Resource Articles

I was working from home just down the street from my first grader’s school and 3 miles from my 5-year-old’s preschool. I started throwing on my shoes as I called my daughters’ dad in a panic for more information – Google couldn’t move fast enough for me. When he confirmed it was NOT one of our schools, a wave of emotion washed over me so swiftly that I bent over double at the waist, let my head hang between my knees, and sobbed. Those tears held so much, a mixture of feelings I have struggled to put into words.

Three years ago, on March 5,2020, the Tennessee Department of Health received its first positive test results for a case of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Tennessee. It was a time of fear and anxiety for many, especially our front-line healthcare professionals. Though we have made many strides in combating the disease, we still feel the effects. Work/Life Connections-EAP offers tips on how to enhance your well-being in our current stage of COVID-19.

What do successful relationships look like? One quality of long-lasting relationships is the presence of good boundaries. Even people who know about the importance of setting boundaries get caught up in the excitement of new relationships and forget to set limits. Work/Life Connections-EAP offers some helpful tips on creating healthy boundaries.

Sleep is one of the most fundamental aspects of health and well-being, but it’s often the most neglected. Between work demands, family demands, and social interactions, sleep takes a back seat to other priorities. Natalie Dodd, LCSW, of Work/Life Connections-EAP offers helpful tips to better your sleep.

The phenomenon of “Dry January” helps people “reset” their use of alcohol and evaluate the role it plays in their lives by taking a month vacation from the use of alcohol. Work/Life Connections-EAP gives information regarding the effects of alcohol abuse.

Impostor Syndrome (IS) is described as the struggle to accept one’s own success. Someone who experiences IS will think their success is undeserved, despite their effort and skills. Dr. Adriana Kipper-Smith of Work/Life Connections-EAP offers advice on how to reframe your thinking to combat IS.

January is known for fresh starts and setting new goals for the new year. It’s a great time to start figuring out how to balance your personal and professional life. Work/Life Connections-EAP gives a few things to consider for VUMC faculty and staff members seeking a more balanced life.

​In this issue: The Importance of Sleep with Margie Gale, RN, MSN, CEAP, Nurse Wellness Specialist at Work/Life Connections Care Gap Alerts: Type 2 Diabetes & Prediabetes with Barbara Gisella Carranza Leon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Maintaining Healthy Relationships with Ellen Clark, LCSW, CEAP, Clinical Counselor at Work/Life Connections Tuberculosis Screening: What’s the Big Deal Anyway? with Jesi Girton, MSN, APRN, FNPC, CEN, at Occupational Health Clinic Ask a Lifestyle Coach with Emily Cox, CHES, CHWC, Sr. Health Educator at Health Plus

​In this issue: The Importance of Sleep with Margie Gale, RN, MSN, CEAP, Nurse Wellness Specialist at Work/Life Connections Care Gap Alerts: Type 2 Diabetes & Prediabetes with Barbara Gisella Carranza Leon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Maintaining Healthy Relationships with Ellen Clark, LCSW, CEAP, Clinical Counselor at Work/Life Connections Tuberculosis Screening: What’s the Big Deal Anyway? with Jesi Girton, MSN, APRN, FNPC, CEN, at Occupational Health Clinic Ask a Lifestyle Coach with Emily Cox, CHES, CHWC, Sr. Health Educator at Health Plus

A new year is a great time to reflect on health, wellness, and establishing balance in our routine. To help keep you motivated, Work/Life Connections-EAP offers a few tips to tilt the wellness scale in a positive direction.