Welcome to Wellness

Graduation? Really?

 Having mixed emotions about graduating?  Are you feeling pressure to be enthusiastic about the future?  The often unrecognized reality is that while graduating from college can be a very exciting time in life, it can also bring feelings of apprehension, sadness, confusion and doubt.

Here are some tips on how to manage the senior transition:

• Realize that graduating from college is a transition period and a naturally stressful time.
• Remember that you are not alone!  While some students can’t wait to graduate, there are many others that have no desire to leave SHU.
• Reflect on how you have coped with other life transitions and how you adjusted (leaving high school to go to college, coping with a move, etc.) and grew from the experiences.
• Try to accept that it is not possible to have all the answers to the future.  Acknowledge to family, friends, and yourself that with uncertainty you can be hopeful of opportunities.
• Allow yourself to mourn the losses that you will be experiencing.  Senior events and celebrations are important rituals and a way of bringing closure to your time at SHU.  Take the time to say farewell to others even it feels sad or difficult.
• Make plans with close friends to get together after graduation, knowing that you can continue to nurture relationships that have become important to you.

 Come to #seniorprobz.

A SHU Senior Transition Evening

 Come for resources and one-on-one conversations with staff from Career Services, Financial Aid, and the Wellness Center.

 Monday, April 2

5:00 P.M.  -  6:00 P.M.

Faculty Lounge

 Sponsored by S.W.E.E.T. 

Hey! Got hay fever?

Got allergies?  Here are five simple steps to keep your hay fever symptoms at bay.

1. Wear natural fabrics.

When you pick natural fabrics such as cotton, you'll attract less pollen, some experts say. Silks and synthetic fabrics tend to build up static electricity, which attracts pollen. 

2. Wash your hair before bed.

If you're a morning shampoo person, consider switching to shampooing and showering before bed instead. That way pollen that collected on your hair during the day won’t rub off on your pillow.

3. Close the windows.

Open windows can be refreshing, but they let in pollen. Close windows and outside doors, especially on high-pollen days, and turn on the heat or the air-conditioning.

4. Use the ''recirculate" option in the car.

Keep windows and sunroofs closed. Especially on high-pollen days, recirculate the air in your car instead of using the vent, which may let in pollen. Use the air conditioner and adjust the temperature to your comfort.

5. Check the pollen count and plan your day accordingly.

The web site of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology offers a daily pollen count by zip code, e-mailed to you.

If the predicted pollen count is high, try to plan your schedule accordingly. Delay errands and exercise, if possible, until later in the day, when pollen counts are typically lower. Take your allergy medications with you. Wear sunglasses, which can help keep pollen out of your eyes. Pollen counts are usually highest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Weather conditions also play a role in pollen levels. Pollen sticks around in moderate temperatures with low humidity and a gentle breeze. Rain washes pollen away.  Pollen is carried by the wind, so a still day will typically have lower pollen levels.

 

St. Paddy's Day is almost here!

1. If you plan to party down on the 17^th, eat a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms before you drink (bread products and foods high in protein, like milk and cheese, slow the absorption of alcohol).  Drinking on an empty stomach is no good.  Really.
2. Whether you choose green beer or some other Kermit-colored-cocktail, alternate your drinks with water so you won’t be green at the end of the night.
3. Sip or sink. Drink each alcoholic beverage slowly. Remember, your liver can only handle about one serving of alcohol an hour (i.e., 12 oz. beer, four to five oz. of wine, or one to 1.5 oz. of hard liquor). Rapid consumption of alcohol via shots, funnels, and drinking games are sure to win you a big hangover.
4. Check out the many free BAC (blood alcohol content) apps for your smart phone…they can help you keep in your green zone.
5. If you are one of the many students who doesn’t drink or drinks very moderately (MOST SHU students report having 0-4 drinks on a typical weekend, 74% don’t drink on a typical weekday) , keep an eye on your friends and help them get home safely.  Don’t count on the luck of the Irish to get you home - make sure you call a cab or designate a sober driver.  Watch for signs of alcohol poisoning, and don’t leave any friends behind at the end of the night.

 (sources:  GoAskAlice!, SHUSAID campaign, s.w.e.e.t. peer educators)