Money stress and mental load have a way of feeding each other, so it makes sense to support both. If you’re looking for practical, low-lift ways to strengthen your footing, these timely resources are available to WSU employees through state and employee programs.

Build your financial confidence (DRS + TIAA)

The Washington State Department of Retirement Services (DRS) offers articles and resources to support retirement planning, including live and on-demand webinars on a range of retirement topics.

Access DRS Webinars
Access DRS Articles

In addition, TIAA is offering May webinars open to all employees:

  • Money Psychology: Beyond the Numbers explores how emotions, biases, and life experiences influence financial decisions, and how understanding those patterns can support more confident, long-term choices. Register to view the recorded webinar here.
  • Finance for New Hires & Grads: Starting your career is exciting, but it also comes with important financial decisions that can shape your future. This webinar will help you build a strong foundation by teaching you how to manage your money, develop smart habits, and plan for both short- and long-term goals. You’ll learn how to understand your benefits, create a spending plan, prepare for retirement, choose between traditional and Roth contributions, and build an emergency fund. Register to view the recorded webinar here.

Support your mental fitness (EAP):

Many employees know the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides up to three free confidential counseling sessions, but the EAP also offers a wide library of Work/Life resources, including financial, legal, family, and wellbeing topics.

This month’s focus includes Mental Fitness resources like:

  • Developing Cognitive Flexibility at Work: Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt your thinking, behavior, and problem-solving when situations change or don’t go as planned. This article explores seven practical strategies to help build flexible thinking skills, including practicing adaptability, recognizing overwhelm, managing emotional responses, and rewarding progress. It also highlights how stronger cognitive flexibility can improve resilience, creativity, stress management, and everyday decision-making.
  • What Actually Makes You Resilient? Resilience is more than simply “bouncing back” from challenges. It’s the ability to adapt, recover, and continue growing through stress and adversity. This article explains how resilience is shaped by a combination of emotional regulation, relationships, environment, mindset, and life experiences, while also highlighting the importance of social support, problem-solving, and healthy coping strategies.
  • How to Talk to Yourself: Self-talk can be a powerful tool for improving focus, processing emotions, and gaining clarity during stressful situations. Explore how intentionally talking or writing to yourself can help you clarify goals, manage emotional reactions, build motivation, and reflect more thoughtfully on past experiences. You’ll also learn practical strategies such as naming emotions specifically, using psychological distancing, and journaling to support clearer thinking and emotional well-being.

EAP’s Work/Life portal also includes tools to help with budgeting, saving, and planning, and an on-demand seminar “Smart Money Moves: Strengthen Your Financial Know How” is available starting May 19 (login using WSU’s Work/Life access code: WSU)

visit WSU’s EAP website

Content credit: Ann Monroe, Director, HRS Benefits & Medical Leaves of Absence; Melissa Young, HRS Consultant, Retirement