June 25 - July 1 is officially Wellness Week, but we hope that the resources shared below help you practice wellness year-round! You're all working incredibly hard, and self-care is important both because burn-out is real, and because you deserve it!
Read on for each day's theme and resources shared.
It's normal for motivation to dip. Maybe you feel like you have too much to finish in 6 weeks, or like you aren't cut out for the field of data science. We are here to tell you that YOU CAN DO IT!!
Everyone starts somewhere- nobody is born a data scientist, and everyone who is currently working in the field was a novice at some point. Even if you haven't started your coursework yet, it's not too late! See below for some motivational videos/reads to keep your motivation high over the remaining half of the course:
How to get better at the things you care about -TED talk by Eduardo Briceño:
You don't have to be an expert to solve big problems -TED talk by Tapiwa Chiwewe:
Everyone Suffers from Imposter Syndrome- Here's How to Handle It -Article by Andy Molinsky
And, for inspiration on how to give yourself daily affirmations, take a thing or two from Jessica
Social Media Challenge: We want to hear from YOU! What has helped you stay motivated so far in the challenge course?
Tag your post with #PoweredByBertelsmann and #UdacityDataScholars, and search for posts with those tags to find inspiration from your peers!
while it might not be October 13, we're declaring today to be Treat Yo Self Tuesday, and we are inviting you to take some time today (or in the next few days) to spoil yourself, even just a little bit!
Treating yourself can be expensive, but it can also be done on any budget, so I wanted to share some tips and ideas for how you can treat yourselves for free or almost free:
Free things to do in most cities -Not everyone here lives in/near a city, but multiple things on here can be done almost anywhere!
30 free or very inexpensive ways to treat yourself
Don't want to pay for a massage? No problem! Check out these self-massage tips to relieve pain and stress
My personal recommendation for treating yo self? Stream Parks and Rec.
Today is Wellness Wednesday, or Wind-down Wednesday, depending on your preference,
Use today to unwind a little bit, relax, and take a break from your screens. Wellness means different things for everyone, so know what your needs are and prioritize them today!
Mindfulness and meditation apps: Not sure how to incorporate meditation into your day? There's an app for that! Find one that works for you.
Music: If you play an instrument, then great! Music is one of the best ways to positively exercise and strengthen your brain. But for my fellow non-musical friends out there, a nice, relaxing playlist can also do the trick. Bonus points for anyone who sings or dances along!
Take a 5-minute break: You don't need an entire day to unwind. Incorporate 5-minute breaks throughout your day to breathe, take a walk, have some tea, and RELAX! An added bonus? People who take regular breaks throughout the day are actually MORE productive!
Finally, if your health, age, and personal beliefs permit, you can always swap out wind-down Wednesday for wine-down Wednesday! They say it's good for your heart, right?!
Welcome to Thankful Thursday! Today's theme is all about showing gratitude and appreciation for yourselves, each other, and the people and things in your lives that you're thankful for.
I am deeply moved by some of the messages I get from people in this scholarship who choose to share what's happening for you- many of these are joyful, like new jobs, growing families, and helping your communities. Others things bring sadness and pain- loss, illness, and conflict. Yet regardless of the challenges (both positive and negative) that impact everyone's ability here to move forward in their courses, I am always humbled by the overwhelming grit, motivation, and gratitude that so many of you have shown over the past several weeks. You truly embody the spirit of learning in community, and for that, I am thankful for YOU all for making this community a beautiful place to learn and grow!
Looking for more gratitude in your life? Check out these resources for some tips on how you can show thanks more often, and why this is important!
Give and Take by Adam Grant, organizational psychologist
6 easy ways to show gratitude every day
TED talk with David Steindl-Rast on living gratefully
Your challenge today: identify at least 5 people or things you're grateful for. This can be anything- a person, a possession (like your home), or something intangible (like your health). Take a moment to share your gratitude- this can be private or shared with others, but allow yourself a couple minutes to feel thankful.
If you're grateful for someone else in this course, take the time to shout them out!! Better yet, send them a message too so they know how much you appreciate them!
Happy Thankful Thursday everyone!
TGIF, everyone! We made it to the end of the week, and we're only two days away from Sunday Fun-day. What does everyone have planned for this Sunday? And for those of you who work on the weekends, what do you have planned for your next day off?
Today's theme is Focus Friday. Let's make today about setting goals, quitting procrastination, and getting it done! We live in a world full of distractions, so even when we try to focus, our attention can get easily pulled away!
Below, find some resources that may help you shake the distractions and get your focus groove on!
The Forest App: this was first shared with me by FEND students in the Grow with Google scholarship- in addition to being a great accountability tool to keep you focused, by using it you're helping to plant ACTUAL trees! How cool is that?!
Revisiting the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Melody Wilding brings a modern, refreshed spin to Stephen Covey's timeless tips
Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator: TED talk with Tim Urban. This video may not help you stop procrastinating, but it should at least help you understand it better (while laughing a lot!) Thanks to @Elsa222 for posting last week- I had never seen this one before and it made my day!
Happy Saturday Caturday, everyone!
Since it's the weekend, and tomorrow is Sunday Fun-day, I figured I'd keep things light. To all my fellow cat-lovers out there, this day is for you! Take a study break and enjoy a laugh with the following videos:
General compilation of funny cat videos
For those of you who don't love cats, find all of the other cute things on reddit!
Happy Sunday Fun-day everyone! I hope most of you don't even read this message today, and instead are spending time outside, with your friends and families, or binge-watching your favorite TV show. Taking time for relaxation is just as important to productivity as focus and motivation, so make time for yourself!
Not great at relaxing? You're not alone! Here are a few ideas to jumpstart your relaxation engine:
Looking for a free activity near home? Try geocaching- thousands of caches located worldwide!
Why Sunday Is the Most Important Day of the Week for Your Wellbeing. Replace with any day of the week depending on your schedule- the important thing is to have designated time to rest and rejuvenate.
5 Ways to Really Recharge on Your Day Off. Geared towards nonprofit professionals, but applicable to anyone.
Enjoy the rest of your weekends, and I'll see everyone back here tomorrow!