Well-Being and Family-Friendly Programming
Northwestern Office of the Provost offers in-person and remote wellness and family-friendly programs designed to support the holistic well-being of our faculty.
2026-2027 Well-Being Programming
From Overwhelmed to Strategic: A Time Management Monthly Series for Faculty
From Overwhelmed to Strategic is a new monthly virtual time management group focused on goal setting, calendar planning and accountability. Through reflection exercises and group discussion, we will strategize together how to better align time with priorities and share tips for success.
Each session will include exercises for reflection and discussion and sharing of best practices. Space is limited in order to facilitate interaction and discussion. Facilitated by Joan Johnson, Senior Director for Faculty, Office of the Provost. Register online.
- Oct. 19, 2026: Setting Goals for a Successful Academic Year
- Nov. 16, 2026: Managing Your Calendar: Aligning Time with Priorities
- Jan. 25, 2027: Winter Quarter Planning
- Feb. 22, 2027: Email Inbox Strategies
- Mar. 29, 2027: Spring Quarter Planning and Project Management
- April 26, 2027: Delegating Effectively: What, When and How
- May 24, 2027: Summer Planning and Accountability
Beyond Screentime: Managing Digital Media and Family Well-Being
Thursday, Nov. 12
Noon-1 p.m.
Register online by Nov. 9. Virtual (Zoom link will be sent to registrants)
Screens are all around us. From traditional ones like television and video to newer ones like tablets and smartphones, screens are seamlessly integrated into our lives – and the lives of our children. But what does the research actually tell us about how digital media influences children’s health and well-being? And how can parents and caregivers navigate the ever-changing digital landscape without feeling like they are in a constant battle with their children over screens?
Drawing on the latest research on digital media and child and adolescent health and development, this workshop will move beyond the simple question of, “How much screentime is too much?” to explore the many ways digital media may impact youth and families – for better, for worse, or sometimes not at all. Participants will leave with a more nuanced understanding of whether, when and how digital media may influence youth well-being and practical strategies for creating healthy media habits at home, including approaches to managing children’s (and their own!) media use.
Facilitated by Courtney K. Blackwell, Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg. Blackwell conducts research on the promotive and protective factors of pediatric mental health and well-being. She has collaborated with such organizations as Sesame Workshop, PBS, the Fred Rogers Center, and Code.org on national surveys of children’s media use, the development and evaluation of educational media products, and investigations of the effects of digital media on children’s health and development.
2026-2027 Family-Friendly Programming
ImagineU Children’s Theatre: Grace and the Butterfly Effect for Faculty and Their Families
Sunday, Nov. 1
11 a.m. - 12:35 p.m.
Ethel M. Barber Theater, Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts (30 Arts Circle)
Suggested Ages: 5+ (Run time: 65 minutes, no intermission)
Faculty and their families are invited to purchase discounted tickets online using the code FAMILY for the Nov. 1 show only. Tickets must be purchased in advance to take advantage of this offer. Special activities will be available in the lobby before the show starts.
About the Production:
In this foot-stomping new musical, Grace accidentally knocks down the fence between her dad’s well-manicured backyard and Mr. Hertz’s wildflower garden, where she discovers three monarch butterfly eggs on a broken milkweed plant. To make amends, she vows to raise them. Unfortunately, the caterpillars are eating machines, and finding more milkweed for them to eat is hard in the suburbs. Follow Grace as she learns all about these miraculous animals and the preservation they need to thrive.
Questions? Email faculty@northwestern.edu for more information.
Resources
There are many additional well-being resources available on our Well-Being Resources webpage.