Tag Archives: wellness

Financial Wellness

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What does it mean to have Financial Wellness? Financial wellness means creating a sustainable budget and following the 5 principles of financial literacy: earning, saving and investing, spending, borrowing and protecting (1).

Why is Financial Wellness important? Finances, for everyone, can be source of stress. Between part-time jobs, paying some or all of your tuition, taking out loans, you might be feeling overwhelmed. Developing good money management skills during college can set you up for a successful financial future after graduation. Financial wellness is important because, let’s face it, money affects everyone. The good news is, Penn State offers resources to help you create financial wellness! These resources will help you develop the skills to become financially independent and secure over time. The world of budgeting, credit, loans, and investments can be daunting to navigate on your own, so you shouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of the resources on campus. The Penn State Student Financial Education Center is here to help, and offers free educational resources for students.

How do we cultivate Financial Wellness?

We can cultivate financial wellness by staying on top of personal finances, which means addressing financial issues as they arise and saving extra money in order to create a more secure financial future. We can work toward financial wellness by keeping good records of our income and expenses, planning ahead and setting goals, and developing a habit of regularly saving money. Managing finances in a sustainable way can free us from living paycheck to paycheck or in chronic debt. Instead of being a source of stress, money can become a useful tool to help us live comfortably, invest in ourselves, and achieve our personal and professional goals.

 

References

  1.       https://financialliteracy.psu.edu/

Resources at CAPS

#HealthyPSU, On Campus, Stress Management,

Penn State’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is committed to helping students cope with and prevent mental illness. CAPS has recently added new resources to their website,  http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/ . Click on the “wellness” section to get to online educational and screening tools. You can use the resources to learn more about common mental health issues and to see if you or a friend might need help from a professional.

The first resource is WellTrack, an online mental health resource to help students deal with stress, anxiety, and depression.   You’ll complete an initial self-assessment and then work through modules to learn how to handle what causes you stress.

The second resource is a compilation of self-help videos on various health topics. These educational videos cover a wide range of topics such as mental health, common concerns for college students, and descriptions of services offered by CAPS.  Each video is under 30 minutes.

The third resource is anonymous mental health screening tools. Each screening tool takes about 4 to 5 minutes to complete.  You’ll receive immediate results that can be printed.  The screening topics include depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol problems, eating disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD.

Take advantage of the free stuff in Health Promotion and Wellness

#HealthyPSU, Fitness, On Campus, Sleep Management, Stress Management,

If you are looking for some free ways to be active, join us every Monday at 3:45-4:45 at the Rec Hall track for a walking group. For more information, click here. If you’re interested in free wellness classes, UHS offers Pilates and Yoga classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in room 205 Student Health Center from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. See the flyer below for more information.  Looking for a De-stress zone? Visit Health Promotion and Wellness, in 201 Student Health Center, to relaxing.  While you are there, check out the biofeedback software and relaxing sound tracks.

Health Promotion and Wellness has lots of great resources that are free to every students, including free condoms, HIV testing, sleep kits and a stress management workbook. 201 Student Health Center is open Monday-Friday 8 am – 5 pm. We look forward to seeing you soon!