EMOTIONAL WELLNESS- QUICK TIPS

1. Do Something You Love Every Single Day- This can be as small as something such as cooking your favorite breakfast, writing in a journal a few minutes a day, participating in a local event, participating in a favorite hobby, or anything else that you just truly love. Doing something small for yourself every day is a great way to enhance serotonin levels in the body to raise those feel good hormones on a regular basis.

2. Eat Magnesium-Rich Foods- Magnesium is the anti-stress hormone, not to mention the host of other benefits it has for your body. Plant-based foods are rich in magnesium and are important to include in your day to optimize mental wellness. Some of the best sources include leafy greens, nuts, seeds, cacao, bananas, avocado, and sweet potatoes. See some magnesium-rich recipes here to find out how to work more of this important mineral into your diet!

3. Ditch the Negative Self Talk- Consistently telling yourself reasons why you can’t do something, don’t deserve something, or will never achieve something are never going to get you where you want to be. Ditch the negative self talk and start creating new messages instead. When you change your mindset, you have the power to change your life. This is one of the most overlooked, yet most important things, that everyone can do for better mood and mental health daily.

4. Eat Your B vitamins reduce stress in the brain, promote energy, and enhance focus — who doesn’t want all of those things?! Vitamin B12 isn’t the only one important for good health. Other B vitamins, specifically vitamins B3, B5, B6, and B7 are also important. If you eat a plant-based diet, you can easily get enough. Some of the best sources of B vitamins include: nuts, seeds, leafy greens, broccoli, avocados, root vegetables, coconut, beans (including coffee and cacao), bananas, pumpkin, berries, legumes, and whole grains. Mix these up throughout the day for a healthy brain all day long! 

5. Make sleep your priority- when you are not providing your body with enough rest it can become difficult to manage challenges that cause stress. Not only will it make it harder to manage stress it can also make it more difficult to function like normal, this can make you more irritable, tired, and unmotivated. It is recommended that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep, during this time you go into REM sleep which research has shown to significantly mental health symptoms and emotional reactivity. 

6. Strengthen social connections - social connections might help protect health and lengthen life. Scientists are finding that our links to others can have powerful effects on our emotional and physical well-being. Click here for tips on how to build a healthy support system.  

7. To help with stress, anxiety, sleep and more, here are some helpful phone apps to assist you in reaching your goals. 

SOCIAL WELLNESS ASSESSMENT

Almost always = 2 points           Sometimes/occasionally = 1 point          Very seldom = 0 points

_____ 1. I contribute time and/or money to social and community projects.

_____ 2. I am committed to a lifetime of volunteerism.

_____ 3. I exhibit fairness and justice in dealing with people.

_____ 4. I have a network of close friends and/or family.

_____ 5. I am interested in others, including those from different backgrounds than my own.

_____ 6. I am able to balance my own needs with the needs of others.

_____ 7. I am able to communicate with and get along with a wide variety of people.

_____ 8. I obey the laws and rules of our society.

_____ 9. I am a compassionate person and try to help others when I can.

_____ 10. I support and help with family, neighborhood, and work social gatherings.

_______ Total for Social Wellness Dimension

Score: 15 to 20 Points –  Excellent strength in this dimension.

Score:  9 to 14 Points – There is room for improvement.  Look again at the items in which you scored 1 or 0.  What changes can you make to improve your score?

Score:  0 to 8 Points – This dimension needs a lot of work.  Look again at this dimension and challenge yourself to begin making small steps toward growth here.  Remember:  The goal is balanced wellness. 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Every week there are special events where you can earn 2 raffle tickets by participating. Every Friday you can post to Instagram or Facebook a picture of you (and your friends) wearing the Healthy Hornet t-shirts for an additional 2 raffle tickets! Just make sure to tag us and whoever else is in the picture with you!

WEEK 2 (Feb 8- 14)

• Monday, Feb 9th- CSI & Beyond: Forensic Science in the 21st Century ft. (Cody Goforth)- Science Hall (Room 72): 7:00pm

• Thursday, Feb 12th- Canvas & Cupid: Time TBD in MU Mainstreet or Wooster lake (Weather Dependent)

PRIZES

New this year will be the introduction of two different sets of prizes. The prizes earned by points will be earned through weekly entries. We will also be adding a new grand prize drawing for students & faculty/staff. These raffle tickets will be earned not only by your weekly points but also be participating in special events throughout campus and on social media. Here is the new system.

EARN POINTS

• All participants who register for Healthy Hornet will receive a Healthy Hornet t-shirt! 

  • • • Shirts will be picked up at the Healthy Hornet Kickoff Event

• White Tier: Earn 125 points - Cooling Towels (40 winners)

• Black Tier: Earn 150 points - Free semester gym membership, 3-week personal training package, or IM Team voucher (10 winners)

• Gold Tier: Earn 175 points - Resistance Band Set (5 winners)

• There will be a drawing for each prize tier. If you are in a higher tier than you want, you can email and ask to be in a lower prize drawing. 

RAFFLE TICKET PRIZES *NEW*

• All participants will have opportunities to win tickets for the grand prize raffles!

• Way to earn!

  • Attend special events associated with Healthy Hornet!

  • Earn weekly points through participating. Every 25 points is equal to 1 raffle ticket.

  • Participate in social media events representing Healthy Hornet.

• Raffle tickets can be redeemed at the final Healthy Hornet Send- Off Event. All drawings will conclude at this event.

MIND CHALLENGE ACTIVITIES 

• Try practicing mindfulness or mini-Meditation, a practice to bring your attention and focus to the moment, rather than dwelling on what could happen in the future or what happened in the past. 

• The practice of meditation aims to quiet the mind in order to experience greater peace and tranquility. Through meditation, one strives for a state of mindfulness, where it is possible to live in the present moment without carrying regrets over past actions or worry over future events.

• Learn to center yourself in as little as 5 minutes each day: try lying quietly on your bed and concentrate on your breathing. When your mind begins to wander, gently draw your attention back to focusing on your breathing.

• Take time to write down three things you are grateful for. By becoming more aware of the good things in life, you may find that it is easier to maintain a positive attitude in difficult situations and feel better equipped to handle challenges.

CAMPUS RESOURCES

If you like to find ways to develop your emotional wellness, below you will find the resources that will assist you in becoming emotionally healthy.

• Student Organizations

• Student Counseling Services

• Biofeedback

• Center for Student Involvement

• TradPlus Student Resources

• Study Abroad