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Permanent link for New Year, New Series with WIT! on January 18, 2024
Do you ever get into a routine and then come to realize your week went by in a blink? Do you ever get the feeling that what you are learning is losing its charm? Are you wondering how you can be more present and have more fun? Well according to many studies, the answer could be curiosity:
- Beat the winter blues with curiosity. Studies have shown that when we discover or learn about something new our brains send us signals that make us feel good, boosting our mood.
- Build relationships. Research shows that genuine curiosity is one of the biggest factors that contributes to creating a closer connection when interacting with others.
- Score higher on assignments. Whether at school or any other occupation, having curiosity about the task at hand can improve the overall outcome of our efforts.
This winter, the WIT Peer Educators are excited to keep your adventuring and curiosity going with some new content each week! We are a group of fellow students with a passion for helping our peers stay informed and inspired about health and wellness topics.
We are back this winter with a series of content including some of our favorite topic areas of sexual health, nutrition, rest, the 8 dimensions of wellness, and much more! We have so many topic ideas we are excited to share with you this semester. Watch for a post every Thursday, either on Instagram, the RecWell blog, or both!
If you can’t wait until Thursday, check out our past blog posts on our website. Take a look at everything from “What is Sexuality?” to “Easy Winter Meals to Make in Your Dorm” to “How to Unleash Your Inner Sleeping Beauty". Got another idea you’d like to see? Head over to our Ask WIT question box and we’ll get one written just for you!
If blog posts or Instagram aren’t your thing, scroll through the student wellness website containing a plethora of information and resources, request a presentation on our website, catch us at the WIT cart (probably inside this semester) or attend some of our many events, including the continuation of the Eat Well series with Laker Food Co.
Whatever you might be up to this winter, we hope you can take some moments to pause and explore a range of wellness topics to boost your mood, foster growth in the 8 dimensions of wellness, put more joy into learning, and reap the benefits of curiosity!
By: Josie, WIT Peer Educator
Categories:
Fitness
General Wellness
Nutrition
Press Pause
Rest
Sexual Health
Sleep
Winter
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Permanent link for New Year, New Series with WIT! on January 18, 2024.
Permanent link for Ways to Navigate the Stressful, Busy Holiday Season on November 17, 2023
During the holiday season everyone seems so busy! With parties, events, finals, shopping and all the exciting and joyful things you participate in at this time of year can become a time of stress and anxiety as well. I know for myself Christmas is my favorite time of year, however, as much joy that it does bring me I have to make sure that during this busy season I find time to take extra care of myself, and my mental health. Oftentimes the holidays, whichever you celebrate, can bring up a lot of different emotions. From excitement, joy, gratitude, and pleasure to overwhelm, sadness, and burnout, this time of year can bring up a lot. I want you to know that you are not alone and this is totally normal! I’ve created some tips that have helped me and others navigate this time of year so that we can still be able to enjoy the holidays as well as take care of ourselves.
It can be extremely helpful to write a list of all the things you need to accomplish. That may also involve prioritizing what should get done first and what can wait till a later date. This may come with having to say no to certain things/plans in order to take care of yourself and not get overwhelmed. This is something I know that I continue to have to work on as I am always wanting to be involved in everything, but I know that if I say yes all the time burnout occurs much quicker and I lose sight of what the holiday season really is supposed to be about.
2. Find pleasure and Joy and Rest
Yes the holidays are busy but it's important to find time to engage in the joyful, pleasurable, rejuvenating things that refresh you and give you energy to get through all the tasks at hand! This also includes taking time to rest. Things like making sure you get enough sleep, making sure you are eating healthy foods in nourishing amounts and finding time for your favorite self care activities is very important. This can all help to avoid getting overwhelmed by the stress of the busy season. Some of my favorite self care activities to do in the winter are taking warm baths, drinking some hot tea or coffee, journaling, watching Christmas/holiday movies, and Christmas coloring pages. I also love lighting holiday scented candles during this time of year!
3. Ask or Accept Help
Accepting and/or asking for help can be an extremely hard task for many. I know for me it is! However, we can not and certainly shouldn’t do everything ourselves. Asking for help is necessary in order to get everything done. It can be helpful to delegate tasks with others like splitting up the cooking or shopping duties. Also, if you find yourself needing extra help to get through finals don’t be afraid to join a study group, visit the tutoring center, or speak with the professor. Everyone needs help from time to time. Don’t feel bad asking for help. We as humans are not made to walk through life alone, and that doesn’t change during the holiday season as well!
4. Allow room for changes in routine
With the holiday season comes a lot of changes in routine and schedule. This can also bring about a lot of stress or anxiety. It can often leave you feeling unsettled and maybe not fully grounded. Change in general, no matter good or bad, can be very hard and even uncomfortable. For me change can sometimes even be scary. The one thing I have learned through going through change is that things will go smoother if you embrace and allow for the change to happen, instead of trying to avoid or resist it. This can be an extremely hard thing to do and I am still working on it myself! Give yourself some grace! It's okay to fall back into your old routine from time to time as well!
5. Find time to breathe…..and Laugh!!
It's important to remember to breathe during this time of year. We often hold so much stress and tension that we forget to do this simple thing. Breathing and taking a second to focus on your breath can bring comfort, strength, and focus to get you through the day/season. Not only is it important to breathe, it's also important to find time to laugh! The holidays shouldn’t be all stress and anxiety but it should be a time for celebration and excitement as well. Find time to laugh with friends and family, maybe reflecting back on memories or engaging in holiday activities. Laughter can lift our spirits up and release a lot of stress in our bodies.
Utilizing these 5 tips can help make the holiday season or any stressful time of year a much more enjoyable and healthy experience for you! Remember, at the end of the day the holidays aren’t meant to make us anxious, stressed or overwhelmed. However, they are meant to provide celebration, joy, love, and excitement into our everyday lives!
By: WIT Volunteer, Amber Gunneson
Categories:
General Wellness
Press Pause
Rest
Winter
Posted
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Permanent link for Ways to Navigate the Stressful, Busy Holiday Season on November 17, 2023.
Permanent link for Easy Winter Meals To Make In Your Dorm on November 10, 2023
With the cold weather months approaching us, it is normal to begin craving more warm and comforting food. As the days become shorter it can sometimes feel hard to find motivation to cook a meal during the busy holiday months. There’s so much going on during this time of year but it is really important to still prioritize good nutrition practices for yourself in order to get through the hustle and bustle of the season. I know for myself that during the winter months my nutrition/food choices look different than the spring and summer months. I’ll often make a lot more warm and nourishing meals that comfort both my soul and my body! A lot of meals I make also have a nostalgic feel which brings a sense of gratitude and pleasure for this time of year. You may feel overwhelmed when it comes to cooking and being a college student, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Many recipes that I make only take a few ingredients and a few minutes to make. They are also relatively cheap, and won’t hurt your budget! Below are some winter-inspired recipes to spruce up your holiday season!
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of whole grain bread (or bread of choice)
- 1-2 tbsp peanut butter or any nut or seed butter
- 1 banana
- 1 tbsp honey
- A sprinkle of chia seeds
- Cinnamon to taste
Directions: Toast 2 slices of bread in a toaster or toaster oven. Spread peanut butter or any nut butter of your choosing on top of the bread. Slice a banana and put on top of the toast. Drizzle on the honey, then sprinkle on some chia seeds as well as cinnamon to taste! Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- S cup to ½ cup milk (dairy, almond, coconut, soy)
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- S cup to ½ cup yogurt (optional)
- 1 tsp chia seeds (optional)
- ½ banana mashed
Serving suggestions: Fruit, nut butters, granola, coconut, nuts, spices, vanilla extract
Directions: Add the desired amounts of milk, oats, yogurt, chia seeds and banana to a jar or container and give them a good stir. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 5 hours.
In the morning, add additional liquid if you'd like. Once you achieve the desired consistency, top with fruit, nuts, nut butter, seeds, granola, coconut, spices, or vanilla extract.
5 Ingredient Pesto Chicken Soup
Ingredients:
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 2 cans of great northern or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- S cup pesto
- Optional toppings: Grated parmesan cheese
Directions: Stir together chicken stock, spinach, chicken, beans in a medium saucepan. Cook over high heat until the soup reaches a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium, stir in the pesto, and let the soup continue to simmer for 2 minutes. Serve warm topped with parmesan cheese if desired.
*If you would like to make this vegetarian, take out the chicken and substitute with an extra can of beans of your choosing!
Ingredients:
- 1 package(6oz) stuffing mix
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp favorite bbq sauce
- 1 lb ground beef, ground turkey, or meat ground substitute
- (beyond burger or impossible burger work well!)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions: Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, combine stuffing mix, water and 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce. Add meat/meat substitute; mix lightly but thoroughly. Press 1/3 cup mixture into each of 12 ungreased muffin cups. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, 18-22 minutes. Sprinkle tops with cheese; bake until cheese is melted, 2-4 minutes longer. If desired, serve with additional barbecue sauce.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- [ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- S cup milk
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp pizza sauce
- 2 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese
- Optional: any toppings you would like!
Directions: Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a microwavable bowl. Add in the milk and oil then mix together. There might be some lumps but that is ok. Spoon on the pizza sauce and spread it around the surface of the batter. Sprinkle on the cheese, and any additional toppings. Microwave for roughly 2 minutes or so, until it rises up and the toppings are bubbling. Enjoy straight away!
Easy dorm room winter-inspired meals can be a fun way to indulge your senses into the holiday season as well as nourish your body to get through all those end of semester exams! There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
By: WIT Volunteer, Amber Gunneson
Categories:
General Wellness
Nutrition
Winter
Posted
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Permanent link for Easy Winter Meals To Make In Your Dorm on November 10, 2023.