Working from Home with Children

Many McMaster employees have had to adjust to not only working from home, but working from home with children. This presents unique challenges to the McMaster community in how to structure a workday and maintain productivity while spending meaningful time with children.

Below are some resources staff and their children can access from a variety of local institutions directed to educating and engaging children online.

1. Art at home

• Weekly online workshops at the Art Gallery of Hamilton
• Classroom activities at the Royal Ontario Museum

2. Nature at home:

• Conservation Hamilton
• Grand River Conservation Authority
• David Suzuki: How to get kids into nature
• Royal Botanical Gardens

3. Education at home:

• Play and Learn is an online tool co-created by experts in child development at McMaster University, to support parents in challenging their children in engaging activities that can help them learn, grow, and thrive.

Challenge: Think about your Healthy Space

What are the best things about your space?  When do you most enjoy it?  Are there rituals in your space that could start your day off right?

The Healthy Workplace Committee encourages the McMaster community to identify  one place in your home that, with a little bit of work, has the greatest opportunity to promote self-care. This can be as small as the ‘junk drawer’, a cluttered windowsill or forgotten patio space. Aim big or small to transform the space into a more peaceful place. Post a before and after photo of how you have made that space more peaceful by tagging @McMasterOD on Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtag #McMasterHealthyWorkplace

The Healthy Workplace Committee is looking for people with a passion for wellness who are willing to role up their sleeves and volunteer! Volunteers have the opportunity to conceptualize, organize, and execute wellness resources and events in the areas of physical health, nutrition, psychological wellness, and healthy spaces. If you are interested in joining our team, please click on the recruitment window below.

Frequently asked questions about volunteering for Healthy Workplace can be found here.

For any additional questions, please contact the Program Coordinator, Engagement & Wellness at healthyworkplace@mcmaster.ca

Working out can be a challenge, but working out alone even more of a challenge! Finding creative ways to stay connected and stay active can be difficult. The Healthy Workplace Committee would like to take some of the pressure of finding ways to stay active when exercising in person with others is not possible– whether it’s because of busy work schedules, family responsibilities, or self-isolation and social distancing guidelines that we are currently experiencing.

At McMaster

The Healthy Workplace Committee will be hosting live yoga classes with Jennifer Stanley, every Thursday from 11 a.m. –  12 p.m. in the month of May. To find more information, and register for the sessions, please visit our event page below. These sessions are free of charge for McMaster employees and their families.

Athletics and Recreation has launched a series of live, at home workouts through The Pulse Instagram page. McMaster’s very own Heidi O’Brien has also put together a stretch and move video for you to participate in from the comfort of your own home.

Click here to stretch and move

In the Community

The Training Loft is a small boutique fitness studio located in Hamilton that specializes in metabolic resistance training style workouts. Like so many other’s they have recently had to shut their doors, and have taken things online with virtual workouts. Classes are 30 minutes, done over Zoom, withno equipment required except on Thursdays, yet modifications or suggestions on household items to use in place of weights are provided. The Training Loft is offering up a free 7-day trial to McMaster University employees. If you are interested in taking advantage of this offer and getting your sweat on then simply text 905-975-5336, and mention that you are a McMaster University employee looking to start your free 7-day trial.

GOODBODYFEEL is a pilates + yoga + mindfulness studio in Hamilton. GBF has recently moved all of their services online in an effort to maintain embodied social connection during this time of physical distancing and isolation. They are offering Live Stream classes daily through Zoom, and in addition to that, they have a virtual studio of 30+ 30min videos, and a few 15min ones too that you can access anytime that works best for you. All classes are sliding scale of $5 – 20. Check out their website at goodbodyfeel.com for class schedules to sign up or email them at hello@goodbodyfeel.com to register.

Even though we’re all staying home it can still be hard to find the time to fit in a full workout. Check out this LIVESTRONG article on their On-The-Hour Workout Challenge. Every hour on the hour during your workday, pick a move and do it for 30 to 60 seconds

The Healthy Workplace Committee has put together simple changes you can make at home to help kick off a more sustainable-living lifestyle. Earth Day comes around once a year, but these lifestyle changes could be beneficial for the other 364 days, as well as years to come!

There is no planet B so let’s do what we can to take care of the one we have!

• Washing your hands is very important. However be sure to turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or washing your hands – you can save up to 8 gallons of water a day just by shutting off the tap!
• Unplug and power off appliances and devices when not in use – household appliances waste energy even when not turned on, make the small effort to unplug them when not in use.
• Try reusable batteries – when it comes time to replace your batteries, opt for reusable ones instead.
• Go Paperless – switch to getting your bills and bank statements sent electronically
• Compost your food waste – take advantage of your city’s Green Bin & Composting program, or even do your own backyard composting (which is a great way to get some nutrient-rich soil for your garden you’ve started)
• Use environmentally-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products – you can even make your own with simple ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda.
• Run your dishwasher only when it’s full to save water and energy. Or better yet hand wash your dishes!
• Buy energy-efficient light bulbs that could even save you a few dollars in the long run.
• Collect rainwater, there’s so much you can use this non-drinking water for — such as outdoor cleaning and watering your plants