As the second semester and the dreary winter months have approached, sometimes we forget to do what exactly is best for ourselves. Educational Studies Professor Brad Rowe provides the following student wellness tips to make sure that you have a successful semester:
1. Communicate with your professors, preferably face-to-face. If you are struggling in a class, failed an assignment, or even if you are doing well in class, professors love it when students come to talk with them about how you can improve and grow.
2. Get outside of your comfort zone and meet new people. There’s no better time to make a new friend and extend your social circle than at the beginning of the semester. First, instead of being on your phone before class starts, actually talk with the people around you. Be present with each other and get to know one another. You might be surprised how much you have in common, and you might even develop a life-long friendship! Second, get involved in a student club or organization!
3. Practice self-care as a way to improve your mental and physical health. Be sure you’re getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Try to eat less junk food and consume fewer sugary drinks. Developing a routine practice in mindfulness; for example, meditation, yoga, knitting, or simply walking campus can do wonders for both your mind and body. A big part of mindfulness is being more intentional with how you pass your leisure time. Instead, get coffee with a friend. Create or build something. Draw. Paint. Pick up a book, read a newspaper, and try to engage with something tactile other than a screen.
4. Explore the surrounding community and its people. Monmouth is a more interesting and diverse town than you might think. Get some friends together and find some places off-campus to hang out. But don’t stop there! Visit Galesburg, Burlington, Peoria, or the Quad Cities. For suggestions on where to go, talk with students who are from these areas or talk with staff or your professors—some of whom live in or visit these areas.
Try out these tips and give Brad Rowe a high five for helping you out!
Alison Barrington - Staff Writer