Dear Students,
Last week I talked about academic support, but this week I want to talk about self-care. In one of your intro science courses, I'm sure you have learned about systems and how if one part of the system goes out of kilter the rest of the system suffers. Since your body is one big system (a system of systems, in fact), it's important to maintain a balance so everything can work together.
One area that often is neglected is mental health and well-being. If I asked, I'm sure you could name five different things you could do right now to improve your mental health and well-being. For example: exercise, counseling, eating well, meditation, and sufficient sleep. The question is: how often do you actually follow these recommendations?
Many of us don't make well-being a regular part of our daily routines. This week, I'm challenging you to make that time. There are several resources on campus to facilitate this:
- Join an intramural team through UT Rec Sports
- Make an appointment at the Counseling and Mental Health Center
- Meet with a registered dietitian
- Find your chill in the Mind Body Lab
- Check out the campus Nap Map
- Download the Thrive App
A little bit of intentional time focused on your own well-being can have a large impact. So devote some time to love yourself.
Best,
Dr. Vanden Bout
P.S. The Counseling & Mental Health Center is looking for peer educators who want to raise awareness about issues such as these. You can learn more by attending a peer-educator coffee chat today, Wednesday or Friday, 5-7pm in the POWERhouse on the SSB ground floor.
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