Inspired by Dr. Bill Doan’s exhibition, The Anxiety Project, community art boards create an opportunity for reflection and expression. The Penn State community is invited to respond to prompts through drawing, and/or written word. Through artistic expression, we can process and share our experiences and perspectives, create a sense of community, connect with our common humanity and cultivate the well-being of the larger campus community. Art boards are in the HUB, Collaboration Commons at the University Library, Webster’s Cafe downtown and online.
Stress Management 101
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, you may be experiencing new stressors. From remote classes to life in quarantine, Penn State students are being challenged in many new ways. In response, HPW now offers Stress Management 101 on Canvas. This short, self-guided course will help you understand stress, identify your personal stressors, and develop skills to cope with and manage stress better.
Battling Zoom Fatigue
You may have found that sitting on Zoom all day is making you more tired than trekking your way around campus. Why you may ask? Processing information over video is different than in-person and video calls require you to focus more intently to absorb information. Click to read five research-based tips that can help make attending class by Zoom less exhausting. 
Tips to stay organized and on top of your studies
It’s a new year and a new semester—complete with new classes and a new schedule! You can help yourself stay on track by writing down all your assignments in a planner. Don’t let exams sneak up on you! Choose to write down when your exams are, and when assignments are due. Finally, make sure you’re taking the time to really invest in your courses and engage with the material. Use the time estimator tool to find out how you use your time during a week.
Vegan Collard Greens
Author: Bryant Terry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon plus ¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 pound collard greens, cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup vegetable stock, homemade or store-bought
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 1 jalapeno chile, seeded and minced
Instructions
- Put 12 cups of water in a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the salt, then add the greens and cook uncovered until softened, about 10 minutes.
- Drain well, pressing the greens to extract as much liquid as possible. When cool enough to handle, transfer to a cutting board and chop finely.
- Warm the oil in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion, ginger, chili powder, cayenne, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sauté until the onion is soft and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the greens and stock and bring to a simmer. Decrease the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the greens are tender, about 40 minutes.
- Stir in the bell pepper and jalapeño. Increase the heat to medium-high, cover, and simmer for 2 minutes.
Vegan Mushroom Jambalaya
Author: Jenné Claiborne
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked Brown Jasmine Rice
- 2 tbsp oil
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 celery stalks, diced (1 ½ cups)
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
- 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups of mushrooms, I used oyster, shiitake, and shredded king oyster mushrooms
- 4 cups vegetable stock OR water + 1 ½ tsp vegan bouillon paste
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon creole seasoning
- 2 teaspoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 2-3 vegan sausages, sliced
- 1 teaspoon Louisiana Hot Sauce
- Salt
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add oil, followed by onion, garlic, celery, and bell pepper.
- Sauté until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes, then add tomatoes and mushrooms. Cook mushrooms for about 7 minutes, or until they begin to soften.
- Add the rice, vegetable stock, bay leaves, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Stir well.
- Cook with lid ajar for 25 minutes, or until rice is almost tender.
- Add creole seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Continue to cook until rice is tender, about 15 minutes longer. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if desired.
- Pan-fry the vegan sausage slices, then stir them into the jambalaya.
- Serve topped with fresh parsley and hot sauce.
Source: https://sweetpotatosoul.com/2020/09/vegan-mushroom-jambalaya.html
Minorities and Healthcare Today
Happy MLK Day! Martin Luther King Jr. fought for civil rights and equality for people of all races and his efforts improved the lives of racial minorities across the United States. However, our work is not over. Racial disparities in healthcare still exist today. Language barriers, poverty, food deserts, and other obstacles that minorities face in the U.S. all impact their ability to access proper healthcare. Visit the CDC website to learn more about minority health disparities.
Cultural Wellness
Wellness is a whole-person strength-based approach. That includes the emotional, physical, occupational, intellectual, financial, social, environmental, and spiritual parts (SAMHSA). These dimensions are interconnected, one dimension building on another. According to NIRSA, NASPA and ACHA, well-being is an optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential. There are multiple dimensions that are part of a wellness model.
In preparation for MLK Day, let’s consider an important dimension of wellness, cultural wellness. Cultural wellness is being aware of your cultural background. You have intrinsic respect for diversity and inclusion. You value the importance of sexual orientation, religion, gender, racial and ethnic backgrounds, age, and disabilities in a culturally rich community.
Interested in increasing your cultural wellness? Immerse yourself within a different environment & culture. Plan to attend a MLK Day event this week.
Safe Drinking Strategies
If you choose to drink alcohol, there are lots of things you can do to have a trouble-free night. Consider incorporating different safe drinking strategies. Here are some safe and smart drinking strategies commonly used by Penn State students:
- Intentionally decide to take it easy
- Set a limit of how much you’ll drink before you start pre-gaming or drinking
- Drink plenty of water throughout the night to stay hydrated
Click here for additional strategies and resources.
Realistic Goal Setting
The start of a new year often provides an opportunity to hit a mental reset button. Here are important tips for successful health behavior change.
- Select a goal that aligns with your values and focuses on a health behavior you want to accomplish.
- Do you want to eat more fruits and vegetables every day? Do you want to practice gratitude in your daily life? Maybe you want to quit vaping?
- Set small manageable goals.
- For example, eat one additional fruit per day, journal once per day or set up a free appointment with Health Promotion and Wellness to learn techniques to quit vaping.
- Make sure your goals are S.M.A.R.T – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time Based.
- Eat a banana each day of the week for 2-weeks.
- Successful life changes are built slowly.
- Slowly make modifications to your daily routine by trying a new fruit or vegetable to see if you like it. Your behavior change will last when you enjoy it.
Watch this video from Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Reframe Health Lab and creator of innovative evidence-based health media, for additional tips.