Press Pause

rest. relax. refresh.

Taking time to rest improves all areas of wellness, but unfortunately, it’s often overlooked. Expectations of work, school, and life can make resting seem impossible or unimportant. Let’s change that this year by making rest a priority! By taking breaks often, we are not failing, we are recharging our bodies and our minds. We encourage you to rest, relax, and refresh by Pressing Pause.

Follow us all semester as we share tips in our blog, provide tools below, and give away restful goodies via our Instagram.

 

#GVPressPause

Press Pause Rest Campaign Icon

Recreation & Wellness partnered with the Master of Public Health program at GVSU in Winter 2023 to do a photovoice project for Press Pause. Students took photos of things that helped them Press Pause while reflecting on how pausing was important to their daily lives. Below you will find some of the student's photos and we hope it inspires you to rest, relax, and refresh.

Photos were submitted via Jamboard and may effect quality of images.


girl sitting peacefully with her eyes closed with the night sky flowing through her hair

rest.

January 2024

In our society, it is common to hear messages that tell us our worth equals our productivity. So much pressure is placed on us to “embrace the grind culture”. Unfortunately, this can worsen our well-being. Rest is not something that we can ignore; it's something that’s necessary for us to live well. Resting can reduce stress, increase concentration, boost your immune system, and even improve digestion.

Did you know there are 7 different types of rest?

  1. Physical (sleep/naps, yoga, stretching)
  2. Creative (go outside, look at your favorite art, listen to new music)
  3. Spiritual (prayer, meditation, volunteering)
  4. Mental (brain breaks, daydream, mind dump)
  5. Emotional (cut back on people pleasing, freely express your emotions)
  6. Sensory (unplug, close your eyes, find silence/darkness/coolness)
  7. Social (recognize how you feel in your relationships + remove negative people from them)

By taking time to rest, you improve your overall well-being, which can allow you to work better and be happier. We should enjoy the lives we live, which is why it’s important to take breaks throughout the day. Resting does not mean that you’re lazy or that you have no ambition; it means that you care about yourself.

tips and tools


unplugged.

February 2024

A good balance of time spent on and off technology is beneficial to both physical and mental health. “Unplugged” likely means something different for everyone, whether it’s staying off of your phone while you’re with others, avoiding email during dinner, or spending less time on social media.

With something for everyone, Recreation & Wellness offers multiple opportunities to do so. Become more mindful of your time and better balance it with exercising, having meaningful conversations, spending time outdoors, playing sports, or anything else that enhances your overall health and wellbeing. Use those extra "unplugged" hours each day doing something good for you, and just enjoy the world and people around you

5 Ways to Unplug from Technology:

  1. Use at least the first hour in the morning to be completely present...no scrolling!
  2. Write a handwritten note instead
  3. Turn on DND (Do Not Disturb)
  4. Practice mindful meditation
  5. Avoid looking at your phone during meals

#GVUnplugged

tips and tools


Sleep

sleep.

March 2024

Good sleep health is important for individuals to best achieve their personal, family, and professional goals. Sleep is a vital part of well-being, but how do we know if we are getting enough sleep and how do we increase sleep? If you spend more than 30 minutes trying to fall asleep or feel fatigued all day, it might be time to assess your sleep. Options to improve your sleep include:

Check out more tips and tricks from the National Sleep Foundation.

tips and tools


sketch of arms hugging heart

self-care.

April 2024

Self-care is about more than just meeting the basic needs of human survival; it focuses on investing in your health and well-being through intentional behaviors. This is a lifelong process that can be experienced in many different ways, which means it’s necessary to continuously check in with yourself to assess your needs. Self-care allows you to prioritize yourself, which is why it is beneficial for your health. Here are some ways you can practice:

  • Meditate
  • Hang out with friends
  • Sleep (naps are nice)
  • Set boundaries (for yourself, for work/life balance, etc.)
  • Take a break (read, draw, watch a movie)
  • Exercise (even if it just means taking a short walk)
  • Eat nourishing foods (and comfort foods when the situation calls for it)

Prioritizing your well-being is not selfish. Be compassionate with yourself and practice self-care.

tips and tools


Images (besides Unplugged/Press Pause) by: 愚木混株 Cdd20 on Pixabay and Vecteezy

 

Campaign designed by Recreation & Wellness, a department in the Division of Student Affairs at Grand Valley State University.

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Page last modified February 5, 2024