Well-Being: Faculty and Staff Voices
Cornellians try to maintain their well-being a variety of ways. Maybe it’s taking a walk around Beebe Lake every day, or practicing yoga. Maybe it's taking a painting class, or making time to connect meaningfully with friends and family. Further, perhaps it’s a more direct approach by seeing a mental health counselor regularly. Similarly to students, faculty and staff also need to prioritize their mental health and maintain their well-being.
To complement our student series focusing on reducing stigma related to mental health, we connected with staff and faculty around the University as part of this discussion to see how they maintain their well-being. See below for faculty and staff voices who share experiences and helpful tips that support fellow Cornellians, and fosters community around collective mental health on campus.
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Eric Alani
Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Define what “well-being” means to you.
I define well-being as being actively and joyfully engaged with my family, professional colleagues, and friends.
Was there a moment you realized you needed to pay more attention to taking care of your well-being?
A number of years ago I took on a new role for me at Cornell that that I felt had a very large number of responsibilities that had to be dealt with quickly, carefully, and diplomatically. It was probably the most stressful period in my professional life. The actions that I took to address the stresses that accompanied this role included:
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Consulting more frequently with colleagues to make sure that the hard decisions were thought through carefully.
- Making sure to not skip important events in my personal life.
- Making bicycling a more consistent activity.
These actions were valuable even after this role ended, though it’s important to state that professional and personal challenges always exist for me and so I am constantly resetting my actions to improve my well-being.
Describe how you take care of your well-being on daily basis.
I aim to bike 10 miles every day. Much of this biking is accomplished by commuting to work during the week where my mind wanders on how to solve the problems of the day. On weekends, I take longer trips, often with friends. I also try to find short periods of time during the week where I take walks on campus. During the weekends and evenings such walks (including a trip to a local coffee shop) are often taken with my spouse. More recently I have picked up books to read at our local bookstore.
Are there services, programs, and/or facilities at Cornell that you use to support your well-being?
I try to visit the Johnson Art Museum roughly once a month and I visit outdoor art installations and gardens on campus somewhat regularly. During some of my most stressful times at work I’ve been know to sit quietly in Sage Chapel.
Jonathan Lunine
David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Science
Define what “well-being” means to you.
Well-being means a healthy balance between work life and the rest of life, but it is easier to define than achieve. It’s important to recognize that it won’t be the same balance all the time; there will be times when one has to put a lot more work time in than one would like, but only for a short period of time; compensating for that with a long break to do other things is important. It is when one is putting in way too much work time for too long that an imbalance occurs, or when one’s life is all leisure time with no purpose. The best analogy is a tough hike up a mountain. If you push too hard without a break for water and rest, you won’t make it. If you spend all your time resting and not hiking, you won’t make it either!
Was there a moment you realized you needed to pay more attention to taking care of your well-being?
This happens to me often. If I find myself not sleeping, or I find myself approaching the work day with anxiety for no specific reason, then it is time to dial back. If you find that, take a break. Walk around Beebe Lake. Go downtown and get an ice cream. Even a short break can be recuperative. If that doesn’t help, try a longer break or make an appointment to see a Cornell counselor. For me, in the summer, getting in a kayak and paddling around the inlet or (when it’s calm) the lake can be especially recuperative. But do what works for you.
Describe how you take care of your well-being on daily basis.
I try to exercise daily. My thing is heavy weight lifting, but you should pick what works for you. I also read and study in areas outside of science, including (at the moment) learning Latin. But, again, what I enjoy reading isn’t necessarily what you will enjoy. Pick what works for you.
Are there services, programs, and/or facilities at Cornell that you use to support your well-being?
Being married and having a network of friends and the church I attend, I have a good network outside of Cornell. But most students will want to draw on Cornell resources, and that’s great. When I was in college, that’s what I did.
Brandon Fortenberry
Senior Training & Development Manager at Cornell Dining
Define what “well-being” means to you.
It’s not just about whether I am happy or sad, because to be honest there are days where I am both. It’s about knowing that I can get help when I need it, knowing that I have a community at work and home that sees me and asks me if I am okay.
Was there a moment you realized you needed to pay more attention to taking care of your well-being?
My mother passed away in March, and while I thought I was mentally prepared for it, I quickly knew that was not the case. I needed some help and reached out to FSAP and was able to connect with someone to talk about what was going on and how I could find ways to understand my emotions around the loss. I also found myself getting easily frustrated and angry at simple situations and for those that know me know that isn’t me. I spoke with the counselor at FSAP about this and got some great advice for how to assess those situations and ways in which to not just avoid that I was frustrated or angry but think about the reasoning behind it and what I could do when it happened.
Describe how you take care of your well-being on daily basis.
I take the time away from work when I need it, whether a personal day to just take care of things at home that are getting me overwhelmed or to just take a day to enjoy some nice weather. I try to focus on prioritizing my home life and not letting work challenges impact those in a negative way, and I ask for advice and help when I need it.
Are there services, programs, and/or facilities at Cornell that you use to support your well-being?
FSAP has been a great resource to me through the years at Cornell. I have engaged with them on multiple occasions. In addition, I use the education benefits to take classes because that enriches me and brings me joy.
Jeff Niederdeppe
Professor of Communication and Public Policy
Define what “well-being” means to you.
Well-being means that I am physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in a place that allows me to thrive in my personal and professional life. I can tell when I am not in this state because it shapes how I interact with people (e.g., I am short with them, assume poor intentions, quick to react, etc.) which then shapes how they react to me. When I am in a state of well-being, my social interactions are better, I feel better about myself, and people feel better about me. It’s all a system.
Was there a moment you realized you needed to pay more attention to taking care of your well-being?
In the first few years at Cornell, I worked A LOT – weekends, evenings, etc. I did not take time for personal care, I was either not sleeping enough or sleeping A LOT (to compensate), and I wasn’t exercising regularly. I felt stressed and anxious. I made a conscious decision to shift my orientation toward well-being a few years after I started because I knew that the patterns I was in were not sustainable. I learned that taking time to invest in my own health and well-being made me far more productive at work, improved how I felt, and made me a much better person to live with/work with/spend time with.
Describe how you take care of your well-being on daily basis.
My main outlets for self-care are exercise (I have been doing Crossfit for 7 years) and sociality (I try to do things socially at least 2 nights per week – a weekly date night with my partner, a weekly “friends dinner” with some close friends, and often a weekend hangout with a different group of people). The most important of these, for me, is the regular exercise – if I go 2+ days without working out, I feel myself becoming cranky and anxious. I force myself to go to Crossfit because it ALWAYS clears my brain and wipes away the stress and anxiety.
Are there services, programs, and/or facilities at Cornell that you use to support your well-being?
I participated in a Leadership Development program early in my time at Cornell which made a huge impact on how I approach my work. I also regularly attend professional development offerings from the Office of Faculty Development which help to navigate the complexities of faculty life.
Julie Edwards
Director, Skorton Center for Health Initiatives
Define what “well-being” means to you.
Well-being is multi-dimensional and can mean different things to different people. For me, it means taking care of my mind and body to do the things that bring me joy. I always say, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” I strive to incorporate small things into my daily schedule to “fill my cup” and to integrate different aspects of my life including work, relationships, physical activity, and mental well-being. It means being confident in myself and my abilities, surrounding myself with people who support me, challenging myself to do new things, and having fun while doing them.
Was there a moment you realized you needed to pay more attention to taking care of your well-being?
I used to spend 3 hours a day driving to and from work. When I calculated the amount of time I spent in a car (780 hours annually!), I realized I was wasting time by just listening to music, so I started listening to podcasts and audiobooks. This change had a positive impact on my overall well-being because I felt calmer in traffic and really enjoyed the time to decompress before I got home each night.Because I had to wake up early for my commute, I averaged 5 hours of sleep each night which started to impact my daily interactions with others; I had less patience, felt irritated by small things, and wasn’t “present” for many conversations, especially with loved ones. This is when I knew something had to change. I started regulating my sleep and incorporated a daily practice of mindfulness that I continue to this day. I am so thankful I recognized that I needed to make changes and that I’ve stuck with them.
Describe how you take care of your well-being on daily basis.
I am a very regimented person so I typically wake up at the same time each morning (5:30am) and fall asleep no later than 10pm. It’s important for me to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night so I feel well rested. Each morning, I do a HIIT workout followed by taking my dog, Rocky, for a 2.5 mile walk to cool down. This wakes me up and gives me energy to start my day.I enjoy working in person because I can connect with colleagues throughout the day to take breaks from the work at hand. This allows me to recharge from staring at my computer screen for hours on end!
In the evenings, I’ll take Rocky to the dog park and then speak with my partner, family and friends to stay connected as they are all still live in Illinois. On weekends, I explore new places on campus and the surrounding area. I am so incredibly grateful to live in such a wonderful area surrounded by nature’s beauty. I am especially fond of visiting different locations to view the sunset, whether it’s Sunset Park, Libe Slope or Taughannock…they all provide breathtaking views of which I am constantly in awe.At the end of each day, I write three things I’m grateful for in my gratitude journal. I started this practice several years ago and find that it centers me and makes me appreciate the small things that happen on a daily basis. It’s especially nice to look back at old entries to remind myself of meaningful memories.
Are there services, programs, and/or facilities at Cornell that you use to support your well-being?
Cornell’s campus is what I use to support my well-being. I started here in January and love taking time to explore all Cornell has to offer, from the Cascadilla Gorge Trail, to Beebe Lake and the Botanic Gardens. I am a nature lover and will spend many days during lunch walking outside and taking in the spectacular views. I appreciate the variety of offerings for employees to connect and I go outside of my comfort zone to attend events by myself. It’s been a great way to meet new people and I value the new friendships I’ve made.