Using mindfulness meditation in a natural setting can promote well-being. Meditating outdoors can bring you more in touch with your senses and enhance the effectiveness of the meditative practice. Practicing mindfulness in nature can open your connections to the natural world.
There are resources available to students, such as the Manage Stress Workbook and Koru Mindfulness, both of which can be used outdoors. You could also use the Calm app as you relax at the Penn State Arboretum.
Some college students struggle with procrastination. Procrastination can involve putting off completing assignments, studying for exams, and writing papers. Procrastinating can decrease the quality of your work because it reduces the amount of time you have to study or prepare. It may also increase your stress level.
Learn new skills that will help keep your schoolwork on track. Sign up for the free stress & time management service in 20 IM Building.
Looking for a healthy summer salad? Check out this refreshing recipe! Serve up a strawberry spinach salad, courtesy of HealthWorks.
Ingredients: 4 cups of spinach (6 ounce bag), 6 strawberries, 1 cup walnuts, 1/4 of a large red onion and strawberry balsamic. Watch & read the detailed video.
Social wellness refers to your ability to develop positive relationships with others. College can be an ideal time to meet new people from all over the world and make long-lasting friendships. Volunteering in the community or joining a new club can help you build or strengthen your support system. Check out the social wellness toolkit. You will learn various strategies to improve your social health & wellness.
Have fun in the sun this summer, but remember to protect your skin! According to the Mayo Clinic, getting a sunburn increases your risk for skin damage and skin cancer. Use sunscreen with an SPF 30 or greater and wear a hat and sunglasses when you go outside.
Do your devices control your life? Or are you in control of your devices? These are important questions to consider if you use a phone, computer, tablet and/or social media. A growing body of research is examining our relationship with technology and our digital wellness.
Set guidelines and boundaries for when and how you use technology. Can you delete Facebook from your phone and only check it online? Or maybe do not use social media after 8 pm. This will look different for everyone but challenge yourself to set a goal. You may notice a change in your mental, emotional, and social wellbeing! For tips and tools to manage your technology, check out: https://wellbeing.google/
The American Heart Association reports that spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Join the world’s largest treasure hunt by checking out Geocaching. Download the Geocaching app to get started. There are 651 geocaches around State College!
Looking for an easy and nutritious dish for an upcoming picnic? Here is a great single-serving pasta salad with lots of veggies. Multiply the ingredients to share with others. Pasta and veggie bowl , courtesy of HealthWorks.
Students at the University Park campus are fortunate to live near the pristine beauty of Rothrock State Forest. This forest, and its hiking trails, can be accessed at the Galbraith Gap parking lot (8.7 miles from campus), and at the Shingletown Gap parking lot (5.7 miles from campus). Always use a map when hiking, bring water & snacks, and your fully charged cell phone.
You can take the CATA bus to the Tussey Mountain ski and recreation area, which is walking distance from Galbraith Gap. Click here for the P bus route (https://catabus.com/route-page/tussey-mountain/)
According to a recent Penn State study, exercise may improve sleep quality and quantity. Researchers found that study participants who were more active went to bed earlier and experienced better sleep. They also found that less activity was associated with worse sleep. Learn more about how being active may lead to better sleep.