Donavan O’Brien is a first-year College of Medicine student and contributed the following article as one of the educational initiatives sponsored by the NEOMED’s Student Wellness Committee as part of their peer-support series on the eight dimensions of wellness. The eight dimensions that this student and staff committee supports include: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual wellness. The concept of eight dimensions of wellness comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a U.S. government agency.
Happy New Year and welcome back everyone! I hope you all had a relaxing winter break with friends and family and are ready to start the new year fresh.
As we enter the colder months of the year with less daylight each day it becomes easy to fall into habits that are less than conducive to mental and physical well-being.
Some ways I like to maintain my wellness over the winter and throughout the semester in general include:
Staying connected!
Having a good support system and consistently interacting with them is key to maintaining mental wellness. While as aspiring professionals we are constantly busy, try and schedule a time to grab lunch with a friend, call home to family, or have a group get-together to help preserve those relationships dear to you.
Going outside/getting exercise!
Going outside and getting a breath of fresh air and sunlight is a nice and easy mood boost; just be sure to bundle up! A fun outdoor activity to destress a bit is heading over to Lock 3 in Akron, where they have ice skating and biking until the end of February! Another fun activity closer to home is volleyball and basketball on Tuesday/Thursday and Monday/Wednesday, respectively, 8-10 p.m. at Sequoia Wellness, in addition to several other fun group exercise sessions.
Light therapy
For those days when you do not have time to get outside, the light boxes in the quiet area and Giant Eagle Commons are a great way to substitute some of that natural light.
Meditation and mindful practices
Meditation and mindful practices can be helpful to reflect, relax and reset your psyche. Some practices I like to engage in include breathing exercises, journaling, conscious muscle relaxation, being intentional in the activities I take part in to get the full experience out of it, and reframing negative thoughts into something more motivational so I can strive to do better rather than fixating on my faults. A convenient place on campus to reset is the meditation room found in the quiet section of the library, right next to the prayer room, another wonderful place for reflection and relaxation for those who find comfort in prayer.
Talk to a counselor
If you find these times especially troubling a counselor may help. NEOMED offers six free sessions per term with counseling services through NEOMED Health Care, located in the same suite as the Wasson Center. Appointments can be by emailing counseling@neomed.edu or calling 330.325.6757. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 to 4 p.m.