While living independently as a college student, your health literacy is as important as ever.  Being health literate means you take charge and understand your physician’s orders, complete medical history documents, and follow directions on prescription medication instructions.  Now is a great time to take steps toward learning more about health literacy and why it’s important to your wellness.  Find more information at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. 

There are many health benefits associated with being active. Exercising 30 minutes per day is good for your heart, overall health and your brain! Physical activity increases blood flow to your brain which can improve your cognitive function and boost your mood. Regular exercise increases the development of neurons which leads to improved memory, attention and executive function.  

 If 30-minutes of activity seems challenging to add to your day, try spreading it out with three 10-minute intervals.  Activities can even include walking, dancing, or biking. Watch this video to learn more, Strengthen your muscles and your brain with daily physical activity. 

Based on data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 has heightened several important health equity issues for racial and ethnic minorities.  People of color and ethnic minorities are at increased risk for contracting and dying from the virus. Five factors contribute to the increased risk: discrimination, lack of health care access and utilization, occupation, educational/income gaps, and housing. You can find more information and what we can do as a community to help by clicking here.   

The cooler days and nights can only mean one thing – fall is here! It is a great time to have seasonal fruits and vegetables! 

• Pumpkin: the beta-carotene is great for skin and eye health. Use pumpkin in chilis, soups, pasta dishes and oatmeal. 
• Apples: a great source of vitamin C. Pair with a nut butter for a balanced snack or add to dishes such as chicken and baked oatmeal. 
• Pears: a great source of fiber. They are at their peak flavor in the fall. Pears make a great snack or add to a salad for some crunch and sweetness.

Do you have questions or concerns about your alcohol use? Here are several strategies to help you stay safe at Penn State. With all the excitement of Halloween and the Ohio State game, if you choose to drink, here are some tips to help you have a trouble-free weekend: 

1. Avoid trying to keep up with others. 
2. Eat before you start drinking.
3. Have a plan with friends to watch out for each other. 
4. Set a limit of how much you’ll drink and space drinks out over time. 

Click here for more tips.  

Cultivating mindfulness is a skill that can help you take care of yourself during stressful times.  Developing your capacity to notice and pay attention in the moment opens you up to responding to the challenges you face rather than reacting.  Your ability to respond to your needs will help you determine what you need to do next: eat, rest, reach out to a friend, exercise, study, etc.  To learn more about mindfulness check out our online mindfulness toolkit filled with helpful resources. 

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.