Activities outside of the Lab - Life Balance
Getting out of the lab, getting some exercise and having a change of scene for a morning or afternoon can be a healthy way to relax. Exercise can relieve stress, help your concentration and help you to sleep better. It can also be a fun way to get to know your co-workers better and meet new people.
Below are some activities in the local area and articles that may be of interest.
Harvard Medical Center Office of Work and Family
- The Harvard Medical Center Office of Work and Family (OWF) provides information, resources, referrals, educational programs and support to those combining work lives with family concerns. The OWF serves the faculty, staff, postdocs, and students of Harvard Medical and Dental Schools, Harvard School of Public Health and the participating affiliated institutions as an expression of the medical community's commitment to helping families balance their work lives with the important job of caring for their children, their aging parents and their own personal lives.
- Whether you are new to Harvard or new to parenthood, you may have questions about child care. As a general matter, there are three main options – center-based care, family day care, and in-home providers, as well as combinations of the above. These pages will give you detailed information about child care centers on or near Harvard’s campuses, as well as provide you with resources for finding other types of child care.
Harvard's Employee Assistance Program
- Harvard has contracted with the nationally recognized Wellness Corporation (known within the University as Harvard's EAP) to connect faculty and staff with a rich network of resources that can help employees manage the competing demands of work and life. Meanwhile, Harvard still provides extensive services internally. Visit HARVie to learn about Harvard's Office of Work/Life Resources, and how to access additional services at Harvard.
- Harvard Neighbors is a volunteer and membership organization that for over 100 years has worked to create a sense of community for the members of this large University. Through a wide variety of activities, Harvard Neighbors helps both newcomers and more established members to become acquainted with one another. The volunteers welcome and offer support to recent arrivals; plan and host a variety of social events; and offer special activities and social opportunities for people who share common interests. Membership is open to active and retired Harvard faculty and staff (including visting scholar and researchers, postdoc fellows and program fellows) and their spouses or partners.
The Harvard Gazette Online | Calendar
- A calendar of events at Harvard maintained by Harvard’s Office of News and Public Affairs. Find out about art exhibits, lectures, and other events within the Harvard community. A great way to broaden your horizons and see what's going on across the river.
Harvard University Art Museums
- The Harvard University Art Museums are distinguished by the range and depth of their collections, their groundbreaking exhibitions, and the original research of their staff. As an integral part of the Harvard community, the three art museums and four research centers serve as resources for all students, adding a special dimension to their areas of study. The public is welcome to experience the collections and exhibitions as well as to enjoy lectures, symposia, and other programs.
- Get out of the lab and explore the city once dubbed the "Athens of America". This "Best of" list, put together by Boston Magazine, is a great place to start to find out what Boston has to offer. From restaurants and food, entertainment and leisure, to services and shopping - you can't go wrong with the 348 places and people that stand out as the absolute Best of Boston.
- Fun for the whole family! The Boston Children's Museum exists to help children understand and enjoy the world in which they live. As an early museum experience for children, the environment is informal, but their purpose is serious. BCM wants children to grow up feeling secure and self-confident with respect for others and the natural world. The museum encourages imagination, curiosity, questioning, and realism. The BCM provides opportunities for new insights, involvement with the world and understanding of human differences with world-class exhibits and programs.