Mental Health

Engaging in Mindfulness Amidst the Chaos

| Michaela Martin

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare”. – Angela Davis  

Hello fellow Buckeyes!  

I’m sure a lot of us are feeling the pressure of mid-semester assignments and exams along with the struggle of trying to stay on top of it all. It’s important to remember to stay on top of your mental health as well. Keeping your stress in check is incredibly important, and according to the 2010 American College Health Association, the National College Health Assessment reported that more than 25% of students reported that their stress had lowered their grades, or even their ability to complete a course.  

Take some time for self–care this week and beyond by pausing to watch your favorite movie, put on a face mask, practice yoga, journal, or whatever else you need to do to relieve stress in a proactive and healthy way. You may even consider finding something new to try! 

One of the more popular ways to relieve stress is meditation, which you can do in multiple ways and in many different places. Take a few moments to yourself and focus on your breathing with no distractions, and once you’re done, you may find yourself feeling a lot less stressed! Never tried yoga or meditation before? We got you covered.  

Join the Buckeye PAL volunteers for a bi-weekly mindfulness practice. Each session will include meditation, mindful movement and reflection. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and bring a journal for note-taking. Sign up for one or both of the next upcoming sessions:  

  • Wednesday Nov. 4,   8:30 pm – 9:30 pm  
  • Wednesday Nov. 18, 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm  

You can also contact a Buckeye PAL volunteer if you need someone to talk to. The Buckeye Peer Access Line (PAL) is a non-crisis peer-to-peer support line that provides a space for students to engage in brief phone conversations in order to gain support and learn about campus resources. The Buckeye PAL Line operates Monday-Friday from 8 pm – 12 am.  

Learn more about the Buckeye Peer Access Line on our website! 

Amber Lukachinsky, Buckeye PAL Volunteer  

 

 

Black Mental Health Matters: 6 Strategies for Coping with Racial Trauma

| Michaela Martin

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation. And that is an act of political warfare”.  – Angela Davis  

If you are a Black student, there is a possibility that you may be experiencing heightened levels of stress and anxiety, due to the civil unrest taking place in the world today. The attack on Black lives is not new to the United States. Black folks have experienced centuries of trauma; developing strategies of resistance and resilience to not only survive, but to also thrive.  

Racial Trauma or Race Based Stress, refers to the events of danger related to real or perceived experiences of racial discrimination. These include threats of harm and injury, humiliating and shaming events, and witnessing harm to other POCI (People of Color and Indigenous people) due to real or perceived racism (Carter, 2007). Symptoms of race-based trauma might include hypervigilance to threat, flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, suspiciousness, headaches, heart palpitations, anxiety, depression and more. While similar to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Racial Trauma differs in that it involves ongoing injuries to the exposure (direct and vicarious) and re-exposure to race-based stress.   

“So it’s not just me and my lifetime and what I’ve experienced – it’s the stories you heard from family members, it’s witnessing that of colleagues or peers, and now with social media and online mechanisms of folks sharing videos, it’s also witnessing things that you may not experience directly.” Maryam Jernigan-Noesi  

With the consistent ongoing injuries, exposure and re-exposure to race-based stress, it could possibly leave you and/or your family feeling helpless. Listed below are 6 strategies for managing your mental health and coping with racial trauma.   

Connect/Talk/Debrief 

Make time to process the recent events with your community, friends and family. It may feel helpful to know that you are not alone in your feelings of sadness, frustration, anger, and hopelessness. Here are a few organizations and university departments you can connect with on campus:  

Talk to a Therapist  

Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS) provides individual and group mental health services, psychoeducational prevention and outreach programming to currently enrolled undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Check out the many options CCS has to offer Ohio State students:  

  • 1:1 Therapy  
  • Group Counseling  
  • SAFE Graduate Group – AA/Black/African Descent  
  • Sisters in Solidarity – Undergraduate women who identify as African American or Black 
  • Sisters in Solidarity – Graduate women who identify as African American or Black  
  • You Good Man? – Undergraduate men who identify as African American or Black  
  • Let’s Talk – Informal, drop-in mental health consultations on a first-come, first served basis. These are 15-20 minute confidential problem solving sessions with a CCS counselor.  

Other options for Wellness Support:  

  • The Buckeye Peer Access Line (PAL) is a non-emergency talk line that provides a space for students to engage in brief phone conversations in order to gain support and learn about campus resources.  
  • Wellness Coaching provides opportunities for you to gain awareness regarding your capacity to create the life you want to live, both now and in the future using the nine dimensions of wellness as a framework for generating goals that are meaningful to you.  

Engage in Activism  

Activism can show up in many forms. Engaging in activism can increase your sense of strength and power when experiencing feelings of hopelessness. It can also increase your knowledge; ultimately empowering you to advocate for your beliefs and invoke positive change in your community and in your world. Activism can look like the following:  

  • Creating and/or signing petitions.  
  • Facilitating and/or participating in non-violent protests or marches.  
  • Hosting and/or participating in educational presentations related to equity and inclusion.  
  • Working with organizations to support policy change locally and federally.  
  • Participating in social media campaigns. 
  • Researching, watching and reading about historical events, laws and policies that have directly influenced the Black community 
  • Donate and financially support people, organizations and businesses that align with your values.  

Limit news and social media engagement  

It’s okay to not always “be in the know” about everything going on in the world related to Black trauma. You can choose to not read the new article, to not look up the new hashtag, to not watch the social media video, and to not watch the latest movie or documentary. Be mindful of imagery and content that may be triggering for you and make the best decision for you and your mental health.  

Express feelings in a safe manner  

  • Journaling current thoughts, emotions and concerns  
  • Meditation and mindfulness practices such as yoga, time in nature, and walking 
  • Artistic Expression such as poetry, painting, dancing, photography etc.  
  • Talking and processing events with others  

Rest & Sleep  

Although it may be difficult as college students, it is important that you make time to rest intentionally. Getting 6-8 hours of sleep each night can strengthen your immune system, increase focus and productivity, reduce stress, enhance your mood and much more.  

Racial trauma involves ongoing injuries to exposure (direct and vicarious) and re-exposure to race-based stress. Addressing individual and systemic racism in the United States is a marathon, not a sprint. In order to protect Black minds and bodies, Black students must prioritize their mental health. Continue connecting with your communities to determine the best practices for you to implement you’re your collective care practice.  

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, it is to thrive with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style”  – Maya Angela 

Resources:  

Carter R.T. (2007) Racism and Psychological and Emotional Injury: Recognizing and Assessing Race-Based Traumatic Stress. The Counseling Psychologist. 35(1): 13-105.  

https://www.mhanational.org/racial-trauma  

I got 99 problems and Drinkin’ Might Be One 

| Michaela Martin

Our communities have had to adapt to new health concerns, policies, changes in employment, education barriers, and social lives. Many of our community members struggle to keep that future as they survive without assistance or safety nets to stay afloat.  In addition to the impacts brought by changes necessary for public health responses, there has been an ongoing series of protests and civil unrest taking place in an international response to racism and structural oppression. After the violent murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless others, we must witness the U.S. culture of violence against Black people as it converges with a historical pandemic. How’s that for a 2-for-1 deal?  

Our country’s heritage of racism and colonialism has led to social disadvantages that affect our relationship to health and how it has largely been defined by hegemony. In fact, COVID-19 has shown a higher prevalence in Black and Latinx populations in comparison to white Euro-Americans. While risk is increased by having underlying conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, which are highly prevalent in African Americans, these conditions are often related to a lack of access to health care and health affirming environments. The main determinant is who must leave their home. Black and Latinx people are more likely to work front-line jobs as essential workers, use public transportation, or live in multigenerational homes where social distancing becomes difficult (Oppel et. al 2020).   

People of color are forced to carry the burden of living as racialized people within interlocking systems of oppression and deal with the present threat of COVID-19. We are constantly bombarded by news reports, trending hashtags, and casual office conversations on Black death. It becomes easy to get caught up in the narrative that decides to be Black is to Suffer. This complex overlap of isolation, racial stress, wide-spread financial strain, and the disruption of support services could contribute to increased substance use or alcohol intake as we seek familiar, accessible ways to distract ourselves, seek comfort or self-medicate by dampening intense feelings of anxiety, depression, and other mental health experiences.  What’s more is that alcohol is cheap, easy to buy, and works fast. A 2017 study revealed that in young adults 18-22 years of age, “34.8 percent engaged in binge drinking and 9.7 percent engaged in heavy alcohol use (NIAAA)” in the last month.  

Moments such as these require a personal and community effort. In honor of the activism we’ve seen, I offer an act of resistance to those who are looking. Continue to find new ways to celebrate life by creating, inspiring movement, and finding things that bring you joy while acknowledging what doesn’t on a deeper level. Such acts are a refusal to be erased, particularly during a time in quarantine where it becomes easier to feel invisible, as well as ways we can lend ourselves more grace and care.  

Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

Mental 

  • Practice self-compassion  
  • Grieve lost opportunities and set new goals that excite you, even if they’re small.  
  • Cry when you need to and laugh when you can  
  • Use counseling services provided by OSU (First 10 Free)    

Physical 

  • Practice yoga 
  • Dance 
  • Go for a walk 

Spiritual 

  • Meditation  
  • Finding online religious services or podcasts that align with your beliefs 

Creative 

  • Paint (without sipping!) 
  • Learn a new skill like caring for plants 

Social  

  • Starting or joining a virtual book club/interest club 
  • Calling loved ones and checking in 
  • Identifying a trusted confidant 

Resources 

References 

Oppel, R., Gebeloff, R., & Rebecca, K. (2020, July 05). The Fullest Look Yet at the Racial Inequity of Coronavirus. Retrieved September 19, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/05/us/coronavirus-latinos-african-americans-cdc-data.html 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.) Fall Semester-A Time for Parents To Discuss the Risks of College Drinking. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2020, from https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/niaaacollegematerials/factsheets/collegefactsheetforparents.aspx 

-Faith Lewis, Wellness Ambassador  

Mindful not Mind Full

| Michaela Martin

It’s easy to have your mind full of responsibilities in college, instead of being mindful. Stressful events are bound to happen no matter what. These events are often out of your control, but you can change the ways you respond to, and manage, your stress. College is a big transition, but there is a plethora of resources found online and at Ohio State to help you navigate these stressful times! 

Online Resources
Mindfulness, stress management strategies, and mental health resources can put you in control of your stress. The Greater Good in Action website provides practices of varying lengths and intensities that cover a bunch of different strategies to manage stress, including meditation, gratitude journaling, and thinking strategies. Each practice provides an easy to follow how-to guide as well!  

Curious about the science and research behind Mindfulness and stress management practices? The Global Wellness Institute has you covered. It provides a convenient place where you can access multiple research databases that provide empirical data and evidence for the various wellness approaches. You can learn about new therapies and techniques, as well as the science behind the why and how each wellness approach works! Each approach has a spotlight to introduce you to a few studies that can serve as the starting point for your research, a research portal to allow you to explore other research databases, and a studies-in-progress link that will appear if there are any studies that are currently underway for that specific wellness approach.  

Ohio State Resources
The Dennis Learning Center is a great resource at Ohio State that helps you with your academic endeavors through academic coaching, workshops, articles, and other resources to help you succeed and thrive academically. Counseling and Consultation Service (CCS) is also available to you. CCS allows you to seek help from a mental health professional and is located on campus both in the Younkin Success Center and Lincoln Tower but offering virtual help this academic year!  

Another recommended resource is Wellness Coaching through the Student Wellness Center. Wellness Coaches use the Nine Dimensions of Wellness model and positive psychology practice to help your personal development, focus on your strengths, and generate goals that are meaningful for you. Wellness coaches are not licensed therapists, but they can direct you to additional resources if needed. This service, as well as many other Student Wellness Center services, is FREE to you as an Ohio State student! 

Resources: 

-Simon Ren, Stress Wellness Ambassador

World Mental Health Day

| Michaela Martin

World Mental Health Day is this Saturday, October 10. About 1 in 5 people suffer from at least one form of mental illness, which, in 2017, was over 46 million Americans. Furthermore, a study of college students by Healthline found that 39% of students were struggling with at least one mental illness in 2016. One major environmental influence on mental health is stress, which may in part explain why the rate at which college students report mental illness is higher than the general population. If I could pick one word to describe 2020, it would be “stressful.” Between COVID-19, widespread social unrest, economic depression, upcoming presidential election, and navigating a new “socially-distant” world, this particular journey around the sun has presented more challenges than any year college students have experienced thus far. Of course, this year may not be uniquely difficult for everyone; some may find working from home and distancing from others to be a breath of fresh air. Others may have experienced incredibly difficult years before this one that make 2020 look easy in comparison. However, for the many people that find themselves anxious, overwhelmed, distraught, exhausted, or upset after this year’s events, World Mental Health Day 2020 may seem particularly meaningful. The World Health Organization writes that due to the increased demand for mental health care on the already underfunded industry, the goal for this year’s World Mental Health Day is to increase investment in mental health and, more specifically, mental health programs. In an effort to campaign for mental health programs, WHO is hosting The Big Event for Mental Health, which they describe as “an unprecedented online advocacy event that will call for increased investment in mental health at all levels—from individuals to businesses to countries to civil society—so that the world can begin to close the gaps [in mental health treatment availability].” The Big Event is free, open to the public, and will be broadcasted on October 10 (World Mental Health Day) from 10:00 AM (EST) – 1:00PM on WHO’s social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok). If you or a loved one are struggling with your mental health, please visit this link which lists the various Ohio State mental health resources available to help you. Additionally, keep up with the Be Well Blog and the Student Wellness Center’s social media pages for future wellness tips.

 

Sources:

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/world-mental-health-day-2020

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/college-frosh-mental-health

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml#:~:text=Mental%20illnesses%20are%20common%20in,mild%20to%20moderate%20to%20severe

Jumpstarting Your Semester with Mindfulness

| Michaela Martin

The beginning of a new semester brings about a variety of different emotions. For many students, there are feelings of excitement, joy, and enthusiasm. Others may be experiencing feelings of fear, nervousness and doubt. As we all step into the Fall 2020 semester, many of us are also experiencing heightened levels of uncertainty and anxiety as we navigate the COVID-19 global pandemic.  

For many of us, faculty and staff included, we have had to shift our plans and adjust our expectations for the Fall 2020 semester. With everything happening in the world that may seem out of our control, it can be difficult to focus our energy and intention on the things that we can control.  

If you are experiencing any of these challenges right now, you might consider implementing some of these mindfulness practices into your day.  

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique. When we practice mindfulness, we are practicing the art of creating space for ourselves – space to think, space to breathe, space between ourselves and our reactions.  

Check out these 3 simple strategies below for implementing mindfulness into your daily life:  

Meditation  

In mindful meditation, we are learning how to pay attention to the breath as it goes in and out, and notice when the mind wanders from this task. This practice of returning to the breath builds the muscles of attention and mindfulness. Meditation can be 5 min a day or it can be multiple hours in a day. Try to release the pressure to meditate a certain way and simply work on implementing a daily practice that could work best with your schedule.  

Check out these meditation apps to help you deepen your practice:  

  • Headspace – Headspace has been branded as “your gym membership for the mind” and believe that your mind is a muscle that deserves just as much attention as your biceps. The app also offers sleep music and soundscapes to help you get sleep.  
  • Liberate – Liberate is the #1 meditation app for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. The meditations are led by BIPOC practitioners who have diverse backgrounds and approaches to support healing focused on common cultural experiences such as microaggressions.  
  • Insight Timer – A multifaceted gateway to more than 30,000 guided sessions that tap into every emotion rattling your nerves, it also offers relaxing music tracks, and therapeutic pep talks.  

Journaling  

Journaling is a great opportunity to engage in self-exploration and expression, helping one to live in the present, to become deeply aware and appreciative of life. Journaling can take place at any time of the day; however much research has suggested journaling right when you wake up or right before you go to bed. Here are few journal prompts to consider:  

  • What current emotions or feelings are you experiencing right now? How are those emotions or feelings resonating in your body?  
  • What are 3 things you are currently grateful for?  
  • Write down 5 things you admire about yourself.  

Grounding  

Grounding, also called earthing, is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth. Being grounded can mean two things; being fully present in your body and/or feeling connected to the earth.  

A few ways you can get grounded include:  

  • Walking barefoot 
  • Lying on the ground  
  • Submersing in water 
  • Gardening  

However you choose to connect your body to the earth, make sure that it is skin to earth contact. Some benefits of grounding include reducing stress levels, facilitating better sleep, improving circulation and improving mental health.  

Taking care of ourselves is instrumental to our overall well-being. We hope this list provided you with some new ways to incorporate mindfulness into your everyday life.  

Ivory Levert
Buckeye Peer Access Line (PAL), Program Manager  

Who/What/When/Where/Why of NAPPING

| Michaela Martin

A new academic year is upon us and that means new school supplies, new challenges, and new schedules. Whether you are a night owl or early bird, creating a course schedule that is conducive to your natural sleep rhythm is important. For those who do not have the flexibility to schedule whenever they want, napping is a great addition to those days when a cup of coffee or a quick walk are not enough to make it through the day.  

 When planned and implemented correctly, naps can be extremely beneficial and are not just for gaining an energy boost but they can also help to provide relaxation, improve mood, and increase alertness. Read up on best practices for napping below to maximize your nap and make it through the day.  

When should you take a nap? 

  • You feel unexpectedly fatigued, run down, or sleepy 
  • You know that you will get less sleep that night  
  • You want a quick burst of energy/revitalization throughout your day  

How should you take naps? 

  • Keep them short! Naps should only be 10 to 20 minutes long. Longer naps are more likely to cause grogginess.  
  • Take them within the early afternoon. Aim to be finished napping by 3:00 pm. If you take a nap too late, it can interfere with your sleep cycles throughout the night.  
  • Find an appropriate environment. The room should be quiet and dark with minimal distractions. Set the room to a good temperature.  

What should you do directly after a nap? 

  • Stretch and move your body slowly.  
  • Allow yourself to wake up fully. Don’t rush into any activities. 

What are some benefits of taking naps? 

  • Elevated mood 
  • Alertness 
  • Better performance 
  • Faster reaction time 
  • Better memory 
  • Reduced fatigue 

What are some downsides to napping? 

  • Sleep inertia, which includes grogginess and disorientation  
  • Future sleeping problems such as insomnia or poor-quality sleep throughout the night 

What are some stigmas associated with napping? 

  • If someone naps frequently, they are lazy and have a lack of motivation. 
  • Napping is only appropriate for young children, older individuals, and those who are sick.  

These stigmas are false, and they indicate that we need to be more educated on the potential benefits of napping. Although the best way to stay healthy and alert is to achieve quality sleep at night, occasional naps can really improve your mental and physical stamina!  

 

Resource:  

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/napping/art-20048319 https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/napping 

 

Back to School Checklist: Managing Your Mental Health

| Michaela Martin

Starting a new academic year is never easy – starting a new academic year in the midst of a pandemic is even harder. Navigating the dissonance of knowing that the procedures are in place to keep yourself and Buckeye Nation safe and healthy while also mourning the loss of fall sports, activities and the sense of “normalcy” can take a toll on you. Now more than ever it is important to proactively manage your mental health. Getting regular physical activity, eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a connection to friends and family (safely), practicing gratitude and utilizing preventive services like Wellness Coaching and the Peer Access Line will all aide in maintaining and improving your mental health. Start the school year off right and put your mental health on the top of your back to school checklist. Read below from 4th year Senior, Sly, on how he has learned to take care of his mental health at Ohio State.

  • What do you do to proactively take care of your mental health/wellness? What strategies do you currently have in place?

One of the biggest things I have done to take care of my mental health is by working out. This is important because I feel better after I workout and it is also my escape where I get to focus on myself and clear my mind. Another thing that I do to take care of my mental health/wellness is by taking self-care days. I am one who is always doing something so implementing these days allows me to re-energize and keep myself effective. Some of the strategies I have in place are planning out my day which allows me to utilize my time more effectively which will allow me to get an adequate amount of sleep which is important.

  • Who do you lean on for support? Friends? Family? Ohio State Resources?

My primary sense of support comes from my friends. I have a solid group of friends where we can be vulnerable with each other and talk about our problems and/or experiences. I have also started to utilize Ohio State’s Counseling and Consultation Services which has been a great resource.

  • How do your identities influence how you take care of yourself in college?

Being someone who is a: Black, first-generation college student, from a low socioeconomic status, I often find myself questioning whether I am doing enough in the academic space. This oftentimes puts a lot of pressure on me to always achieve at the highest level. I am one who appreciates healthy competition, especially with myself but sometimes this weight can be stressful. As a result, in most of the ways I try to take care of myself are through utilizing self-care days, days where I get to relax and relieve myself from pressure. This allows me to regain my strength and energy and helps me stay connected.

  • What advice would you give other Ohio State students in regard to proactive mental health/wellness?

My advice would be to surround yourself with people who genuinely care about you, who can be a resource, and point you in the right direction when they cannot. I would also advise one to find hobbies or to get in a routine where your mental health is prioritized.

 


Sly Worthy, 4th year
Majors: Social Work and African/African American Studies
President/Found of Buckeyes First Student Organization
Hometown: Lorain, OH

You’re a 10 out 10 and Don’t you Forget

| Michaela Martin

Demi Lovato said it best in her new “I Love Me” song. Below are 10 things you can do to love yourself, others and the world even more than you already do:

  1. Practice Positive Self-talk: Positive self-talk has been shown to improve satisfaction with life, decrease stress and even physical benefits like better immune function and reduced pain. Checkout examples of re-framing to positive self-talk below:
    • Negative: “I’m not going to get better” Positive:“I’ll give it another try and ask for help if needed”
    • Negative: “I’m a failure” Positive: “I’m proud of myself, that took courage”
    • Negative: “I hate the way my body looks” Positive: “My body is strong and allows me to live a fulfilled life”
  2. Improve your Physical Wellness: This includes eating a balanced diet, exercise, getting enough sleep, practicing safer sex and reducing your risk when it comes to alcohol and other drug use.
  3. Quiet your mind: Living in a digital world in may feel hard to disconnect but taking a screen break and letting your mind wander will do wonders for your well-being. Engage in meditation, pray or grounding in nature – any mindfulness technique will help quiet your mind. 
  4. Be Kind: Kindness increases happiness, energy, and the good hormones: oxytocin and serotonin. Be Kind and send a kudo to a friend, family member, or a staff member who has made a positive impact on your life.
  5. Set attainable goals: You can aim high but unattainable goals will have a negative impact on your mental health. Utilize the SMART Technique when goal setting:
    • S: Specific
    • M: Measurable
    • A: Attainable
    • R: Relevant
    • T: Time bound
  6. Identify small steps to be more environmentally friendly: Give back to the earth that has given so much to you! Small steps will make a big difference. 
    • Swap out single use plastic items to more eco-friendly options when they run out (i.e. switch from a shampoo bottle to shampoo bar)
    • Host a clothing swap with friends (easy way to switch up your wardrobe without buying new clothes)
    • Limit your food waste
    • Unplug chargers when not in use
    • And so much more
  7.  Resist: Resist harmful messages that society forces on you.- unfollow accounts that don’t promote social issues that you stand for (body positivity, equal rights, social justice). Resist with your spending – support organizations that align with your values and don’t support places that uses degrading images or messaging. Also, speak up and out to your friends – your speer of influence is bigger than you know. 
  8. Adopt a daily mantra: A mantra helps you focus on something bigger than yourself. Adopt a mantra, recite it daily and post it everywhere for your to see.
  9.  Listen to music daily: Music provides a boost to your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Checkout our Body Positive Playlist below for all your self love jams.
  10. Be proactive in your well-being: Utilize the free services the Student Wellness Center offers. The SWC offers group presentations, educational events, and 1on1 peer coaching appointments around a variety of wellness topics. 

Podcast Recommendations

| Michaela Martin

If you are like me, you are getting a little burnt out at this point looking at screens all the time. You also may be feeling the weather getting warmer where you are, and wanting to be outside more. One way to boost multiple dimensions of your wellness is to check out a new podcast series. I have found that listening to podcasts is a great way to stretch my mind – particularly when doing tasks such as walking the dog, cooking dinner, or cleaning my space. I thought I would share with you five great podcasts that I have been tuning in to recently!

  • Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard : This is hands down one of my favorite podcasts to listen to for quite a while now. Dax and Monica delve in to the messiness of being human with some phenomenal guests in a variety of industries. You are sure to find an enticing interview in the 200+ episodes – some of my favorites include Alicia Keyes, Hasan Minhaj, and Chelsea Handler! Another awesome thing? Dax Shepard is a person in long term recovery who often shares how recovery has shaped his life – which is near and dear to me as the coordinator of the Collegiate Recovery Community!

 

  • Unlocking Us with Brene Brown: From the woman who gave us the Power of Vulnerability TED Talk as well as some truly wonderful books about connection, Brene Brown’s new podcast is definitely worth checking out. I’ve found more than one book recommendation that I can’t wait to pick up due to listening to this podcast!

 

  • WorkLife with Adam Grant: Missing your job, or currently job searching? I highly recommend organizational psychologist Adam Grant’s perspective on the work place. Each episode follows some extraordinary people and companies thinking outside the box to create a work life worth your time. I find myself constantly coming back to some of the episodes and bringing ideas I have learned through this series to my own work place.

 

  • Last Seen: In to true crime podcasts but looking for something a little less heavy during this time? I could not get enough of this one! Last Seen follows the case of the largest unresolved art heist in history, which took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. They also have a great website with additional content that will leave you reeling- and maybe wanting to change your major to art detective.

 

  • Finding Fred: Finally, this last podcast on my list takes a look at the life of Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. There has been an uptick in Mr. Rogers related works recently, and I thoroughly enjoyed taking a deeper dive in to the life of a remarkable thinker when it came to teaching children about hard topics. If you are also looking for some good in the world, feel free to start here!

-Mackenzie Hogan, Wellness Coordinator – Collegiate Recovery Program