Wellness Wednesday: We Are Human Beings, Not Human Doings
Greetings for Week 3 of Fall term. My name is Lisa Hoogesteger, aka “Hoog,” one of the faculty in the Advising Center, where we focus on advising, counseling/wellness, and career services. My intent is to provide weekly thoughts on well-being, and specifically to offer ideas on things you can do to maintain and enhance that well-being. Take it or leave it, as it fits for you. One of our advising mantras is “We Advise, You Decide.” We’re here to be your guides, supports and campus resources to help you reach your goals.
It’s been a long time since we’ve been back on any school campus, and with so many changes and new adjustments. Online classes, hybrid models, flex, face-to-face courses? Moodle, Zoom, Slack, Discourse, AVISO, DegreeWorks, Campus Logic? It’s a heck of a lot to navigate and all of this can tax our thinking and coping skills.
The data seems to agree. According to a 2018 study by the American College Health Association, 86% of college students felt overwhelmed by all they had to do at least once in the past year. In 2019, the ACHA also reported that the majority of undergraduates reported stress and anxiety as the top major factors negatively impacting their academic performance. And in a 2020 study by the American Psychological Association, a reported 87% of Gen Z adults in college say their education is a significant source of stress.
Here’s the deal. You’re here at LBCC because you want to go to college, AND it’s causing a lot of stress. Geez. So how about some coping strategies? Most of us are aware of what stress feels like and how it manifests itself in our daily lives. Here’s a way to understand that stress and the route you take when it arises.
What does your stress look like?
- Impatience? Forgetfulness? Tendency to snap? __________?
What’s your go-to for getting through?
- Basic needs — sleep, food, exercise? Social connections? Mindfulness app? Music? _______?
Which do you choose?
- Physical, Emotional, Cognitive, Direct Action, Avoidance, ______?
Really, the choice is yours. The human condition gives us the ability to choose one thought over another. A gift and a challenge. Remember, we are human beings, not human doings.
Two reminders of great on-campus resources:
- The Wellness Trail. Take a break and walk the perimeter of campus. A 10-minute walk, while being fully present, is guaranteed to help.
- The LBCC Advising Center offers short-term counseling and referral to community resources for students. Call 541-917-4780 to schedule an appointment or write to onlineac@linnbenton.edu
Also, this week there is a presentation called “Stressed AF” hosted by Patrick McIntyre, a professional speaker and comedian empowering us to take control of what we can to impact our stress levels — Thursday, Oct. 13, 1p.m., Russell Tripp Theater.
Got a topic you want to see covered in “Wellness Wednesday”? A comment about wellness on campus you want to chat about? Write me – lisa.hoogesteger@linnbenton.edu
Image by storyset on Freepik
