Need a stress break? The month of November will offer just that with the return of Emory’s “Refresh from Stress: 30-Day Inspiration.”

Sponsored by the Faculty Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) and Healthy Emory, Refresh from Stress is an employee wellness program that provides simple, yet effective steps to help you enhance your overall emotional well-being.

Participants will use a daily online calendar to complete brief activities focusing on self-care, mindfulness, social connections, gratitude, resilience and other inspirations. Most of the daily activities can be completed in just 10 to 15 minutes.

“Refresh from Stress was a huge success when we first launched it last year,” says Robin Huskey, FSAP’s manager of education and outreach. “We had over 3,100 participants, more than we ever expected, so we knew there was a need to offer it again.”

Of the 2016 participants who completed the post-program survey:

• 87 percent reported that the program helped them better manage stress; 
• 84 percent percent experienced an increase in emotional well-being; and
• 95 percent felt that it was a valuable program.

Participants in the 2016 Refresh from Stress said that sharing a smile and complimenting others were among the most frequently completed activities. They also identified sleeping at least seven hours, increasing physical activity, eating a healthy meal, silently reflecting and taking a laughter break as the most helpful activities.

Robin explains that participant feedback from last year’s program has helped to make this year’s program even better. Changes for the 2017 program include a new, mobile-friendly activity calendar, more flexibility in completing the daily activities, increased group and team activities, a text reminder feature, and more prize drawings throughout the month.

Robin hopes to reach even more employees this year.

“Improving stress management skills is one of the key focus areas of the Healthy Emory strategic plan," she says. "If we can help more employees learn to build critical stress management skills, then Refresh from Stress will be a success again.”

Refresh from Stress runs for the entire month of November (Nov. 1-30). Pre-registration is required and continues through Oct. 27. The program is open to all benefits-eligible employees of Emory Healthcare and Emory University.

To learn more, visit the Refresh from Stress webpage for the registration link and FAQs about the program.