Happy Summer Season Raiders!
Summer is a time for play, sunlight, energy, and embracing transitions. In the midst of it all, stress, anxiety, and other outside factors still exist, and it is important to check in and make sure you are taking steps to feel your best. We are heart-forward, unique individuals who are operating on a planet that can feel out of control sometimes. Take a moment (or several) to take care of the whole. You are important.
Here are some simple things you can do to check in, de-stress, and heal this summer and beyond...
Disconnect to re-connect with YOU and the wider world.
Social media can be an awesome tool for connection, but it can also spark anxiety, fuel loneliness, and trigger feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out). For more information, you can navigate to this short article, Social Media's Impact on Our Mental Health.
If you are feeling any of this, let yourself take a break.
Find ways to connect with folks apart from the screen. It can be tough to make those initial connections, but you might find that you feel awesome once you do. Seek out an old friend or make new ones by checking out what else Seminole State folks are doing on campus!
Check out Raider Connect and see what is happening, Explore-RaiderConnect. Nightbrary, Lunchbrary, and maybe even a club or intermural sport could be great connection points.
Give yourself a full reset and take on a challenge! To Write Love on Her Arms has created the Disconnect to Reconnect challenge. You sign up and take two full weeks off social media to reflect and reset. The org will send you some digital pep talks and encouragement along the way, and you can connect with others from all over the world who are doing the same!
Check it out on Disconnect to Reconnect with TWLOHA.
Connect with Your Breath and Your Heart.
Did you know that your heart, brain, and body are constantly communicating?
When we are under constant stress, feeling super depressed, or just disconnected, our hearts, minds, and bodies feel the ache. The connections break down, and the messages become an SOS signal instead of a message of hope and encouragement. Taking just a few moments to connect with your breath and your heart can make all the difference.
Check out a few of these exercises below and stop by the Disability Support Services Office wellness Lab.
We can share some technology and tools to help:
- The Wellness Lab.
- Brain Training Technology is available for you! at SSC, Disability Support Services, Sanford/Lake Mary Campus.
- Need a Boost?
- Learn Quick Coherence Technique.
Go Touch Some Grass.
The earth is full of great medicine, and it is free! Sun, green space (trees, grass, etc.), and blue space (water in all its forms) fuel our mental well-being (Nurtured by Nature). Sometimes, especially during a busy day, we forget to take advantage of this resource. Seminole State campuses offer some cool outdoor spaces for you to enjoy. The Oviedo campus is nestled into a nature preserve! (Navigate on the Oviedo Campus website), The Sanford/Lake Mary campus has great outdoor study space and is just minutes from the beautiful Lakefront views in Historic Downtown Sanford and just 45 minutes from the beach. Take advantage of any chance you get to boost your mental health with some solar, wind, water, and green power! Here is a quick meditation to help you ground and connect with nature: 2-Minute Grounding Meditation.
Summer Recipe Ideas.
Check out this recipe for a treat that has a burst of protein, espresso, and chocolate. Protein is great body fuel; espresso and chocolate (in moderation) give your cognition and mood a boost. What could be better? Go to Espresso Yogurt Chocolate Chip Cake from the Ambitious Kitchen Good Mood Food series. The recipe includes the option to make your coffee dairy-free and/or gluten-free and vegan-friendly as well! Give it a try and enjoy!
If you are looking for a fresh, non-dessert option, check out this yummy summer salad idea. On Healthy Summer Broccoli Salad, also from Ambitious Kitchen. It is vegan, dairy-free, and full of delicious fuel to keep you going!