

7

8

9

13

14

15

16

22

23

29

30

Massage Therapy Cheshire, CT

10

11

2020 Fairfield County Heart Walk & 5k Run Sherwood Island State Park

17

24 31

12 Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy

Cheshire, CT

New Haven, CT

18

19

20

21

Memorial Day

Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy

MMI offices closed

Cheshire, CT

Springfield, MA

25

26

27

28

e t a v i t l cu Reap the rewards of thoughtful decisions.

Sometimes it seems downright impossible to do the "right" thing. You get home and all you want to do is collapse onto your couch and into a tub of Ben and Jerry's. To get yourself through these moments, frame decisions as investments.

Visualize how wonderful it will be when you achieve your goals; make yourself the donkey and your goal the juicy carrot at the end of the stick. (Plus, if one of your goals is to eat healthier, you can get some actual carrots using MMI/SLR's CSA program that starts this month.) Understand that you're not depriving yourself of something – you're empowering yourself to lead an even more awesome life.

JUNE 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

MEN'S HEALTH MONTH TIP: It's harder to do anything when you're dehydrated – you feel drained and can't focus for most of the day. Drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day will help keep you hydrated and energized. In warm working environments, try using a spray bottle mister to help keep you cool and your skin hydrated. Simple solution, big impact.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

8

WEDNESDAY

Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy

Cheshire, CT

New Haven, CT

1

7

JUNE 2020

2

3

Massage Therapy

401(k) Webinar

Cheshire, CT

Taking Control of Health Care in Retirement

9

10

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

4

5

6

11

12

13

Flag Day

Juneteenth

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

22

23

24

25

26

27

Father's Day

21

COMING THIS MONTH:

28

29

30

CSA Program Starts Lunch & Learn - Men's Health

Treat yourself like a Ferrari.

e v o m

Our bodies are made to move. But that doesn't seem like the case when we look at how modern life is designed. Most of our days are spent sitting in cars, at desks, or on couches. Our bodies were naturally selected to be the fastest, most advanced versions they could possibly be. Imagine if you owned a Ferrari but you refused to drive it and only kept it in your garage. That's what we're doing to our bodies! So dance, run, crab walk, spin around the living room with your kids.

Or even better, take advantage of National Parks and Recreation month and visit a nearby national park. And remind yourself that you are designed to move.

JULY 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH TIP: If you plan on visiting a national park this month, make sure to drop by its visitor center for maps and guides, pack some rain gear and an extra layer, and leave no trace – carry in and carry out all items you bring into the park and don't remove any plant life or artifacts.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

JULY 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY Independence Day Observed

COMING THIS MONTH:

Wellness Breakfast Series (Dates TBD) Lunch & Learn - Parks and Recreation Blood Drive

SATURDAY Independence Day

MMI offices closed

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

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21

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31

Act your shoe size.

y a pl

Many say we were our wisest about life when we were children. Life was simpler – if we wanted to be friends with someone, we'd just declare them to be so. If we didn't want to do something, we'd voice our opinion – loudly. And we chased fun and happiness endlessly. At some point we unlearn what was so natural to us as kids. So wake that little kid up again. Get some friends together and play kickball or basketball. Or buy a coloring book and a pack of markers and go to town. Be that child once more and watch your adult life blossom.

AUGUST 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH TIP: Kids are brave because they haven't been taught to fear failure yet. Channel that when you notice you're avoiding doing something out of fear. Just plunge in and do it. And regardless of the outcome, reward yourself with something you love – it'll strengthen a positive neurological association with doing things that scare you, and you get to eat ice cream!

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

AUGUST 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

COMING THIS MONTH:

Wellness Breakfast Series

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

31

25

26

27

28

29

23

24 30

Renewal is a continuously present opportunity.

It is never too late to start again. To revise our attitude in the present moment, to reinvest time into our passions, or to make a fresh start on our health. But instead of throwing away a pile of your possessions or traveling across Europe for a year, try meditation to reinvigorate your mind and zeal for life. It will refocus you and make you feel more energetic, while reducing blood pressure, improving memory, easing decision making, and loosening neurological pathways associated with fear and anxiety.

Renewal doesn't have to be a huge overhaul of the way you live – it can be as simple as closing your eyes.

w e n e r

SEPTEMBER 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY MONTH TIP: If you want to start meditating, remember frequency trumps duration. Try 3 minutes a day at your desk. Close your eyes and notice how your body and breathing feel. It's okay for your mind to wander, but always try to return your focus to your breathing. You'll be amazed at how good you feel afterwards.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

1

6

SEPTEMBER 2020

WEDNESDAY

2

THURSDAY

3

Labor Day

401(k) Webinar

MMI offices closed

Funding Higher Education: 529 Plans

7

8

9

FRIDAY

10

SATURDAY

4

5

11

12 Rosh Hashanah

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Yom Kippur

COMING THIS MONTH:

27

28

29

30

Healthy Cooking Class Demonstration Paint Night

t c e n n o c

Listen with the intent to learn, not the intent to reply.

We’re all guilty of it – we find ourselves in conversations just waiting until the other person is done speaking so we can talk. But the single most powerful way to feel more connected to others is to listen. Try to hang on to the words of the people around you. Strike up a conversation with someone while in line buying Halloween candy and really take in what they have to say. Or use work events (like the ones pictured on this page hosted by SLR and MMI) to deepen your understanding of your coworkers. Where did they grow up? How has their role evolved over time? Do they like bread pudding? Remember connections are built, not born, but once they're in place, they're invaluable.

OCTOBER 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH TIP: Improve your active listening skills by practicing not interrupting (like, at all) during conversations. Paraphrase what was said back to the speaker to show you've been paying close attention. And stay focused – don't formulate what you're going to say until it's your turn to speak.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

OCTOBER 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

COMING THIS MONTH:

Wellness Fair & Flu Clinic

4

5 Columbus Day Indigenous Peoples' Day

11

6

1

2

3

7

8

9

10

14

15

16

17

21

22

23

24

Massage Therapy Cheshire, CT

12

13 Massage Therapy Cheshire, CT

18

19

20 Massage Therapy

Halloween

Cheshire, CT

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

e r u t r nu

Leave people better off than when you found them.

What do you want to be remembered for? Our legacies will be around far longer than ourselves.

Think about a time in your life when someone helped you even though they didn't have to.

Perhaps you succeeded, perhaps you didn't – but notice that you still remember the interest and kindness they showed you. That person's actions impacted your life positively, then you in turn positively impacted the people around you, who will impact others, ad infinitum. Remember that with every interaction, you have the power to make the world an exponentially better place to live.

NOVEMBER 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH | NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH TIP: Blue Zones are regions of the world that produce the most centenarians. Use this holiday season to embark on some Blue Zone habits. Put spending time with your family (or friend-family) first, stop eating when you're 80% full, and make your last meal of the day the smallest. Doing this could add an average of 10 to 12 years to your life!

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

NOVEMBER 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Election Day Massage Therapy Cheshire, CT

1

2

3 Massage Therapy

4

5

6

Veterans Day

7 Diwali

Cheshire, CT

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

18

19

20

21

Massage Therapy Cheshire, CT

15

22

16

23

17 Massage Therapy

Thanksgiving

Black Friday

Cheshire, CT

MMI offices closed

MMI offices closed

24

25

26 COMING THIS MONTH:

Lunch & Learn - Caregivers

29

30

27

28

h s i r e h c

You stand on a mountain of treasure.

We've slayed so many dragons to get to where we are today – we've studied for long hours at school, poured years into our careers, and labored to be good partners, parents, and friends.

We're standing right now on a pile of accomplishments – treasure, if you will – but we're so focused on finding the next wizard to duel or adventure to have that we forget to look at our feet to marvel at what we already possess. So appreciate what you have. Appreciate where you are right now, even if you're between quests. And if you have young children, appreciate that they're still kids – one day they'll be striking out to slay their own dragons. Everything shall pass, but for the time being it's still here now - revel in it.

DECEMBER 2020 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

HUMAN RIGHTS MONTH | SAFE TOYS AND CELEBRATIONS MONTH TIP: Studies show that people who take some time each day to think about what they're grateful for lead overall happier lives. So try it! Every morning write three things you're grateful for on a sticky note. Stick them all somewhere you'll be able to see them often. At the end of each week, review what you've written, then either keep or throw away the notes and begin again.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

DECEMBER 2020

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

COMING THIS MONTH: Blood Drive

1

2

3 401(k) Webinar

4

5

Hanukkah

Retirement Income Planning: Withdrawal Rates

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

MMI offices closed

Boxing Day

MMI offices closed

Kwanzaa

20

21

22

23

Boxing Day Observed

24 New Year's Eve

MMI offices closed

27

28

29

30

31

25

26

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

| 2020 WELLNESS CALENDAR Calendar content and design by Jessica Latta and Kemi Oshin.