National Love your Body Week is a great time to celebrate your body and all it does for you each day.  It is an opportunity to value yourself for everything you have achieved. Health Promotion and Wellness, Gender Equity and Campus Recreation have teamed up to bring you some fun activities and events that you won’t want to miss! Check out our website for a full list of what will be happening next week, October 25-30. 

Try to take a 30-60 minute break every day. Do something that gives you an outlet from the stress and demands of life. This might include going for a walk in nature, working out, finding a hobby, reading, meditating, talking to a friend or doing yoga. Taking a break is important especially when you think you are too busy. 

Penn State is a community that promotes the health and wellbeing of all students. To cultivate a healthy community, Penn State is 100% tobacco and smoke free, including e-cigarettes and vaping. While there is still much to learn about the health risks of smoking and COVID-19, research has shown a greater risk for COVID-19 complications for those who smoke or vape. If you need support for smoking cessation, call or visit Health Promotion & Wellness to schedule the first day of your smoke free life.

Fall semester is in full swing and many Penn Staters are hard at work with classes, internships and jobs. Proper time management is especially important to keep responsibilities from becoming too overwhelming. Keeping a planner, bullet journaling, scheduling breaks, and setting aside blocks of time for work and play are all strategies that can help you manage your time successfully. If you’re interested in learning how to implement some of these time management strategies, sign up for a free stress management wellness service.   

Living away from home, possibly for the first time, comes with many responsibilities including making your own nutritious meals. Start each morning on the right foot by eating breakfast! If you feel like you don’t have enough time in the morning to eat breakfast, check out this peanut butter banana overnight oats recipe for a tasty, time-friendly meal. You can make this recipe on your own by adding different types of fruit or peanut butter alternatives. 

It is important to follow public health guidelines while on and off campus. To stay safe, maintain 6-feet from individuals and always wear a mask. Be vigilant about hand washing or using hand sanitizer and avoid touching your face. Stay safe while at STATE by masking, distancing, and washing.

Health Promotion and Wellness is offering in-person and virtual opportunities for you to practice wellness. Every Monday and Wednesday you can join us for virtual yoga and meditation at 5:30 pm.  The Zoom link is https://psu.zoom.us/s/93276887601. No experience required!   

You won’t want to miss Well-being Wednesday! Join us every Wednesday at 4:00 pm in 233B HUB or you can join us virtually – https://psu.zoom.us/j/97709012934. The first 10 in-person participants will receive a free copy of Calm the Mind, Change the World by Michael Acton Smith.   

And on Fridays you can join us for virtual Wellness Happy Hour at 4:00pm. Register to reserve your spot. Learn more about these events and more here.

While there is still much to learn about COVID-19, research has shown that those who vape, and smoke are at greater risk for COVID-19 complications. Researchers at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have indicated that individuals who use nicotine products are more likely to be admitted to the ICU as well as have greater risk of death due to COVID. However, research has also shown that in just as little as 3 months your lung health can improve after quitting smoking or vaping! 

Have you been concerned with your nicotine use during COVID? Health Promotion and Wellness offers Freshstart, a free 4-week smoking cessation program to help students work towards their quitting goal. For additional information or to schedule an appointment today, contact Health Promotion and Wellness at (814) 863-0461 or email promotinghealth@psu.edu 

Check out this comprehensive guide that contains content to help you make smart decisions and stay safe this semester.  The guide includes information about standard drink sizes as well as Blood Alcohol Content charts for male-bodied and female-bodied individuals.  You’ll also find information about the University’s alcohol policy, state laws and local ordinances. There’s a description of alcohol poisoning and how to help someone in an alcohol-related emergency.  Learn about Penn State’s Responsible Action Protocol and the Pennsylvania Medical Amnesty Law.