OSU Work Life

• Are you struggling to find balance? Learn practical strategies for an integrated approach to find balance in the five key areas of life: family/friends, work, giving back, finance and health.
• When: August 3rd, 2023, 10 AM
• Register here

• Raising a child with a disability/special needs clearly presents a host of factors impacting options for schooling at all levels. Parents can be easily overwhelmed by the many special considerations and preparations required to access opportunities and achieve valued educational goals. This discussion centers on identifying strategies and resources to provide essential support to successfully educate and enrich the lives of children with disabilities/special needs.
• When: August 8th, 2023, 10 AM
• Register here

• Millennials spend all their money on avocado toast. Gen X and Boomers are out of touch. Gen Z stares at their phones all day. It’s easy to get caught up in generational stereotypes — and at work, the generational gap is wider than ever. But the real truth is that a generationally diverse workforce is only an issue if we view it as an obstacle. What if we saw it as an opportunity for connection and success? Join Ryan Jenkins, a Wall Street Journal best-selling author and an internationally-recognized keynote speaker, to learn how to understand, support and advocate for your coworkers and yourself in the multigenerational workplace.
• When: August 8th, 2023, 9 AM
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• Understanding investment basics helps ensure your money will be there when you need it. The webinar will differentiate between saving and investing, identify the principles of investing and explain how to assess your financial health.
• When: August 9th, 2023, 10AM
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• This session focuses on the 3 gears of senior driving: Driving Assessment, Driving Retirement and Driving Alternatives and how to have the conversation with parents about moving from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat.
• When: August 16th, 2023, 10AM
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• Time management and organizational skills are critical to successfully balancing work, life, and family. You will learn strategies and tips for organizing and managing that will make a critical difference in the quality of your work and life.
• When: August 17th, 2023, 10AM
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• Parents will learn which healthy habits are important to school success, how to help teens deal with teachers and academics, how to help teens get organized, deal with peer pressure and handle discipline.
• When: August 23rd, 2023, 10 AM
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• We all make excuses for eating junk or fast food. We’ll review strategies for quick, inexpensive meals that are good choices. Learn the basics of eating healthy within your financial means.
• When: August 24th, 2023, 10 AM
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• “Living the Good Life!” How often have we heard that statement? Usually it’s meaning is about happiness, health and satisfaction within our lives. In this session we’ll discuss what’s needed to accomplish “the good life”: what to bring along on life’s journey, what to leave behind, what to acquire along the way.
• Access the recording here

• Authentic leaders are great leaders- are you one? Regardless of who you are or who you lead authenticity is vital to cultivating work environments that are safe and supportive. Employees are seeking leaders who are ethical, firm in their beliefs and true to themselves. This training will examine the components of authentic leadership: self-awareness, internalized moral perspective, balanced processing, and relational transparency. By understanding these components every leader can discover their personal strengths and weaknesses so that they can better serve and support their employees in their personal and professional development.
• Access the recording here

• At one time or another, we have all dealt with a difficult person. Whether they are hard to communicate with, acting defensive or just handling a situation inappropriately, interactions with difficult people can affect our confidence, mood and focus. Learning to recognize and cope with common difficult behaviors in ourselves and others can help make difficult encounters much more manageable.
• Access the recording here

• As we move through life, our needs, priorities and situations change, as well as our skills, competencies, interests and values. How often do we take the time to assess our current situations to see if it aligns with our work/life goals? When attempting to achieve these goals, are work or personal habits working for us or against us? Developing new success habits that move us toward our goals will help us achieve better results in our work and personal lives.
• Access the recording here

• The approaching holiday season brings many expectations. Often this makes us feel like we are being pulled in a hundred different directions. There are office parties to attend, family get-togethers to schedule, children’s holiday recitals and gifts to buy. The holidays can be one of the happiest times of the year, yet it can also be one of the most stressful. Maintaining balance and keeping stress from overwhelming you are the keys to an enjoyable holiday season. This workshop provides an overview of common stressors people encounter during the holidays, and offers “stress buster” tips to help you get the most possible enjoyment out of the season.
  • Access the recording here

• Saying “no” can often be difficult. It can arouse feelings of guilt or fears of displeasing others. Nevertheless, the word “no” is one of the most important words in our language. By saying “no” we define who we are, what are willing or not willing to do and what we permit others to do to us. The ability to say “no” is critical skill that many have never developed or fear to use. This workshop will address the skills involved in learning to respectfully say “no” in order to build and maintain healthy self-esteem.
• Access the recording here

• If you are a parent you probably share an almost universal desire to make family occasions special for your children. You also may have to overcome certain obstacles in creating your own special experiences with your children such as finances, distance from family members, and the special circumstances created by divorce, step-parenting and blended families. Many parents work overtime only to find themselves frustrated by the experience and doubtful that the end result was particularly meaningful to their children.
• More info here
• Access the recording here

• Communication is a fine art that we often take for granted. It takes more than physical and verbal abilities to communicate. It takes energy along with the ability to offer support and demonstrate understanding and compassion when communicating within your family. Whether it’s an expectation, emotion, question or other message, openness and willingness to communicate improves overall quality of family communication.
• More info here
• Access the recording here

• For the first time in history, there is the possibility that an organization can have four distinct generations in the workforce. While we need to be careful not to make too many generalizations about different age groups, it is helpful to categorize some aspects of each group’s behavior, needs and working styles to promote working relationships built on mutual understanding. This session will provide each participant with the understanding of the different working styles, preferences and how each generation expects to be treated as employees. By understanding these differences, each person can contribute to the success of the team and organization regardless of generation.
• Access the recording here

• In a relatively short timeframe, computers have gone from being a space-age dream to an everyday reality for many people at work, home and school. Children are learning how to use computers at younger ages— many are more computer-savvy than their parents! How does a parent support the need for their children to be familiar with computers in today’s society without letting the computer dominate their child’s time?
• Access the recording here

• When we’re at a crossroads, we often face ambivalence regarding the direction we should take. Common life challenges include: Should I attend college and, if so, where? Should I get married? Do I want children? Should I move? Should I get a divorce? Some people are able to make decisions without being bogged down by uncertainty. They make them quickly and with minimal anxiety over whether or not they made the wrong choice. For others, these decisions are filled with angst and can leave them feeling stuck. This session will provide helpful strategies to get unstuck. We’ll look at the purpose of ambivalence and how to move through it, along with tips for effective decision-making. By the end of this course, you will have a better grasp of how to navigate life’s big decisions.
• Access the recording here

• All aspects of work and life require stress—everyone experiences it. Experiencing stress is not all bad, but how we perceive stress is what’s important. Stress is our body’s normal response to any extra physical, mental or emotional demand we place on it. This workshop will help you to understand more about stress, identify your stressors and learn ways to cope with and manage high stress levels. 
• View the recording here

• What if we could de-gender care? What if childcare, senior care, and care for the sick were no longer coded by so many as "women's work" but instead were recognized as work shared broadly by all? Kate Mangino, author of Equal Partners and gender expert, argues that gender equality in care work is better for everyone. In this webinar, she'll explain why and share tools to facilitate conversation and an equal distribution of care work in your own home. With broad and inclusive definitions of gender identity, roles and family structure, this is a can't-miss conversation for all who care.
• View the recording here

• It seems that more than ever, people are living busy, chaotic lives that often leave them feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Between work, parental responsibilities, community involvement, exercise, hobbies, friendships, family responsibilities and more, sometimes it feels as if keeping track of it all is just impossible. Fortunately, there are many tools available to help people gain control, though sometimes sorting through what’s available can add what seems like even more chaos to life. Smartphones, day planners, alarms, e-mail systems, priority grids, voice mail systems, note pads, to-do lists, contact lists, address books, folders, file cabinets and more—the purpose of this webinar is to help you sort through the tools available to help you organize your life, and pick the ones that will work for you. 
• View the recording here

• Due to the upheaval in the housing market over the past few years many new realities of home ownership have appeared. These realities include changes in the types of home loans that are now available. It also includes more properties that are now bank-owned or under water which has changed how some interested buyers now view these types of properties. Potential buyers also need to recognize the importance of having their finances in order prior to applying for a home loan and understand how potential lenders now perceive what is considered good credit. Understanding the new realities is critical in making an informed decision in today’s environment.
• Access the recording here

• The recent housing collapse has changed the home buying process significantly. Where once it was easy to attain credit, it has become more difficult again and a home’s value as an investment is more uncertain. Banks have gone back to a more traditional lending approach as a result of the collapse and now having good credit and a down payment is essential. Lenders are also focused on offering more traditional mortgage products such as 30- and 15-year mortgages versus the exotic ARMs offered a few years ago. Buying a home is still an American dream and it is important to understand the process, parties involved and what is in your financial best interests when making this investment.
• Access the recording here

• Kindness is an admirable aspiration for anyone, and it also can be an effective way to achieve success. By being concerned about others we can build relationships and gain support. By serving others we can be happier about ourselves. Kindness can be more than the right thing to do, it can be a path to success and happiness.
• Access the recording here

• For a long time, the scientific community believed we were born with a certain number of brain cells and neural pathways and that, once damaged, they could not be repaired. In reality, our brains are much more flexible. Depending on our lifestyle, we can weaken or destroy connections, or create new, stronger ones. Engaging regularly in certain behaviors and activities, like physical exercise, addressing mental health issues, meditation, and learning a new language or musical instrument, support new wiring and can make existing pathways stronger. Essentially, we can slow down or somewhat prevent cognitive decline by doing challenging mental exercises to keep our brains fit for optimal power.
• Access the recording here

• Over the past few years, employees have been asked to do more, do their work differently and do better in new and challenging ways, all while managing family life and personal responsibilities that seem never-ending. The feeling of languishing or “will this ever end?” abounds throughout the workforce and can have a huge impact on your mental health. Working on our mental health need not be reserved just for those who are in crisis or who are faced with an official diagnosis: Mental health matters for everyone. This interactive session provides more details and helpful ideas on how to move from languishing through work and life to flourishing.
• Access the recording here

• It is summertime, and school is out! For many people, summer conjures images of lazy, relaxing days at the beach. However, for many working families, summer brings the challenges of balancing the demands of adult work schedules with the desire to provide safe, fun activities for children. This workshop offers several ideas on summer activities and provides practical suggestions on how to keep your kids safe while you’re at work.
• Access the recording here

• If you have spent much time thinking of retirement, you probably have asked yourself, “How much will I need to have saved before I can retire?” It is a big question with many factors. For instance, the amount you need may be lower if you will receive government benefits such as Social Security or a pension. Alternatively, your government benefits might be very low, requiring you to provide more of your retirement income than you otherwise would have. In any case, it can be intimidating to calculate how much you will need for the future.
• Access the recording here

• Pregnancy is an experience full of growth, change, enrichment and challenge. It is a time when individuals and couples confront fears and expectations about becoming a parent and begin to determine parenting style. Forthcoming parenthood causes psychological changes in both mother and father. This session will help you understand the normal psychological changes that occur throughout the stages of pregnancy. Don’t worry, these changes are normal considering how big a life event pregnancy is. Remember, however, that it’s always best to talk to your doctor about these changes if they are interfering with your daily life and relationships.
• Access the recording here

• The problem with most attempts to adopt stress-management or self-care routines is that they require time, effort and planning. The reality for many people who have stressful jobs is that they are too physically exhausted and mentally depleted by the end of the day to initiate activities commonly recommended to reduce stress in their lives. The trick is to intervene via multiple “micro-moments” of relaxation or mindful practices which only take 15 to 60 seconds. These moments of relaxation help bring stress levels down during the workday and interrupt the steady escalation of stress that creates physical and mental exhaustion. Also addressed: simple winding-down routines that can end the day in a calming, mindful way.
• Access the recording here

• Walking is a common source of exercise for many people, and it has well-recognized physical health benefits. But, did you know there are mental health benefits to walking, too? Anyone who walks for any reason could also be enjoying these benefits. This session will look at the benefits of meditative walking and walking in nature. Participants will review ideas for getting started with both types of walks, as well as labyrinth walking. The possible benefits of walking barefoot in grass, known as “grounding,” will also be presented.
• Access the recording here

• Worries are thoughts we have about the future that generate fear. They arrive in the form of a “what if?” and generate dire warnings about terrible consequences that await us. Unfortunately, these warnings we give ourselves are generally overblown and focused on hypothetical problems that probably won’t happen. Chronic worry that begins to impact the quality of life becomes “anxiety” and well-intended suggestions to “stop worrying” or applying common stress management techniques are mostly ineffective. This training will address how worry habits develop and methods of intervening with worry and anxiety.
• Access the recording here

• Kindness is an admirable aspiration for anyone, and it also can be an effective way to achieve success. By being concerned about others we can build relationships and gain support. By serving others we can be happier about ourselves. Kindness can be more than the right thing to do, it can be a path to success and happiness.
• Access the recording here

• Implementing discipline over our emotional life is difficult and requires lifelong practice. Being able to choose to act or respond in a particular manner is preferable to re-acting on a consistent basis, yet it is difficult. Enhancing emotional intelligence improves our ability to master our emotional functioning. High emotional intelligence can improve our communications with all others, enhance our perception of satisfaction with ourselves and our lives and increase our productiveness overall.
• Access the recording here

• There is a difference in being motivated and being engaged in the workplace. Sure, you may be motivated to come to work each day for the paycheck, but are you truly engaged in what you are doing? Stars tend to be internally motivated to begin with, but put that motivation together with truly being engaged in what you do and you have the formula for capturing the most “prizes” the organization has to offer—the most interesting work, the salary increases, promotions and possibly bonuses.
• Access the recording here

• Coping with the loss of a loved one can be an emotionally trying experience. Whether it’s a parent, co-worker, friend or relative, the reality of losing someone close to you can feel overwhelming. This workshop will help you understand, identify, and accept your feelings as well as provide you with coping techniques to help you through the grieving process.
• Watch the recording here

• When we care for a loved one who is dying, we experience many emotions, including sadness, confusion, shock, anger, fear, and regret, among others. We often don’t know what to say, how to plan or how to comfort the person who is dying. This session will take a holistic look at end-of-life issues, including navigating care needs (including hospice and palliative care), what to expect during the dying process, and how to cope with the emotions that arise. We’ll also look at myths surrounding death and dying and how to support your loved one physically and emotionally. The stages of grief also will be examined, as well as how to care for oneself during this time.
• Watch the recording here

• If you’re struggling with challenges and uncertainty about your personal or professional life, and you’re not sure what to do next, this session is for you. We’ll discuss some simple but powerful questions to ask yourself to help you get “unstuck”. The benefits of asking each question will be discussed, and participants will have an opportunity to try responding to all of them.
• When: March 1, 2022 at 12PM
• Access the recording here

• Although most people think estate planning is for just the elderly, it is actually important to everyone else, too—especially for those with minor children, substantial assets or unusual circumstances. Estate planning can allow one to make decisions on who receives his or her estate, make arrangements for disability, medical care and guardianship for minor children. Properly done, estate planning can remove many burdens from surviving family members during a stressful time.
• Access the recording here

• Many people face financial emergencies, but few have prepared adequately to prevent them from having a major impact on their personal finances. By helping people understand the types of financial emergencies and potential consequences of not being prepared, we will enable people to focus on the steps necessary to avoid hardships which can accompany the emergencies. The webinar will cover the processes and products which can help people survive the various types of financial emergencies.
• Access the recording here

• The United Stated Department of the Treasury has proposed a set of financial core competencies that will be used to establish a clear understanding about what all adults should know regarding the basic concepts of financial literacy.
• The five core concept areas identified are:
  • Earning
  • Spending
  • Saving
  • Borrowing
  • Protecting against risk
• This session covers the basics (or essentials) of each area and describes practical skills needed to competently address (or manage) their personal finances.
• Access the recording here

• There are many speculations about the cause of this phenomenon from an increasing sedentary lifestyle, the ready availability of high caloric foods to stress and even sleep deprivation. However, if people ate only when they were truly hungry and stopped when they were full, there would be no obesity epidemic. This workshop will address the relationship between emotions and food consumption and how to retrain your body and mind to recognize the cues of hunger and to eat for physiological and not emotional reasons.
• Access the recording here

• Your body responds to the way you think, feel and act. This is often called the “mind/body connection.” When you are stressed, anxious or upset, your body tries to tell you that something isn’t right. For example, high blood pressure might develop after a particularly stressful event, such as the death of a loved one. People with good emotional health are aware of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They have learned healthy ways to cope with the stress and problems that are a normal part of life. They feel good about themselves and have healthy relationships. Poor emotional health can weaken your body’s immune system, making you more likely to get colds and other infections during emotionally difficult times. Also, when you are feeling stressed, anxious or upset, you may not take care of your health as well as you should. You may not feel like exercising, eating nutritious foods or taking medicine that your doctor prescribes. Abuse of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs may also be a sign of poor emotional health.
  • Access the recording here

To help support your work and personal life Beyond Benefits Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is offering a webinar series on change.This is a four part interactive training program. Participants will learn the basics of the change process. This includes understanding the barriers to change and techniques to overcome resistance to change. They will also learn communication, team building and leadership skills to inspire, motivate and support others through the change process. The program draws upon current research into change theory and practice and grounds participants in a state-of-the-art understanding of effective change management.

The registration links for each session are the same so participants only have to register once instead of separately for all four sessions.

For more EAP resources you can visit their website here.