As the semester winds down and the holidays approach, this season serves as a reminder to slow your pace and focus on what truly sustains you: gratitude, connection and care. Research shows that mindfulness practices and gratitude reduce stress and also improve cardiovascular health, sleep quality and overall life satisfaction. This month’s issue is all about investing in small, restorative moments that help you recharge and enter the new year with clarity and calm.
December Wellness Wednesday: Jingle, Mingle and Ride
Get into the holiday spirit with our final Wellness Wednesday of the year! Join Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Amy Dittmar and the Rice Employee Health and Well-Being Team for a beginner-friendly spin class designed to bring energy, joy and some festive fun to your day. Whether you hop on a bike or prefer to stay off the saddle, we’ve got something for everyone. Come move, mingle and share in a little winter wellness before the holidays begin!
Date: Wednesday, Dec.10 Time: 3-3:45 p.m. Location: Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center MPR1
*Rice EMS will provide free blood pressure checks.
Well-Being Tip of the Month: The Pomodoro Technique for Focus & Recovery
As you navigate the year-end pace of projects, events and deadlines, using structured attention cycles can help protect your energy while supporting sustained performance. One evidence-based strategy is the Pomodoro Technique, a time-management method that pairs focused work with intentional recovery. Try this straightforward approach to staying focused and avoiding burnout by working in short, intentional intervals of 25 minutes.
How it works:
Choose a task.
Work with uninterrupted focus for 25 minutes (one Pomodoro).
Take a 5-minute break to reset (stretch, breathe or step away from your screen).
After four cycles, take a 15- to 30-minute break before starting a new set.
Why it works:
This rhythm mirrors the brain’s natural capacity for attention. Research indicates that taking short, structured breaks can improve working memory, reduce cognitive fatigue and enhance overall productivity. By breaking tasks into smaller units, it becomes easier to maintain momentum and avoid burnout.
Try it when you’re tackling deep work, grading or reviewing materials, preparing reports/presentations or starting a task you’ve been putting off.
Pro tip: Adjust the intervals to fit your flow. Some people prefer 40-minute cycles with 10-minute breaks. What matters is focused work and intentional rest.
Take a moment to unwind, recover and refuel before the holidays. In addition to our free biweekly chair massages for Rice faculty and staff, we’re excited to announce that massage therapy is now available to faculty, staff, students and community members. Whether you gift a session or treat yourself, it’s the perfect way to reset before the new year!
Staff Council Cookies & Cocoa, Dec. 10, 2025, 9:30-11 a.m. To view Sammy's Sleighs Schedule, use this link!
HR Corner: Retirement Readiness Sessions Rice Human Resources is hosting upcoming group meetings for employees nearing retirement. These sessions provide an overview of benefit options, retirement distributions, tax considerations, and Social Security claiming. Learn more and register on the HR website.
This season, Owl-Liance Leaders are encouraging departments to reflect on gratitude in meaningful ways. From celebrating small wins to hosting wellness check-ins, recognition strengthens trust, belonging and behavioral health. Leaders are also extending stewardship through January by recognizing donors, faculty, staff, students and volunteers with shared toolkits; surveying employee well-being and leading yoga and breathwork sessions to support connection and restoration. Connect with your Owl-Liance leader to suggest your department host a mini-wellness event!
Complimentary Well-Being Outreach Services
Our Employee Well-Being team provides complimentary wellness experiences to support staff and faculty in living a healthy lifestyle and working well. Sessions are tailored to departmental needs and can include:
Mindful movement or breathwork exercises
Stretch breaks and stress management workshops
Low-impact fitness sessions or chair massages
Contact Christina Eldridge, Assistant Director for Employee Well-Being, to learn more.
To close the year, let this be a reminder that it is not just a finish line; it’s an invitation to rest, realign and reconnect. By investing in your well-being now, you prepare yourself to show up refreshed and engaged in the year ahead.
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” - John Lubbock
Stay well,
- Employee Health & Well-Being Team
Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
