health promotion and wellness activities

art and yoga w/vik wilen

participants will begin by practicing a 45 minute guided hatha yoga class. once the yoga glow has settled, participants will begin a 1 hour guided acrylic painting class designed by thunder bay artist vik wilen.

registration required. the supply list will be emailed prior to the event. a recording will be sent to those registered if you are unable to make it live.

check out all thrive week events at lakeheadu.ca/thrive

wellu newsletter #3

receive tips and articles straight to your inbox and stay in the loop on upcoming wellness events both on and off-campus.

the newsletter will come out two times a semester and will feature recommended readings from student health and wellness' health promoter and counsellor and include wellness events both on and off-campus.

sign up here: http://eepurl.com/g_wnpd 

wellu resilience course

wellu resilience is an 8 week, evidence-based course developed by student health and wellness to help 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 ’ learn to manage stress in healthy ways.

the course features videos, slideshows, skill-building activities, resources and information to help 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 build resilience. each week participants will learn about and practice a habit/skill that has been proven to increase life satisfaction, happiness and resilience, which all correlate with success and improved academic performance.

study tips from peer wellness educators

finding ways to cope with exam stress has always been imperative to taking care of one’s self as they navigate through their academic journey. as we all head into exam season during this pandemic, the need to support your wellbeing has never been more important. your peer wellness educator team has compiled a list of their best academic and wellness tips to help you cope with stress and avoid the chance of burnout.

academic tips

1) plan ahead! a key part of reducing stress during exam season is to make a plan and to make the plan early. we recommend printing off a blank calendar and writing down all of the readings and assignments you need to complete on the schedule. space out the assignments based on how much time you will need to complete each task and give yourself plenty of time to complete each task before the due date.
2) connect with your peers! there’s nobody better than your peers to help you through a tricky assignment or a complex reading. by putting your knowledge together, you can help each other succeed and hold each other accountable. zoom is a great platform to hold study sessions. remember: meeting with your peers doesn’t always have to be strictly about academics! take the time to destress and talk to your peers about how you have been feeling and develop friendships.
3) reach out to your professors early! is there something you have not been understanding as well as you would like to? reach out to your professor through email or ask to set up a zoom meeting. your best bet is to start the conversation early because exam season is when questions will start flooding into the professor’s inboxes and you want to get your opportunity for one-on-one help before it’s too late.

wellness tips

1) fuel your body and your mind! we know that when studying the days can fly by and you can go hours without realizing you have not stopped to eat. make sure to keep a schedule that allows you to eat healthily and gives you the opportunity to try your hand at cooking. baking and cooking are a great way to take a break from your studies and destress by engaging in a fun and satisfying activity. remember: make healthy choices that will help fuel you and keep your mind sharp.
2) take time for yourself! while it may feel that every moment you possibly have should be spent studying, this is not true. while studying is important, it is just as important to continue doing things that bring you peace and joy. no matter what, schedule some time into your day to do something you enjoy. this could be as simple as watching a tv show, having a relaxing bath or practicing a new hobby! we are not robots and cannot study 24 hours a day, nor should we! take some time to be at peace and enjoy life around you. while exams can be overwhelming, remember it is okay to take time and relax and feel grounded. this will help you study and focus better!
3) do not over caffeinate! while many of us love coffee, consuming too much caffeine can worsen the stress we already encounter from exams. caffeine is a stimulant and increases your body’s stress levels. if you feel you need those cups of coffee to stay up and finish studying, listen to your body instead and get some sleep. you will feel more refreshed and will retain more information once you properly take care of your body. try swapping out your coffee for herbal tea or water while you are studying!

we’d love to hear from you! if you have any exam stress tips that you think we should share, message us on instagram @lupeerwellness

-ashley warburton and samantha sawyer, peer wellness educators

note book, coffee cup and pen

sleep during exam season

end of term and exam season might have you burning the candle at both ends but if you are thinking about pulling some all-nighters along the way, think again.

sleep plays a critical role in brain function and is well-known to help consolidate memories- research has shown that you remember information better if you sleep after studying than if you studied and stayed awake the same amount of time. a lack of good quality sleep can make it harder to focus and think clearly and can cause increased fatigue, irritability, and anxiety during the day.  all of which can cause your academic performance to suffer. 

it is not only the number of hours of sleep that matters but other factors such as quality of sleep are important. a common belief is that lost sleep from a late night of studying can be recovered by “sleeping in” another day or taking naps. however, both of these methods disrupt the body’s circadian rhythms and may deprive the body of deeper sleep stages. it is important to respond, whenever possible, to the body’s natural signals of sleepiness.

to make sure that sleep is benefitting your performance rather than hindering it, take the following steps.

  • try to stick to your normal sleep schedule during exam season. go to bed at night and wake up at the same time as you normally would. make a study plan that includes your sleep schedule to make it possible.

  • avoid caffeinated beverages for 4-6 hours before bedtime.

  • stop using electronic devices an hour before you want to go to sleep. if you want to continue to study, use physical notes or flashcards.

  • if you can’t fall asleep, don’t stay in bed. get up and do quiet relaxing activities, like reading or listening to a podcast until you feel tired enough to fall asleep.

  • if intrusive thoughts are keeping you awake, keep a pad and paper beside your bed and write them down.

for more information and resources to get a good night's rest, check out student health and wellness' section about sleep.

yoga for all from home

with the recent change in thunder bay's restriction level, student health and wellness is moving yoga back online until the end of classes! 

classes are open to 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , faculty and staff with no registration required. 

you will need to have your own mat, filled water bottle and any props you wish to use. 

loving kindness meditation

the end of the semester and beginning of exams can be tough, take some kind to be kind to yourself. join student health and wellness counsellor trudy kergon for a live guided loving kindness meditation.  

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