All posts by Nicole Cruz

Breakfast for the Win

Healthy Eating

By Megan Brunermer | HealthWorks Peer Educator

Have you ever heard someone say, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? Well, they’re right! Eating breakfast can improve your digestion and metabolism. Breakfast not only wakes you up and fuels your brain for the day, but also provides your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. Examples of a healthy breakfast include whole grain cereals, fat-free or low-fat yogurt, and fruit. For more information about why breakfast is so important and tips on how to make a healthy breakfast on a busy schedule click here! 

 

Citation: Publishing, H. H. (n.d.). Breakfast and your health. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Breakfast_and_your_health. 

Wrapping up Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

#HealthyPSU

By Mardy Sarnoff | HealthWorks Peer Educator

As we wrap up the end of May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on health disparities faced by marginalized groups and what we, as students can do to help reduce health-related inequities. According to the CDC, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders face many health disparities such as higher rates of diabetes and Hepatitis B infection. Visit this website from the US Department of Health and Human Services for more information, resources, and initiatives.  

 

Citation: Office of Minority Health. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – The Office of Minority Health. (n.d.). https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/Content.aspx?ID=9398&lvl=2&lvlid=12+f. 

Need Stress Relief? 

#HealthyPSU, Stress Management

By Sarah Purrington | HealthWorks Peer Educator

As college students, it can be difficult to juggle the responsibilities of school and work while creating space for self-care during the week. Brief meditation practices and other mindfulness activities can easily fit into your week and help relieve stress so you can perform better in your studies and start to enhance your overall well-being. There are many activities you can try, including mindfulness meditations, breathing exercises, and creative projects. Visit the Health Promotion and Wellness Mindfulness page to find apps, podcasts, and other mindfulness resources to help you get started on your mindfulness journey. 

Social Media and Mental Health

#HealthyPSU

By Adwait Chafale | HealthWorks Peer Educator

How has scrolling through social media affected your emotions?  People often post enhanced images of themselves on social media portraying an artificial reality.  Comparing yourself to these images can have an unhealthy effect on your self-esteem.   You can improve your emotional well-being by limiting social media consumption through self-monitoring time spent on social media as well as noticing your emotional state before and after social media use. Switching to grayscale mode and removing distracting apps from your phone can be helpful as well. For more information on the effects of social media on your mental health, visit this article.  

 

Citation: Hunt, M. G., Marx, R., Lipson, C., & Young, J. (2018). No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 37(10), 751–768. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751 

Looking to Improve Your Eating Habits?

#HealthyPSU

By Emily Scott | HealthWorks Peer Educator

Healthy eating is one of the most important aspects of your overall health, but it can be challenging at times to make changes! Luckily, Penn State offers various services, resources, and nutrition tips to help you. Schedule a free appointment with a dietitian or check out the healthy cooking videos and recipes on the Healthy Penn State site. Learn more by visiting the link here!  

Destress during Finals Week

Stress Management

By Ranya Brown | HealthWorks Peer Educator

Feeling stressed during finals week? Learning how to cope with stress in a healthy way is essential for academic success. According to the 2020 Penn State Student Health Assessment, more than 60% of students report experiencing moderate or high levels of stress in the last 12 months. While managing stress may not be easy, there are resources available and a variety of ways to help alleviate stress. Healthy ways to manage stress include practicing deep breathing, mindfulness, and yoga. To learn other helpful ways to cope with stress, read this article and consider checking out Penn State University Libraries De-stress Fest happening now through May 7th! 

 

Source: Health Promotion & Wellness. (2020). Penn State Student Health Assessment Spring 2020. University Park. 

Embrace the Unknown: The School Year is Ending, What’s Next?

#HealthyPSU

Whether you are continuing your education or still hunting for that perfect job, not knowing what lies ahead can be stressful. You are not alone in having these feelings. You cannot predict the future or control the job market. One thing that you can do is focus on how you react to stressful situations. For 6 tips on how you can find the positive aspect of any situation, check out this article.   

Managing Stress During Finals Week

#HealthyPSU

Finals week is quickly approaching here at Penn State, so now is the perfect time for you to make a plan to manage your stress! Aim to find stress-reducing activities that best fit your interests. If you enjoy art, take some time to de-stress using these coloring pages. If you enjoy yoga, join yoga and meditation on Zoom every Monday and Wednesday through April 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. You can also find the class recordings here. Be sure to schedule time away from your computer and books, by taking a quick walk in the nice weather, calling a friend to chat, or reading a good book. Research shows that when you spend time doing relaxing activities, you feel overall happier and less stressed. Another helpful tool is the Manage Stress Workbook. This workbook will help you identify sources of stress in your life which is key to developing a plan to manage your stress. Most importantly, remember to trust yourself! Good luck Penn State; you’ve got this! 

Financial Wellness

9 Dimensions of Wellness

Understanding your finances is an essential part of your overall wellness. Financial literacy is an important skill that will help you make sound decisions about managing and growing your money. Learn more by scheduling a free group or individual appointment with the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center.  There is no better time than today to start planning for your future.