By Lucy Stone | HealthWorks Peer Educator 

Wellness is often linked to nutrition, physical activity, and stress management but did you know that another vital part of your wellness, as a college student, is digital well-being. Many college students struggle to find a balance between screen time and in-person non-digital activities. According to the World Happiness Report, too much digital media consumption can contribute to lower levels of happiness and life satisfaction. To help increase your digital well-being try reducing your screen time by following these three steps:  

1. Go to the settings section on your phone and notice how much time you are spending on your phone and various apps.  
2. Set a goal and be specific about how much time you plan to spend on your screens each day.
3. Schedule alerts to pop up after you have exceeded your allotted screen time.  

By Emily Shanahan | HealthWorks Peer Educator 

 Are you taking classes this summer?  Are you struggling with time management? Here are 3 steps you can follow when trying to manage your time and class work. The first step is assessing how you spend your time. The easiest way to do this is to add your commitments (class, work, student org meetings, etc.) to a calendar.  You can also schedule in needed time to study, eat meals and take breaks.  The second step is to create an itemized “to do list” with all the tasks you need to tackle. The third step involves prioritizing your “to do list” by identifying the importance of the task and the deadline.  Put upcoming assignments and other important tasks at the top of your list.    

 Visit this link to find Study Skills and Time Management resources from Penn State’s DUSuccess to help you prioritize your assignments and activities.  

By Madeline Polkinghorn | HealthWorks Peer Educator

Summer is a great time to focus on your wellbeing! Think about going for a hike in the woods or a walk in your neighborhood, grab some friends for a picnic and relax in the sun. If the weather is too hot to handle, find some shade under a tree and try meditating, journaling, or enjoy an at home spa day. To further develop your mindfulness and resilience during the summer months check out Healthy Penn State. For more tips to help you enjoy the summer visit the Mental Health First Aid website.  

By Christine Woods | HealthWorks Peer Educator

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) defines Body Image as “how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in your mind. It encompasses: What you believe about your own appearance (including your memories, assumptions, and generalizations), how you feel about your body, including your height, shape, and weight, and how you sense and control your body as you move.  How you physically experience or feel in your body.” It is common for many people to experience negative body image throughout their lives. However, it is so important to recognize that all bodies are good bodies! Check out NEDA’s Body Project and tips for building positive body image! 

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. 

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 

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!  

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.   

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!