COVID-19 & Personal Well-Being
TOGETHER IU
Support and resources for personal well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- For what to expect during the Fall 2020 Semester, visit fall2020.iu.edu.
- For the latest on IU’s response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.iu.edu.
- Parents of K-12 students, are you grappling with the decision to send your child(ren) back to school or continue e-learning? Check out "Ask the Experts: Parenting During the Return to School" for guidance and strategies from IU experts.
The information below will be updated as new resources arise.
For most of us, daily life does not look the same these days. Living in times of uncertainty can be overwhelming. But there are steps we can take to help us cope with stress and sustain our personal well-being — mind, body, spirit, and beyond. Below are resources gathered to support IU employees in the 8 dimensions of wellness.
Physical — Health and safety, movement, nutrition, and sleep
Health and Safety
- Wash those hands! A step-by-step guide from the CDC.
- Wear a face mask: Effective Monday, June 1, 2020, all faculty, staff, students, contractors, suppliers, vendors, and visitors are required to wear cloth face coverings in all hallways, elevators, public spaces, and common areas, and when entering all IU buildings. (Read the Inside IU article, "Masks 101: Everything you need to know about wearing a cloth face covering on an IU campus.")
- Maintain physical distance: According to the CDC, limiting face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home.
- Keep campus safe: Check out Return to Campus health and safety guidelines. We all have an important responsibility to keep our IU community safe and healthy. All staff, faculty, temporary, and student employees are required to complete the Community Responsibility Acknowledgement prior to physically returning to work on campus.
- Know your status: Free IU Health Virtual Clinic Coronavirus Screenings are available.
- Take good care: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was signed into law to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and national emergency. Pursuant to the FFCRA, Indiana University will provide eligible employees with paid sick leave or emergency family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.
- Promote a healthy immune system: Healthy IU Registered Dietitian Steven Lalevich shares his top 10 tips to boost your immune system by reducing inflammation.
- Families, do you have questions?
- Parents of K-12 students grappling with the decision to send their child(ren) back to school or continue e-learning can check out "Ask the Experts: Parenting During the Return to School" for guidance and strategies from IU experts.
- Coronavirus baby, toddler, and young child FAQs with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Physical Activity
Note: Movement keeps us feeling great! Before, during, and after movement — listen to your body to prevent injury or overexertion.
- A little bit goes a long way: Our bodies were made to move! Move throughout the day, even for just a couple minutes at a time, to keep your body feeling great and reduce risks of sedentary behavior. Download the Feel-Good Movements handout or watch the webinar.
- Get outside and play: Being active in nature brings out the best in us.
- Good for the body, good for the mind:
- Try these Chair Yoga or Yoga poses, or browse free yoga and meditation videos from Yoga with Adriene.
- IU Bloomington Recreational Sports is offering free on-demand videos, and IUPUI Campus Recreation is offering free live workouts.
- The YMCA also offers free Tai Chi and Yoga videos, and more.
- Physical activity and stress relief: Join Smooth Moves and the IUPUI School of Health & Human Sciences Department of Kinesiology and take 10 minutes out of your day to feel connected with your IU community through our exercise and stress management mini sessions! View the sessions on-demand here.
- Families, get active together: Go Noodle and Cosmic Kids Yoga offer free programming to make minds and bodies happy!
Nutrition
- Fuel your body mindfully: This mindful eating webinar can show you how.
- Get answers to your nutrition questions: Employees and their spouses can talk to the Healthy IU registered dietitian, Steven Lalevich, for free. Or read Steven's Inside IU article, "5 tips for wellness during the pandemic."
- IU Bloomington Emergency Meal Project: To help those who are food insecure at this time, IU Dining — in collaboration with the IU Food Institute, Campus Kitchen, Crimson Cupboard, the Food Working Group, and other campus groups — is implementing an Emergency Meal Project.
- Find food assistance: This Food Assistance Availability Map can help you identify available food resources near you.
- Try a new, easy, and delicious meal: Check out these dietitian-recommended recipes.
- Make water your go-to beverage: Drinking enough water is an important way to give your body what it needs for brain function and overall health.
- Eat your way, with a community of support: Indiana University offers WW — Weight Watchers Reimagined — at no cost to all benefit-eligible employees, and spouses covered on an IU medical plan.
Sleep
- Refresh and reset: Sleep is vital to our health and well-being. Check out Healthy IU sleep tips and more. Or check out these 8 strategies for getting your sleep back on track if stress is affecting you.
- Promote a healthy immune system: Getting enough sleep is the #1 tip from Healthy IU Registered Dietitian Steven Lalevich to boost your immune system by reducing inflammation. Watch the on-demand video.
Emotional — Resilience in times of uncertainty
- Reach out for help: Benefits-eligible employees and family members have access to the IU Employee Assistance Program through SupportLinc, which provides free, 24/7, professional, confidential counseling to help individuals bring their life into better balance, when day-to-day activities are interrupted by stress.
- Access state and national resources: BeWellIndiana.com provides comprehensive information and resources compiled by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction designed to help Hoosiers stay connected and maintain their well-being, such as a crisis counseling and mental health self-assessments.
- Strategize your self-care: Everyone reacts to stress differently, but there are some common strategies for coping — including taking care of your physical and social well-being, and more.
- Take moments for peace of mind: Check out Healthy IU mindfulness resources and on-demand meditations here. There are also live, online meditation options available through members of the IU community:
- Leslie Flowers, IUSD Director of Student Wellness and Healthy IU Instructor: Mondays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:00 p.m. (ET)
- IU Bloomington LGBTQ+ Culture Center: Mondays, 7:00 p.m. (ET) on Facebook Live
- Relax and Release: Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. (ET). Drop in for breathing and beginners yoga practices from the IU Neonatology Wellness Team.
- Build skills for handling stress: The recorded webinar series “Mental Well-Being: Self-Regulating Stress” provides education on topics like cultivating “grit” through adversity, art-based approaches to self-care, and more. Or check out this free, online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course and these SupportLinc toolkits on mindfulness, resiliency, meditation, and coping with COVID-19.
- Stay connected: Prioritize your social and emotional well-being while still complying with social distancing. Call, text, video message, write letters, and remember we’re all in this together.
- Be at your best with compassion: Check out the new Healthy IU on-demand webinars "Vulnerability, Empathy, and Compassion and Your Team during a Time of Change" and "Communication that Improves Relationships" to find strategies for strengthening relationships at work and beyond in difficult times.
- Keep moving, especially outside: Research shows physical activity and time in nature have a positive effect on emotional well-being.
- Tap into gratitude: This resource from Dr. Joel Wong, tenured Professor in the Counseling and Counseling Psychology Programs at IU Bloomington, provides ways to boost gratitude.
- Families, help kids cope with stress:
- Find tips for supporting children’s emotional well-being during the pandemic. Earth and Spirit Center has compiled resources for mindful parenting. And IU East's Dr. Beth Trammell, PhD, HSPP, provides blog posts and videos for helping kids cope with social distancing and uncertainty due to COVID-19.
- Parents of K-12 students grappling with the decision to send their child(ren) back to school or continue e-learning can check out "Ask the Experts: Parenting During the Return to School" for guidance and strategies from IU experts.
Occupational — Continue contributing your unique talents
- Stay up to date on IU’s response to the COVID-19: Visit coronavirus.iu.edu. Find the latest information on the Fall 2020 semester, including the Return to Campus Guide, at fall2020.iu.edu.
- Your work-related questions, answered: IU Human Resources has the latest guidance and frequently asked questions to HR-related policies.
- Adjust to telework: Tips and guidance for employees and supervisors from IU Human Resources.
- Be a great leader: Learn why the best leaders and coaches focus on connecting with and understanding others during times of uncertainty.
- Tackle work-from-home technology issues: Support and guidance from University Information Technology Services (UITS).
- Get a productivity boost: Take a quick physical activity micro-break to keep your body feeling great and your mind sharp. (This free mobile app — Rise & Recharge — helps encourage movement throughout the day.)
- Stay culturally competent: During these times of adjustment, it is important to be mindful of the diversity of the students we serve. Tips and resources from the IUPUI Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- Set boundaries: If you're working from home, setting boundaries between your work and personal life is important. Check out the Healthy IU on-demand webinar, "Boundary Setting in the Time of COVID-19."
- Online professional development: IU employees have access to LinkedIn Learning, an online library of more than 15,000 expert-led video tutorials and courses. IU Human Resources Training and Organizational Development offers weekly webinars. Topics include emotional intelligence, situational leadership, and more.
- Families, keep kids happy and busy while you work: Working from home with children in the house can be a challenge. Watch the Healthy IU Work + Life recorded webinar, "Working from Home (with Kids)." Or sign up for the Care.com webinar, "Couples That Work: At Home Survival Guide" on May 5. And check out these tips. SupportLinc provides a tipsheet on COVID-19 and childcare. Make sure to practice plenty of self-compassion. Check out the Intellectual Wellness section for more great resources to keep kids occupied with fun and educational programming.
Environmental — Make your workspace work for you
- Prevent the spread of illness at work: For essential employees who work on campus, learn about preventive actions to reduce the risk of exposure.
- Working from home? Feel great in your workspace with ergonomics resources from IU Environmental Health and Safety, learn about setting up a new at-home work station, and find tips for success when teleworking.
- Set boundaries: If you're working from home, setting boundaries between your work and personal life is important. Check out the Healthy IU on-demand webinar, "Boundary Setting in the Time of COVID-19."
Social — We’re all in this together
- Understand the importance of your role: According to the National Institutes of Health, social distancing remains one of the best weapons we have to slow the silent spread of COVID-19. By participating in social distancing, you are giving health-care professionals, hospitals, and other institutions more valuable time to prepare, protect themselves, and aid the many people whose lives may be on the line from this coronavirus.
- Emotional closeness during social distancing: Maintaining quality relationships is the foundation for emotional well-being. Call, text, video message, or even write letters to keep in touch regularly with friends and family.
- Help others, help yourself: Helping others reduces stress. Find ways — big or small — where you can make a difference in someone’s day.
- Be at your best with compassion: Check out the new Healthy IU on-demand webinars "Vulnerability, Empathy, and Compassion and Your Team during a Time of Change" and "Communication that Improves Relationships" to find strategies for strengthening relationships at work and beyond in difficult times.
- Stay culturally competent: During these times of adjustment, it is important to be mindful of the diversity of the students we serve. Tips and resources from the IUPUI Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- Navigate caregiving and parenting: Check out IU partner Care.com's Coronavirus Resource Guide for Parents and Caregivers.
- Families, find support for talking to kids about COVID-19:
- It can be a scary topic for adults and children alike. PBS and the CDC both offer guides for talking to kids about the pandemic. IU East's Dr. Beth Trammell, PhD, HSPP, provides blog posts and videos for helping kids cope with social distancing and uncertainty due to COVID-19.
- Parents of K-12 students grappling with the decision to send their child(ren) back to school or continue e-learning can check out "Ask the Experts: Parenting During the Return to School" for guidance and strategies from IU experts.
Intellectual — Stay informed (and help kids learn at home)
- Know where to find the facts about COVID-19: Among other trusted resources, look to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, the Indiana State Department of Health, and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
- Know where to find the facts about IU’s response to COVID-19: Visit coronavirus.iu.edu for the latest updates and announcements about Indiana University’s response to COVID-19. IU Human Resources provides work-related guidance here.
- Access state and national resources: BeWellIndiana.com provides comprehensive information and resources compiled by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction designed to help Hoosiers stay connected and maintain their well-being, such as what to do if you are sick; SNAP, cash assistance, health coverage; Indiana Unemployment Resource; childcare resources; and more.
- Learn how to set boundaries: If you're working from home, setting boundaries between your work and personal life is important. Check out the Healthy IU on-demand webinar, "Boundary Setting in the Time of COVID-19."
- Online professional development: IU employees have access to LinkedIn Learning, an online library of more than 15,000 expert-led video tutorials and courses. IU Human Resources Training and Organizational Development offers weekly webinars. Topics include emotional intelligence, situational leadership, and more.
- Listen in: Check out the podcast "On Topic with IU: COVID-19." Episodes cover topics from handling stress and finances to the latest takes from epidemiologists.
- Keep in touch with the arts: Find virtual resources from IU Jacobs School of Music, IU Auditorium, IU Arts & Humanities, and IU Cinema.
- Navigate caregiving and parenting: Check out IU partner Care.com's Coronavirus Resource Guide for Parents and Caregivers.
Families, check out these fun and educational resources for kids while we are all spending more time at home:
- PBS Kids
- Sesame Street
- The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks
- Outdoor Learning Activities
- National Science Foundation STEM Learning at Home — seven activities available, from learning to code to helping researchers do real research, and more.
- Playworks Play at Home — family activity ideas
- Listing of children’s authors doing online read alouds and activities
- Greatschools.org Printable Worksheets
- National Wildlife Federation’s Ranger Rick — available for free through June
- Scholastic Learn at Home — organized by grade level
- Online learning experiences for kids — listed by subject and grade level
- Discovery Channel Virtual Fieldtrips
- Listing of education companies offering free subscriptions
- Virtual school activities — a collection of live webcams, virtual tours/trips, and other fun educational sites
Financial — Navigate through difficult times
- Get help making a financial plan: IU Office of Financial Wellness & Education offers virtual one-on-one financial wellness appointments and many online resources. Schedule your one-on-one appointment through the webpage or directly through Director Phil Schuman, phaschum@iu.edu.
- Know your health benefits: All members of IU-sponsored medical plans have access to telemedicine visits at no cost through June. Benefits-eligible employees and family members also have access to professional counseling through the IU Employee Assistance Program. Learn more.
- Access state and national resources: BeWellIndiana.com provides comprehensive information and resources compiled by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction designed to help Hoosiers stay connected and maintain their well-being, such as what to do if you are sick; SNAP, cash assistance, health coverage; Indiana Unemployment Resource; childcare resources; and more.
- IU Bloomington Emergency Meal Project: To help those who are food insecure at this time, IU Dining — in collaboration with the IU Food Institute, Campus Kitchen, Crimson Cupboard, the Food Working Group, and other campus groups — is implementing an Emergency Meal Project.
- Find food assistance: This Food Assistance Availability Map can help you identify available food resources near you.
- Save on food expenses: Check out tips for healthy eating on a budget.
- Need assistance? Get in touch with your local 211 (community information and referral services) if you need help finding food, paying house bills, or other essential services. Find free or reduced cost services like medical care, food, legal services, and more with AuntBertha.com.
- Manage financial stress: SupportLinc provides tipsheets on managing finances during COVID-19, managing financial stress, and financial resiliency.
- Protect and manage finances during the pandemic: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers information on steps to take if you are experiencing a loss of income, having trouble paying your bills, are a financial caregiver, and more.
Spiritual — Be a part of the common good
- Take moments for peace of mind: Check out Healthy IU mindfulness resources and on-demand meditations here. There are also live, online meditation options available through members of the IU community:
- Leslie Flowers, IUSD Director of Student Wellness and Healthy IU Instructor: Mondays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:00 p.m. (ET)
- IU Bloomington LGBTQ+ Culture Center: Mondays, 7:00 p.m. (ET) on Facebook Live
- Relax and Release: Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. (ET). Drop in for breathing and beginners yoga practices from the IU Neonatology Wellness Team.
- Focus on your purpose: A sense of purpose and meaning not only helps us navigate uncertain times, it helps us live longer and healthier lives. Tips for finding yours.
- Families, model empathy for kids: Parents play an important role in modeling and strengthening their child’s capacity to care for others. Earth and Spirit Center has compiled resources for mindful parenting.
- Take moments for peace of mind: Check out Healthy IU mindfulness resources and on-demand meditations here. There are also live, online meditation options available through members of the IU community:
Questions? Visit the Healthy IU contact page.