The Daily Bruin

Nearly half of Americans experience a noticeable lack of joy in their daily lives, with some unable to remember their last full day of recreation and others estimating they need more hours a week to satisfy their desire for fun.

More than half of us find it harder to find joy now than a decade ago due to major obstacles like rising costs, demanding schedules and adult responsibilities, shrinking social circles, and general burnout.

Playfulness can be seen as a vital component of wellness rather than a luxury. It drastically reduces stress, increases motivation, and is essential for building and maintaining close relationships. When looking for leisure, we prefer simple, low-cost activities like watching TV, spending time with loved ones, dining out, and being outdoors.

Integrating more levity or play into your day doesn’t require a lifestyle overhaul, a massive budget, or hours of free time. If you are experiencing a “fun drought,” the secret is to shift your mindset from waiting for fun to happen to actively weaving small, playful moments into your existing schedule.

Here are some realistic ways to integrate play into your day:

1. The “Beat the Clock” Challenge

Set a timer for 10 minutes and see how much of the kitchen you can clean, turning a mundane chore into a fast-paced game. Get your family involved too! By adding a timer, upbeat music, and a competitive element, it turns a boring chore into a high-energy game.

2. Turn walks into a scavenger hunt

When walking the dog or heading to your car, actively look for three beautiful or new things you’ve never noticed before. When you approach a day with curiosity, you train your brain to hunt for novelty and micro-moments of delight.

3. Watch or read something purely hilarious

Dedicate 10 minutes of your lunch break to watching a stand-up comedy clip, rather than scrolling the news. Physical laughter lowers cortisol and epinephrine, while triggering the release of endorphins and dopamine.

4. The “Non-Negotiable Hour”

Block out just one hour a week (e.g., Tuesday nights from 7 to 8 p.m.) that is strictly dedicated to something you want to do purely for the sake of enjoying it. No chores, no structure, no work, no guilt.

All university offices in Newberg and regional sites, as well as the Murdock Library, will be closed this Monday, May 25, to observe the Memorial Day holiday.

Plant services has acquired a lot of surplus items that are up for grabs! Office furniture, tables, file cabinets, lamps … and more!

If you’re interested in taking a look, please make an appointment with Jan Balzer by calling 503-554-2072 or emailing her at jbalzer@georgefox.edu. Pick-up only, with no deliveries and no returns. Come and see what we have!

Are you looking to deepen your understanding of justice, community, and restorative work this summer? We warmly invite you to join us for “Roadmap to Reconciliation,” an engaging and transformative summer development course.

Sessions will meet from 1 to 2 p.m. in Stevens 208 on the following dates: June 5, June 12 and June 26.

Together, we’ll explore what it means to move beyond simply “being polite” to actively participating in true justice and healing.

How the course works:

• Learn from an Expert: Each week, you’ll watch about an hour’s worth of video-on-demand mini-lessons hosted by Seminary Now and taught by renowned speaker and author Brenda Salter McNeil.
• Grow Together: After absorbing the weekly lessons, you’ll join a practical, welcoming group discussion led by Crystal McGowen from the Office of Inclusive Excellence.

Whether you are just beginning your journey or looking to deepen your ongoing work in this space, this course provides a supportive environment to learn, reflect and grow alongside your peers.

Email Crystal to register at crystal@georgefox.edu.

Are you an emerging adult (between 18 and 40 years old) with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Lizzie Pierce, a doctoral candidate of clinical psychology, is continuing to gather firsthand perspectives from individuals with ASD about their experiences learning about and navigating romantic relationships. This is a part of her dissertation project with the Graduate School of Clinical Psychology at George Fox.

Interested in being a participant? Email Lizzie at lpierce22@georgefox.edu, or click this link to learn more!

Take advantage of a uniquely rare opportunity to meet face-to-face with Providence Health Plan representatives who have direct, on-site access to your personal member account and claims history, allowing you to resolve complex authorization issues on the spot without the hassle of phone hold times.

A few private, individual appointment slots are still open today (Wednesday) and available for you to secure right now, but walk-ins are also welcome!

Whether you reserve a remaining spot or simply drop by Canyon Commons 101 between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to speak with the second representative on standby, make sure to stop by today for this high-level, personalized assistance.

How we care for ourselves and show up for others deeply affects our health. Finding true balance starts from within – by looking at our day-to-day habits, stress, emotions and aspirations.

To support you on this journey, we are highlighting a collection of free wellness resources available to the entire George Fox community and your families. Through Providence Basecamp, you can access free programs designed to help you manage stress, build healthy habits, and support your daily routine.

We encourage you and your loved ones to explore these tools and find a session that fits your lifestyle by visiting Providence Basecamp’s The Way We Live.

The Bruin Store will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday) for our yearly physical inventory. We will be fulfilling online orders and be back open on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thank you for understanding.

George Fox provides employees with a comprehensive suite of identity theft protection and resolution services through three primary benefit providers. These resources are designed to offer both proactive monitoring to prevent fraud and expert-led restoration support should your personal information be compromised.

Canopy (EAP Fraud Resolution & ID Theft Benefit) offers:

• Proactive Risk Assessment: Offers a free ID threat score and breach scan to identify potential vulnerabilities
• Professional Consultation: Provides a 60-minute free consultation with a Fraud Resolution Specialist™ to discuss concerns or active issues
• Restoration Assistance: Offers direct assistance with restoring your identity and good credit, as well as disputing fraudulent debts

Assist America (Providence Health Plan member perk) offers:

• Secure Document Registration: Allows members to register credit card, bank, and other important document details in a single, centralized and secured online location
• Real-Time Web Monitoring: Employs web-crawling technology to monitor for registered personal data on suspicious sites and sends automatic warning notifications if data is found
• Dedicated Case Management: Victims of fraud are assigned a dedicated expert who guides them through mitigation and notifies card issuers if cards are lost or stolen

On-Call International (Symetra Life insurance perk) offers:

• Three-Bureau Fraud Alert Assistance: Assists members in contacting the three major credit bureaus to place fraud alerts and report lost or stolen cards
• “Lost Wallet” Support: Provides a collaborative call where a specialist stays on the line with you to contact banks and credit card companies to alert them of compromised items
• Emergency Document Replacement: Helps secure emergency replacements for lost or stolen passports, including locating the nearest consulate or embassy if the loss occurs while traveling

Make your 2026 summer adventures more affordable with the LifeBalance Summer Guide, an exclusive benefit for Providence Health Plan members that features curated savings on travel insurance, hotel bookings through Expedia, rental cars, and various outdoor essentials.

You can access member-only deals at major amusement parks and attractions, including Disneyland® Resort, Universal Orlando Resorts, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND, ensuring your family trips are both memorable and budget-friendly.

To explore the full range of discounts on kids’ activities and vacation stays, simply visit the LifeBalance guide online or contact their member services team at 888-754-5433 for assistance with your membership perks.

If your contract ends soon and/or you will not be on campus over the summer, please bring over any cash or checks before you leave.

Please look around your desks and file cabinets to see if there are any lingering items that need to be deposited. Checks dated prior to June 30 must be deposited in the current fiscal year.

All deposits must be dropped off at the finance office before you leave campus for the summer. Our address is 1515 N. Portland Road.

If you have any questions about deposits, please contact Heather Groenlund at hgroenlund@georgefox.edu. Thank you and have a great summer!

We still have a few openings available for the one-on-one consultations with Providence Health Plan representatives on Wednesday, May 20.

Because these private sessions allow for direct, on-site access to your specific member account and claims history, they offer a rare level of convenience to resolve complex issues or authorizations without the usual phone wait times.

If you haven’t secured a time yet, we encourage you to sign up today while spaces remain. Even if the individual consultation slots fill up, remember that a second representative will be stationed in Canyon Commons 101 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to assist walk-ins with general plan inquiries and benefit overviews.

Secure your spot and mark your calendars now to ensure you get the direct, account-based answers you need!

In a community dedicated to growth and learning, it’s easy to forget that your own wellbeing is the foundation for everything else. Our Employee Assistance Program is here to ensure you have the support you need to stay balanced, offering 24/7 confidential counseling for an expert perspective whenever things feel heavy.

Whether you’re looking for practical guidance on the complexities of parenting or prefer to tap into on-demand wellness resources on your own schedule, these tools are built to fit into your actual life.

Taking care of your mental health isn’t an extra task on your to-do list; it’s the most sensible way to keep doing the work you love without burning out. Find out more here.

Shop the Bruin Store now to get 25% off select supplies (pens, legal pads, folders, etc.) and 20% off Moleskine Notebooks. Sale runs through Tuesday, May 19.

Our campus store is open Monday through Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We are closed Fridays through Sundays. Or, shop online 24/7.

Are you curious about mental health resources available at Fox? Visit the Emotional & Spiritual Health section of the Wellness website to learn about a variety of wellness programs and counseling options available to you and your family.

Providence Health Plan representatives are returning to campus to offer a unique opportunity for employees to receive personalized assistance through one-on-one consultations.

During these private sessions, a representative will have full access to your member account, allowing them to respond to specific questions regarding your benefits, claims, provider network, and authorizations. This level of access ensures you can get direct, account-based answers to your most pressing health plan inquiries without the typical wait times.

In addition to the scheduled consultations, a second representative will be available to assist walk-ins with more general questions. They can help explain how the plan works, provide benefit overviews, and address other non-account-specific concerns.

Because this level of direct access to member data on-site is a rare opportunity, spaces for one-on-one sessions are expected to fill quickly. Please sign up today to secure your consultation and get the information you need.

• When: Wednesday, May 20, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Where: Canyon Commons 101

Sign up today or mark your calendar for a short visit.

Need guidance on housing options, including assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing facilities for your family members?

Find out more about support for caregivers in the Caregiver Resources section of the Wellness website.

Come join us for another session on using AI with our Google Workspace apps. Learn about the newest updates with tips on how to get what we want from Gemini AI to help us in our everyday work at George Fox.

The session will run from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) in Canyon Commons 103.

Bring your laptop for some dedicated time to work on your AI skills. Bring your lunch and we’ll provide the cookies!

This session will be recorded and posted on our George Fox IT: AI website, along with the presentation slides.

Contact us at servicedesk@georgefox.edu with any questions, or check the George Fox IT: AI website, linked above.

In response to major price increases for Zoom meetings, IT reviewed Zoom usage as an opportunity to “right-size” our number of licenses and avoid the unexpected cost to the university.

IT found that a reduction in Pro-level licenses would likely be possible since most usage was with standard Zoom features and/or Google Meet would be an acceptable or better alternative. Working with leadership across the university, a new target number for licenses was identified and goes into effect on May 10.

What this means to you:

• Zoom Meeting services are automatically available to all individuals at the standard tier. Standard tier meetings are limited to 40 minutes.
• Zoom Meetings “Pro” licenses are available to anyone identified as needing specialized Zoom features.
• Google Meet is encouraged for all meetings that don’t require specialized Zoom features.
• Zoom Phone services remain the same and are not affected.

Being a Bruin comes with perks beyond your paycheck! To find a list of perks available to you, visit the Finances & Lifestyle section of our wellness webpage.