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December 2025
Welcome to the Level Up Newsletter, a resource for all state employees to take advantage of wellness and professional development opportunities.
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OKC Thunder ticket discount for state employees
We're excited to announce a special collaboration with the OKC Thunder to offer discounted game tickets exclusively to our dedicated state employees! This discount is a small gesture of appreciation for your hard work and commitment.
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Schedule of discounted games
Jan. 5 vs. Hornets
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Jan. 23 vs. Pacers
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Jan. 25 vs. Raptors
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Feb. 12 vs. Bucks
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Feb. 22 vs. Cavaliers
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March 9 vs. Nuggets
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March 30 vs. Pistons
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April 5 vs. Jazz
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April 12 vs. Suns
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Ticket details
Tickets are available in a variety of seating areas, including the lower-level baseline and various spots in Love’s Loud City (upper loft, loft, plaza and mezzanine).
Please note the following:
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Pricing: Discounts and ticket prices vary based on the specific game and seat location.
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Availability: Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no maximum limit on the number of seats you can purchase, outside of the available inventory for that game.
How to purchase
View available games and purchase your tickets using the button below.
Important: The linked webpage only displays games up through the next month. The inventory and visible games are updated on the fifth of each month, so be sure to check back regularly to score your seats.
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Ryan’s Rx: All about cardio
Cardio is essential for overall health, offering far more than calorie burn. It strengthens the heart and lungs; improves circulation, endurance and oxygen delivery; regulates blood pressure; lowers cholesterol; and reduces heart disease risk. It also boosts metabolism and total calorie burn, leading to more efficient fat loss when paired with proper nutrition and strength training.
In terms of its mental benefits, cardio releases endorphins, reduces stress, improves sleep and enhances cognitive function. For women, it supports hormone regulation, bone strength and lymphatic health; for men, it aids testosterone levels, vascular health and athletic endurance.
Across all ages, regular cardio improves immunity, lung capacity and daily energy while preventing chronic disease. Whether through walking, running, swimming, cycling or active hobbies, consistent cardio delivers lasting benefits and belongs in every fitness plan.
 Written by Ryan Hulcy, Thrive health and wellness assistant, and personal training and nutrition expert.
Hearty Solutions: The impact of Angel Trees and Red Kettles
The holiday season is marked by two enduring symbols of giving: Angel Trees and Red Kettles.
Major Paul Ryerson, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Central Oklahoma, discusses the organization's essential community programs. He explains how donations made to those familiar Red Kettles fund vital assistance year-round, not just during the holidays.
Game Night series continues
Game Night kicks off on Friday, Jan. 9, at Kamp’s 1910 Cafe, and you’re officially invited to join the fun. Whether you’re fresh off the early shift or rolling in later, swing by anytime between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. – just be respectful of Kamp’s 9 p.m. closing time.
We’ve guaranteed classics like UNO, Ticket to Ride and 52-card decks ready to go, plus whatever bonus games folks bring along. If you have a favorite game, feel free to share it – just remember, there’s no on-site storage, so games leave when you do.
There’s no fee to play, just grab a drink or snack at Kamp’s to show appreciation for the space. And here’s a bonus: playing dominos and card and board games isn’t just fun – it’s good for your health. These types of games help reduce stress, boost memory, spark creativity and strengthen social bonds.
The Calm app returns in 2026 following a successful pilot program
We are pleased to announce that, following a successful pilot program, the Calm app is returning for state employees in 2026!
New licenses purchased
The pilot program, which ends Dec. 31, yielded successful results. Based on strong participation and positive feedback from the evaluation survey, we have purchased 300 new licenses for the coming year.
Employee experience
One employee shared their experience with the app:
"I find this app absolutely AMAZING. I have been using it at bedtime as I suffer from insomnia. I have found that I fall asleep much faster with some of the music/options. I have also been sleeping longer stretches. Waking up feeling refreshed has been a nice change! So grateful for this opportunity! I've also shared with a couple co-workers, hoping they find the app as amazing as I have! Thank you again!"
How to sign up
The 300 licenses will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Jan. 1.
Select the button below to secure your license for the new year!
Axe Throwing League: Three towns, one target
Twisted Axes is doubling the action, with leagues now in Yukon and Moore. Tulsa gets in on the competition as well, with A&R Axe Throwing providing a league location for employees in northeastern Oklahoma.
| Location |
Address |
Day and time |
Dates |
| Yukon |
2121 S. Yukon Parkway |
Wednesdays, from 6-8 p.m. |
Jan. 7-Feb. 11 |
| Moore |
609 N.W. 8th St. |
Thursdays, from 6-8 p.m. |
Jan. 8-Feb. 12 |
| Tulsa |
6975 S. Lewis Ave. |
Wednesdays, from 6-8 p.m. |
Jan. 7-Feb. 11 |
Prepare for six weeks of competition. The cost is $75 per player.
Sharpen your aim, rally your crew and let the axes fly!
The deadline to sign up is noon on Dec. 29. Secure your spot before the countdown hits zero.
Register by selecting the button below.
OK Money Matters offers a light at the end of the tunnel for holiday debt
It is all too easy to accumulate debt during the holiday season. Here are some practical tips to enjoy the season while maintaining financial peace of mind.
- Be honest with yourself and understand how you ended up in the situation. Was it using a credit card to support a certain lifestyle? Budgeting will help you set parameters.
- Know where you stand: Do you actually know how much you owe and to whom? Do the research by scrutinizing your statements.
- Stop spending: This year, look for creative ways to show you care, such as by making homemade gifts or gifting shared experiences.
- Activate your payoff plan. Check out the OK Money Matters flyer to learn how the snowball method can help you pay off debt.
Remember, it begins with taking one step at a time.
iResolve: January HealthCode activity challenge
iResolve is HealthCode's activity challenge for January, and it is designed to help participants start the new year by incorporating resolutions to move more.
About the challenge
State employees have consistently participated in HealthCode’s activity challenges since 2018. The iResolve challenge offers an easy way to set goals and track your activity, as it pairs with most devices that upload activity to your profile.
Thrive tracks how agencies perform in these challenges, and HealthCode maintains leaderboards too. In October's challenge, Marathon in a Month, Oklahoma's state employees finished in the top 10 of all participating organizations, at seventh place.
Angela Ferguson of the OMES HCM Employee Benefits Department was the top individual participant, with 70 miles logged!
Join the challenge
Select the button below to submit a ServiceNow request to Thrive. Once submitted, Thrive will assist you in signing up for the challenge beginning Jan. 1.
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'Tis the season of you
As the year winds down, December invites us to pause, reflect and refuel.
Amid holiday hustle and year-end responsibilities, self-care isn’t indulgent – it’s essential.
This month’s toolkit explores the five dimensions of wellness – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social – and offers practical examples to help you build resilience, reduce stress and reconnect with yourself.
From cozy rituals like journaling or mindful walks to boundary-setting and gratitude practices, you’ll discover short-term boosts and long-term benefits that make life brighter.
Plus, enjoy our self-care advent calendar, with daily prompts to nurture your body, mind and spirit all season long.
This December, give yourself the gift of care – you are worthy of rest, joy and renewal.
Walking Club
Sign up to join the fun and stay tuned for news about group walks and events.
Break Time
Break Time is a 15-minute desk stretching and relaxation session offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Participants are welcome to join whenever they are available. To register and select your preferred time, submit a service request.
Coming in 2026: Indoor soccer at SoccerCity!
Get ready to lace up and light up the turf! SoccerCity Tulsa and OKC will host the Thrive recreational Indoor Soccer League in both spring and fall 2026.
Whether you're a seasoned striker or just looking to kick it with friends, this is your chance to be part of something fast-paced, fun and community-driven.
Complete this form and let us know your preferred league type, location and skill level.
Your feedback will help shape the league structure, game nights and registration details.
First Day Hikes 2026: Start your year on the right path!
Kick off the new year with fresh air, movement and community! Travel Oklahoma is bringing First Day Hikes back to 14 state parks across Oklahoma.
These hikes are part of the America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative that takes place in all 50 states and encourages individuals and families to stay active with a hike outdoors. Whatever your motivation, an Oklahoma hike makes for a New Year’s Day you won’t regret.
Each participating park will host a guided hike on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. On that day, there will be no fees for park entry or parking, and there will be multiple ADA-accessible trails to choose from.
Learn more about the First Day Hikes taking place this year and secure your spot in your chosen hike using the button below.
Pickleball
Norman Pickleball is leveling up this year with two locations – including our new home at Premier Sportsplex. Starting in February, they will be serving up the fun on Wednesday nights. Sign up here and get ready to dink with destiny.
Meanwhile, the legendary OKC league returns: Santa Fe Family Life Center is back in action this February on Monday nights. Sign up here and start your week with a smash.
Tulsa recreational leagues, here we come!
Tulsa, it’s officially game time! Our Tulsa recreational leagues are rolling out, and Axe Throwing is now open for registration – your chance to jump in early, claim your spot and set the tone for what’s ahead.
Soccer, Pickleball, Bowling and Game Night are all coming soon.
Keep your eyes up, your inbox open and your competitive spirit warmed up.
This is just the beginning, and you won’t want to miss what’s next.
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 Course schedule
SLS offers both free and low-cost continuous learning opportunities to all state employees.
Upcoming webinars:
Speaking of upcoming courses, please let us know which skills and competencies we can help you develop or enhance, as well as any topics you are interested in learning about. Complete this form to share your ideas.
Highlighted course
To register for the highlighted courses and more Statewide Learning Services offerings, visit the Upcoming Offerings schedule in the Workday@OK Learning app.
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Navigating Difficult Conversations
This course helps participants learn skills to overcome the most dreaded and common blocker to success in their most important conversations: the emotional tension that so often causes discussions to spiral into frustration, blame and deeper conflict.
Participants will learn a simple, memorable framework to help them set a clear, collaborative tone from the start and successfully respond in the moment to navigate their own and others' emotional reactions.
Dates: Jan. 27
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
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Tech tip
Here’s a quick tip to help you automate and streamline your SharePoint lists. You can add rules to a SharePoint list to trigger actions based on changes, no coding required!
Why you’d use a rule in SharePoint
Imagine you manage a SharePoint list that tracks equipment requests. You want to make sure your supervisor is notified every time someone requests a laptop. Instead of manually checking the list or sending emails, you can create a rule: “When a new item is added and the ‘Equipment Type’ is ‘Laptop,’ send an email to the supervisor.” This saves time, reduces errors and ensures nothing slips through the cracks; automation at its best.
- Send an email when a new item is added.
- Notify someone when a column value changes.
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Create reminders or alerts for due dates.
Image of the Create a rule section.
- Open your SharePoint list.
- Expand the Automate option in the drop-down menu in the command bar.
- Select Create a rule.
- Choose your condition and action (e.g., “When a column changes, send an email”)
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Save the rule and test it out!
Image of the Automate drop-down option in the command bar.
These rules are great for keeping your team informed and reducing manual follow-ups.
Want to see exactly what courses Statewide Learning Services is offering in Workday@OK?
Navigate to the Learning app and select Upcoming Offerings in the left-hand tool bar. Then, select the Filter button in the top right corner.
Select Add. Then, from the Column drop-down menu, select Topic. From the Value drop-down menu, select Statewide Learning Services.
 Finally, select the Filter button. Now you can explore and enroll in our learning opportunities.
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Currently reading
"Atomic Habits" by James Clear.
The new year brings opportunities to create new resolutions and build habits that support them, and James Clear makes it easier than ever to master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.
In "Atomic Habits," Clear argues that to form a good habit and create behavior change, we need to make the habit obvious, attractive, easy and satisfying.
Conversely, to break a bad habit, we need to make it invisible, unattractive, difficult and unsatisfying.
The key is to keep the mindset of getting 1% better every day. Those little changes add up and help us move forward toward becoming the kind of person, leader, co-worker, family member and friend that we want to be.
Bonus: Starting April 14, 2026, join the SLS team for an in-depth, three-part series about "Atomic Habits" and how to make changes that last. Enroll here!
Mandatory supervisory training deadline: Dec. 31
All supervisory personnel must complete their required mandatory supervisory training (MST) credits by Dec. 31 to ensure compliance with 74 O.S. § 840-3.1.
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New supervisors (first year): Must complete 24 hours of training.
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Current supervisors: Must complete 12 hours of training annually.
Credits can easily be fulfilled through self-paced LinkedIn Learning courses, or by attending webinars and in-person trainings offered by SLS.
LinkedIn Learning highlight: Mental Health and Well-being for Effective Leadership
In a season of gratitude and renewal, take some time to reflect and learn how your mental state and overall wellness can foster a successful work environment for everyone in the new year.
 Course feedback
Hope Awareness
“This course reminded me of why I am here, what I need to do to restructure so I can be a beacon of hope for others.”
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Employee benefits: Did you know?
Tobacco-free attestations are due Dec. 31 for current HealthChoice High or Basic plan members.
Now that Open Enrollment has ended, employees currently enrolled in the HealthChoice High or Basic health plan must complete and submit their HealthChoice Tobacco-Free Attestation by Dec. 31.
Employees who do not submit the attestation by the deadline will be automatically enrolled in a HealthChoice Alternative health plan for the 2026 plan year.
Flexible spending account (FSA) and dependent care account (DCA)
Subject to the use-it-or-lose-it rule: You must incur services and/or expenses no later than Dec. 31. Any money remaining after that date will be forfeited, unless you submit claims made during the 2025 calendar year no later than March 31, 2026, to P&A.
Electronic option for 2025 Forms 1095-C in Workday@OK
To avoid waiting for your 2025 Form 1095-C to arrive by mail, you can opt to go paperless only. If you have chosen to go paperless only, you will receive an electronic copy of the document that can be downloaded and printed earlier than if you elect both paper and electronic.
Once you select to receive an electronic-only copy, you do not need to make the selection again in the future. Those who have elected to receive both electronic and paper copies for their year-end document will have them mailed by the required deadline, and an electronic version will also be available by the deadline. Forms 1095-C are due to employees by Jan. 31, 2026.
To view your current elections for your Form 1095-C in Workday@OK, follow these steps:
- From the Actions drop-down menu, select Benefits and Pay.
- From the Benefits drop-down menu, select ACA Forms.
- Select View My 1095-C Printing Election.
To change your Form 1095-C elections in Workday@OK, follow these steps:
- From the Actions drop-down menu, select Benefits and Pay.
- From the Benefits drop-down menu, select ACA Forms.
- Select Change 1095-C Printing Election.
- Select OK.
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