Financial Stability as a Form of Self-Love (part 1)

Gif Source

If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free. 

If our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed. 

~Edmund Burke

I am not just a broke college kid. I may not come from the most financially opulent environment, but I learned at a young age that in order to get anything I want in life I’ll have to work for it. I may not be paid as much as I’d like for the work I do, but when you need the money, you need the money. There are plenty of people on this campus who juggle multiple jobs - on top of extracurriculars and classes - either because they want some extra cash, or because they need it. I’ve spent three years learning how my mental health changes depending on my financial state, and vise-versa, and I want to help those who experience similar situations and have felt similar effects. Whether you’re new to having access to a bank account or you’ve been racking up credit card debt since high school, finances affect us all. On the individual level, how you manage and cope with the challenges that come your way now can affect your mental health and financial situation for years to come. In this series, we will be exploring the psychological effects personal finances have on us through my personal journey to self-love and financial stability.

Let’s begin with how the dictionary defines self-love:

Self-love = an appreciation of one's own worth or virtue, proper regard for 

and attention to one's own happiness or well-being, 

and even inflated love of or pride in oneself. 

Dictionaries are great starting points, but as you learn the value you have as an individual it’s important to create your own definition, based on your needs and experiences. In my case, I’ve worked hard to work through my extreme perfectionism and learn to accept what I can and cannot change. I spent most of my life believing that my value lied in my achievements, and that my life would be made of only successes and failures (black & white thinking). At times, I thought that if I didn’t meet my unrealistically high expectations I would be deemed worthless by my loved ones, and would die alone (catastrophic thinking). From these thoughts and experiences I learned that accepting who you are in the present, who you were in the past, and understanding that you have power over who you are in the future is my definition of self-love. As you would devote yourself to a friend or a pet, you can do to yourself. As much time and energy you spend on outside factors - clubs, sports, volunteering, work - you can spend on yourself. Self-love is the goal, the ideal. I also believe that by taking the initiative and seeing the significance of the role your finances play in your daily life (and future) is a path to this ideal. 

There is no dictionary definition for financial stability/instability, but by picking through the words you get: 

Finance = money or other liquid resource of a government, 

business, group, or individual

Stable = firmly established; not changing or fluctuating

From these definitions you can define financial stability as non-fluctuating money. My personal definition is based on experiences of negative balances (below zero), overdrawn accounts, and earning back every penny I spent my freshman year. Being financially stable means that I can make the necessary payments (broken down on my personal blog) and still have money in the bank. As with self-love, what you define as financially stable depends on factors in your life and your perception of stability. 

To better understand how our mental health is negatively affected by instability and positively affected by stability here are a few examples:

Liz doesn’t have enough money to make an important payment. Her paycheck isn’t enough, and she’s too afraid to ask her family for help. The last time she reached out she was told that she needs to handle financial issues alone, because it was her choice to go to college. She becomes anxious, and blames herself for not taking on more hours. She doesn’t want to, but she has to pull money from her savings account. She’s now completed the payment of time, but her mood is only worsening. She feels like she failed herself by not saving more, and decides that her priorities are wrong. She prioritizes earning money over academics, to help ease her anxiety. 

Caleb spent all of winter break working full-time at a grocery store. Now that the spring semester has begun, he decides to only work on the weekends, to make time for academics and extracurriculars during the week. He doesn’t really need the money because he already saved enough to pay his out-of-pocket costs all at once, but he feels more secure maintaining a steady flow of income. He’s proud of himself for sacrificing his vacation to make the semester less stressful, and since he doesn’t have to worry about finances (much), he’s able to remain focused on his other goals. 

Parts of Liz’s story may remind you of yourself or someone you know, because we’ve all had moments where we didn’t see ourselves in a positive light. When you’re struggling financially, it can be difficult to be optimistic, and you may wind up blaming yourself for events outside of your control. Caleb’s story is relatable because we’ve all felt the relief of not having to worry about finances, maybe after receiving a nice-sized paycheck or some birthday cash. However, when you go through cycles of having and not having necessities, the instability can affect your thoughts and mood, which turns your once clear perception into tunnel vision. I’ve found that when I struggle to make payments, I also struggle to focus on anything else.

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Whether you relate to the struggle, or are simply entertained by my rant, make sure to leave a comment down below, follow us on social media, and stay tuned for part 2 of this post, where we will dive into the (possible) causes of the psychological effects mentioned above and discuss financial insecurities. 

Gif by Rebecca Hendin

Sources

Dictionary Definitions:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-love

https://thecollegeinvestor.com/21120/financially-stable/
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finance
Description of the Hierarchy and Critique: 
https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
Alternate Opinion of the Hierarchy: 

https://retirementsavvy.net/a-richer-understanding-thinking-about-maslow-and-poverty

Study Tips for Biology

Study Tips for Biology

     Here at Coe College, there are so many pre-medicine and nursing students. To be able to graduate in these fields, a lot of biology is usually taken. Our freshman year, for example, most of us have to take Cellular and Molecular Biology (the weed out class). We all struggle in that class, so here are a few study tips that helped me to struggle a little less.

     Biology is best defined as the study of living organisms. Given that there’s such a wide range of living organisms from bacteria/microscopic organisms to the biggest of animals, it can be an extremely hard subject. It’s all more or less just memorization; however, it is a lot to memorize in a short amount of time. Our brains are extremely powerful, but every brain is different, and there are so many ways to learn. Simply memorizing things to get things done isn’t going to work because to actually instill information it needs to be rehearsed in the brain more than once.

That being said, I took and studied notes before class; then when I got to class I recorded the lecture as well as revised my notes. The key to revising was to add and highlight things that my professor elaborated on/ emphasized the most. I did it for every chapter before the exam (each exam was every three chapters). Then, while studying for the exam I made a flow chart to show how each topic was connected so that I could easily make those connections during the test.

Homework really does help, because it gives you the chance to practice everything you’re learning. Also, having a friend to study with so that you can all compare notes and teach each other will help with rehearsal and keeping everything in your brain. I cannot stress this next point enough: TALK TO YOUR PROFESSOR. I couldn’t go to SI Sessions because I had work so often; and I needed money to come up with half of my tuition. If you’re in my shoes, then communicate that with your professor and schedule a set meeting time every week to go over material. It actually helped me.

I hope that these study tips work for you like they did for me; and if you have any other tips then leave them in the comments!

Healthy Mental Health Habits: Depression Edition

Strengthen Mental Health Habits: 

Depression Edition

We all know that we could use a little help sometimes.

But it's hard, it makes you feel vulnerable, and for some of us, it can make us feel inadequate.

Campus has done a wonderful job getting information out about their services; however, many individuals don't seek help even when they know who to go to.

This post isn't to make you write an email to Emily Barnard and make an appointment; however, you should definitely ask to pet her dog, Maverick. 

This is a list of things you can do on campus that can help you if you don't desire intervention with a professional.

Remember that you should seek out help from a professional if you are feeling that your symptoms are getting too difficult to manage on your own or if you feel that it is more difficult that it should be. Try to avoid self-diagnosis as you could be missing out on symptoms that lead to a different diagnosis. 

Some tips for Depression:

1. Create a strong support network

For some, this may mean forging stronger ties with friends or family. Knowing you can count on supportive loved ones to help can go a long way toward improving your depression.

For others, a depression support group can be key. It may involve a community group that meets in your area or you might find an online support group who meets your needs. 

2. Reducing your stress

When stressed, your body releases hormones that help prepare you for what is stressing you in the now, but after the event, it can cause an increase in fatigue and emotional instability.

Many ways to reduce stress can include creating something, taking small breaks from difficult tasks such as homework or chores, using breathing exercises, or talking/venting with a friend.

3. Get into a routine

It can be tough to get started on a routine, but once established, it can be a tool for helping combat the fatigue caused by depression. A gentle daily schedule will help differentiate the days and help get you out of bed.

Ex.

• Wake up, brush teeth, get dressed, brush hair, put on deodorant, pack bag, and then go to breakfast.

4. Improve sleep hygiene

Studies have shown that 80% of people with Major Depression have disrupted sleep cycles.

Ways to help improve your sleep hygiene include blacking out the room to reduce as much light as possible when going to sleep (the health center at Coe has sleep masks and ear plugs available for free), turning off electronics off at least an hour before bed, and using  your bed for relaxing activities and avoiding doing homework there. 

5. Nutritional Psychology

Diet has been strongly linked to mental health and reducing symptoms. 

Common culprits for mild depression is an imbalance of brain neurotransmitters-natural chemicals that can act as mood enhancers by helping transmit signals between brain cells. *Nutrients such as vitamins A,C,D, and E, Zinc, and Omega-3 are linked to lessening depressive moods for those with depressive disorders.
*Be sure to talk with your doctor about taking supplements as some can have unforeseen side effects when combined.

6. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy     

CBT is a type of therapy that helps deter negative thinking patterns. There are many ways to get started with self-help books or apps such as ‘What’s my m3’ or 'MoodTools'.

Here is a link that might be helpful in learning what exactly CBT is and how you can benefit from it.

CBT Self Help Course

7. Beat Procrastination

It is easy to get behind on things and let them build up on each other when you don't have the energy to take care of them. One of the most common ways to help motivate yourself is to break the activity into smaller chunks that seem doable. When you have homework that's due in a couple of days and you haven't stated, it becomes stressful and undesirable to take care of. Write down a list of homework assignments in order of priority. If multiple ones are top priority, do the hardest one first. Then write down small steps you can do that will help you accomplish the task. 

Some groups and individuals on campus that are here to help with topics like these are TRIO, AAP, Learning Commons, and College Possible.

TRIO: Tom Hicks Office 25 Lower level of Library

Email: thicks@coe.edu

Application

AAP: Kim Pierson Office 27 Lower level of Library

Email: kpierson@coe.edu

Application

Learning Commons: Laura Van Buer Office 126 Main level of Library

Email: lvanbuer@coe.edu

Website

College Possible Coach: Laura Van Buer Office 126 Main Level of Library 

Email: lvanbuer@coe.edu

Application

8. Wellness Toolbox

A wellness toolbox is a set of tools that you can use to help soothe yourself when you are feeling down.

The tools you find most helpful might not work for someone else so it's important to carefully consider what things can help you feel your best.

Think of things you like to do when you're happy. Then, when you're feeling down, try one of those activities.

Cuddling your pet, listening to your favorite music, taking a warm bath, or reading a good book are just a few tools you might find helpful.

Create a list of the activities you might try when you're feeling bad. Then, choose an activity to try when you're having a particularly rough time.

9. Do something new

Sometimes it takes a push in the right direction in order to move out of a slump. If you've never been, Czech village is a great place to walk around and explore. Many antique shops and on the corner an “odds and ends” craft shop where you can put together leftovers from other projects to create something new. Other places include Lindale Mall, NewBo Market, Museum of Art, or the Cedar Rapids Public Library. 

10. Tell yourself something good

If you are in a bad place and can only think of negative things, lift your head up, close your eyes, and try to say something good about yourself. These can be as simple as "I'm kind"; "I'm responsible"; "I'm hardworking"; or "I'm caring".

Remember that no matter how you are feeling, someone cares about you and you are important. College is difficult and it can be hard to adjust. If you have any concerns about you or a loved one, reach out to your adviser or for professional help contact Emily Barnard (ebarnard@coe.edu) or Melea White (meleawhite@coe.edu).

Self-Love for Valentine's Day

Photo by Tim Mossholder from Pexels

Today is February 14, 2020, a.k.a. Valentine's Day. I want to keep this post honest and simple, so I'll get straight to the point. I am single by choice, and today is all about loving myself. Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day and you’re supposed to find a date and take chances on acquaintances or strangers, or go to the movies with your significant other, or even spend the day being a romance Grinch, a hater hating on all your friends who are happy. We’ll get into the history of the holiday, and the genius marketing campaign that created another national day where we get to spend a ton of money - on things we otherwise would not have paid for - on another day. For now, we’re focusing on how I got to this point of enthusiastic self-love, and why you should love yourself too.

So, I’m single. It doesn’t really seem like something that should have to be said, nor something that requires a blog post, but I disagree. There are a lot of women who believe that if they are single there is something fundamentally wrong with them. Haven’t you seen a single Disney princess movie? You’re supposed to be married to a handsome stranger sometime between the ages of 13 (Snow White) and 19 (Princess Tiana). There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be close to someone romantically or even wanting to date, but the problems arise when your reasons don’t come from the healthiest mindset. For example, dating for the fun of meeting new people or taking chances is great, however, dating because you believe that if you’re not in a relationship you’re going to die alone and your life will be miserable is not. Fairytales can be inspirational but also misleading if you haven’t learned that life is not a cartoon. Relationships take time, patience, and sometimes great effort. Right now, I’ve decided that my relationship with myself is my top priority.

Gif Source

I have a lot of love in my heart. I love the concept of love, and love to imagine how wonderful it would be to go to Paris with my future lover. I watch romance anime, and I am a sucker for a good love story. I love to express how much I care for my friends and family through my writing, and I can’t help but share the joy I feel with the people around me. But, I wasn’t always this way. I used to feel so unbearably lonely, with all the drama in my family and the stress from school. I thought that finding my “soulmate” would fix everything. To avoid thinking about the roots of my problems, in which I had no power to change, I escaped into my imagination and into the possibilities for the future. I developed crushes, fell in love a bit too easily, and hit the ground hard. I would spend all day thinking about how to confess to my crushes and my friends would pump me up, cheering me on. Naturally, I got my heart broken quite a few times, and each time I failed to realize the mentally draining cycle I created: 

1. I would find someone attractive
2. Become infatuated with them
3. Believe that I was in love with them
4. Feel the highs of all the excitement
5. Then the crash of reality smacking me right in the face. 

I used to think that I needed a boyfriend to become whole, that I was missing something, and that’s why I felt so lost. Now, I’m older, and I know that I was just lonely. It’s okay to feel lonely, and it’s okay to feel like nobody cares. We can’t always be 100% positive 24/7 and there are times when we’re just having a hard time. I encourage you to take the time to reflect on your intentions before rushing headfirst into a relationship, and decide whether your actions will really lead to what you’re looking for. A crush can be just a crush. Maybe a friend is just a friend, and that's okay. You are allowed to care deeply for someone, maybe even romantically, but simply not ready to be in a romantic relationship. That's okay too. Love is beautiful and complex. We're college students, this is the time when we explore our interests and shape our identities. Now more than ever it is important to accept who you are, and see that you are beautiful and special and already whole. 

Looking back at my 17-year-old self, I laugh at how adorable I was: I fell in love and placed too much importance on my possible relationships. I've always had amazing people around me, who care and want me to be happy. I'm old now, so I'm focusing more on letting those people know that their love is appreciated; I'm doing my best to reciprocate. However you choose to spend the holiday, make sure you know that you are loved. I've created a little self-love checklist, that you can read aloud to yourself as you begin (or continue) your journey through self-appreciation and self-care. I believe in the power of our words, and have found that changing the way I think, has greatly improved my mood and behaviors towards accepting and improving myself.

If you find anything I've mentioned helpful, leave a comment down below. Make sure to follow us on social media at Coe CollegeLC on Twitter and LearningCommons_CoeCollege on Instagram to keep updated on when our latest posts come out. You can follow my social media at decafpearl on Instagram and Twitter. 

Intro to Self-Love: Glossary of Posts

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Today is Valentine’s Day, and I could talk about the grand tale of the Saint and martyr Valentine being stabbed through the heart, or I could mention how I think we should switch the holiday tradition from chocolate hearts to sword fights to the death - much more on theme - and how we should wear merch representing our adoration and respect for the one who started such a wonderful tradition. I could rant about past lovers and crushes and why I never should’ve fallen in love, or why most relationships fail. I could even discuss the effects the feeling of being in love has on our brain’s reward system. There’s too many possibilities and not enough time… Unless I make this a series, which I will. Today is Valentine’s Day and I’ve never been more interested in the holiday. Questions of why we give each other chocolates, why no one knows who St. Valentine is, and how other cultures celebrate the day of love were written down into my notebook a few days ago, and I can no longer resist the urge to learn more! 

This is a short and sweet post, where I will be listing links of future posts for your convenience. This is the glossary of my little love project. Make sure to come back to this page if you want to see the order of findings. And, of course, Happy Valentine’s Day!

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February
Self-Love for Valentine's Day

Financial Stability as a Form of Self-Love (Part 1)

Places I Love to Go When I'm Feeling the Seven Universal Emotions

     As individuals, we all have our own emotions; but there are seven emotions that scientists have
deemed to be universal. They are sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise, and contempt.
These emotions are basic, but they can be strong sometimes. Here is a list of places that I go when
I’m feeling some of these emotions.

Anger

Ice Skating

No, I’m not the best at ice skating, but I take all of my anger and let it out on the ice.
It’s hard to be upset while doing something that’s so graceful.

Fear

Nature 

It’s like nature inspires me to be courageous; the fact that birds don’t come out of an egg knowing how
to fly, but they can take the chance and keep trying, knowing that every time they try there’s a
possibility they can fall. Another example is that every animal has a predator yet they take chances
coming out and don’t let that stop them from living their lives though every second they’re out there’s a
chance they can die. Seeing trees grow tall and proud their whole life before getting cut down along
with a million other characteristics of nature makes me want to take risks, live life, and have fun while
I can because death is inevitable. We all can’t be good at everything so there’s always a chance I can
fail, but I have to try just because there’s always also a chance that I can succeed.

Happiness

The Mall/ stores I love

When I’m happy or proud of myself, I spoil myself or the people I love because I’m in such a good
mood. I buy thoughtful “just because” gifts and also when I’m happy, I feel beautiful, so I dress up kind
of nice, and put in effort and stores are public places so I kind of show off my confidence. I also have
mini dance parties in my dorm because nobody else is watching so it’s fun and makes you feel free
and happy which is the BEST combination

Sadness

The movies or nature

When I’m outside I feel free; and something about that feeling helps my tears come out and not literally
but figuratively it almost feels like even though I’m free, I’m being embraced by the Earth because I am
one with it. The wind stops my tears by drying them, the ground soaks my tears up, and just by looking
at my surroundings I can see that life goes on which cheers me up; it’s basically involuntary advice

I’m extremely good at making myself even more sad when I’m sad; every movie has a sad point or a
few sad points, even comedies. I ALWAYS cry at the sad points and when I’m crying at the movie,
I cry even harder thinking about whatever is making me sad at the same time. It helps me to get
everything out in a way since I hate going to friends and telling them I’m sad.

I only did 4/7 of the universal emotions because I don’t have a place for disgust, surprise or contempt;
but if any of you readers have places for these, comment yours as well as your reasons why you go
there.

Make it Happen!: Getting Involved

By Arabella Chamberlain

Photo Credit

Sometimes I just want to block all those constant emails about joining Anime Club or Physics Club's weekly reminder that they're having "Physics Ph-ridays" as I once saw their ice cream social called (who's in charge of marketing? They never run out of ways to hype this event). This is not because I have something against Anime or I'm lactose-intolerant, but simply because it's overwhelming the insane number of emails clubs send out hoping you'll join. Is it worth it?

Getting involved on campus can be daunting, even as an upperclassman. You've already got your friends and even though you might think that one club is super cool, you're worried you won't fit in or have time. It's understandable. But there are many benefits to joining a club or two on campus. Getting yourself out there opens up opportunities to meet new people, try new things, and can sometimes even lead to leadership. To quote the rather cheesy slogan, "Coe makes it possible... You make it happen" - when you go out and get involved!

Crash Course for Getting Involved:

Photo Credit

• Bring a friend... but don't let that hold you back from meeting new people! It can be easy to just stick close to your friend, but try to find someone you've never met or don't know as well to sit with. It might be out of your comfort zone at first, but who knows? Maybe you'll both make friends and can introduce each other.
• Start small. If you're unsure if you'll like the club, just sign up for their emails or drop by an event they host. You don't have to go to their meetings right away! If you know someone already in the club, ask them what it's like at their meetings or meet some of their friends in the club.
• Don't overcommit! It's just as easy to have the opposite problem of the Social Butterfly, which is jumping into one too many clubs and taking on every leadership position possible. While it's great to get experience as a club officer, try not to take on more than one or two officer positions at a time. Remember, academics come first and you can't do that if all your study time is spent in meeting after meeting after meeting.
• Be open-minded. Try lots of different clubs - even ones you think you won't like! You might be surprised that the first club you try might not be one you stick with. You might give Math Club a try and realize you love their game nights (even though 58% of people there just want math culture points). You might join the Offstage Players and realize you have a call to the spotlight.
• Have fun! The whole point of clubs in your college career is to give you opportunities to make friends, meet new people and do things you might never get to do again in your life. Many say "these are the best four years of your life," and who are we to disagree? We haven't seen the other side yet, but the grass might not be greener in the professional business world. I bet they don't have "Ice Cream Fri-Yays" (Did I mention the endless ways Physics Club markets?). Enjoy your time here.

Although I often just glance at all those emails from clubs, to quote the recent production of Sheltered on campus, "you never know what you'll find unless you look."

Get involved!

3rd-Year Resolutions (New Year's 2020)

I feel so old. I’m 21 and supposedly in my prime, but I feel terrible. There, I said it, I feel absolutely awful. This doesn’t mean I’m not happy with my life, but it does mean that I’m not afraid to admit when I just don’t feel good. I’m old enough to know that I’ve overbooked my schedule, that I say “yes” too much, and that I don’t know when to quit. It’s safe to say I’ve never had a New Year’s resolution to be more “open to experiences”. I’m old now, so I know that stress accumulates, and over the past three years I’ve accumulated a lot. I know that the habits I’ve formed my entire life are not all bad, but they’re not all healthy. I know that I want to be healthy. This brings me to the resolutions I’ve signed an unwritten contract to complete by New Year 2021...my senior year, and last semester at Coe College.

1. Gratitude

Photo by Giftpundits.com from Pexels

Thank your mother and your brother, your sister and your mister if they’ve been there for you when you need them. I’m a polite person, so I say thank you, but I’ve always had a problem with truly feeling grateful for what I have. Have you seen Hamilton (the musical)? Me neither, but my favorite song is Satisfied because I resonate so much with Angelica. I always want more, I want to do more, and feel more, because I’ve tied a lot of my self worth to what I’m able to accomplish. I am thankful for being blessed with loved ones who always push me to be my best, but I accept that the mindset I developed was very unhealthy. I spent my 2nd year here at Coe, focusing on my mental health and training myself to cope in more productive (realistic) ways by putting a leash on my perfectionism. I made significant progress, but failed to accurately assess the time my commitments required of me, and towards the end of my first semester as a junior, I broke down. 

I am old now. Over winter break, gone from my new home for a month - the longest I’ve been away in years- I aged a few years, so I know that I am grateful for my past self, who despite her cycle of acute stress was able to pull herself together and accomplish so many of her goals. She made accomplishment posts for the blog, to hold herself accountable for her promise to the world - to no longer diminish herself and to no longer hold expectations that required far too much sacrifice in mental health. I am grateful for the adults around me who mentor and support my ideals and constantly encourage me to fight for my dreams. I am grateful for my loving family. I am grateful for my friends. 

2. Patience

It takes time to reach your goals. I set many, lose track of them, and constantly look towards the future - forgetting to enjoy the journey. I felt too rushed when I came back to campus. I didn’t expect to be so busy...so quickly, and this is only the beginning! I enjoyed winter break, I really did. Lounging around the house, playing Sims, doing crafts, et cetera, are all fun, but, I always go too far. I didn’t just lounge around the house. I biked around the neighborhood in the cold, looking at houses for design inspiration, and built my dream cottage from scratch, in the Sims. I challenged my imagination and made my Sims roam the streets adopting strays, and marry sims to murder them and steal their money (it happens). I knitted three scarves, worked on my scrapbook, made door decorations, and tried vegan recipes. Winter break was nothing but free time for me to finally go through my list of things I couldn’t do during the school year. 

Now, I’m swamped. I think back to freshman year, and see myself playing in the lobby, reading books by the giant windows. Those were good times, that are gone. The fact is, I’ve trapped myself in a trick room, where the clues to get out are hidden in plain sight. It will take time to find my way out. There are numerous paths I can take, and it’s up to me to decide and move on, when I’m ready. This is the reason I choose to practice patience as my second resolution for the year. I’m overwhelmed now, but with time this will pass. 

3. Boundaries & Calculated Risks

Photo by Luke Barky from Pexels

A lot of students learn by now to let go of “non-essential” commitments and to limit themselves to one or two, outside of classes. But, not this woman! This 21-year-old (still energized from my birthday) thinks it’s fun to be busy. I mentioned earlier that I have no problem saying “yes”, which contrasts the resolutions of millions of people everywhere, who challenge themselves to be like me. I have a “no” problem, where I talk myself out of stopping myself from doing something. Since I’m practicing patience, I’m not going to try to kill this habit cold turkey, which would mean leaving all of my officer positions in clubs. Instead, I will be taking calculated risks. 

For me, this means not accepting a challenge unless I know I can do it. This means that before I say “yes”, I will compare it to all of the other things I’m currently doing, and could be doing instead. This means that I may make a few people mad or disappointed when I tell them that I can’t devote the same time and energy that they do. This means that even when I really want to do something, I must accept that I simply have more important/urgent things to do. It is not easy to set limits on myself, and I’ve spent most of my life making decisions based on how other people may feel or think. This is the difficult, yet immensely powerful perk of being an adult. I know that I am in control, and I’m taking back the power that I too loosely gave others. 

4. Physical Health

I prioritized most things in life (academics, work, clubs) over my health. I've recently focused on my mental health (my perception and feelings) because I believe that by changing my thoughts I can change my behavior. Now, I’m ready to prioritize my physical health as well. The aches and migraines, pains and shin splints can no longer be ignored. If I am supposedly at my prime, the future of my body looks bleak. Over the next year, I will be integrating healthier eating habits and develop my own fitness routine to ensure that while I am at Coe - with access to a crazy awesome fitness center and surrounded by a strong support network - I make necessary changes that can only benefit my future. 

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Junior year has been the worst year of college, so far. Junior year has been the most impactful, informative, and inspirational year of college, so far. I have never felt as secure with myself nor proud of my accomplishments than I have this year. I’m constantly stressed, overworked, and overwhelmed. I’m consistently glad to be here. I’ve learned that life is full of paradoxes, and that my future is looking bright. I feel that the resolutions I’ve set for myself are attainable, and already I have made great progress towards these ideals. I’ve set goals and milestones to reach as incentives, and have now told you, so that you can help me hold myself accountable.

Gif by Libby VanderPloeg

If you like what you read and what I wrote, please make sure to tell your friends about the LC Blog. This is a student-run blog for the Learning Commons, and we are very excited to make our place here on campus. You can follow us at CoeCollegeLearning Commons on Instragam and Twitter and follow me at decafpearl on Instagram. I also have a personal blog I'm working on if you want to read more of my writing.

Strengthen Mental Health Habits: Anxiety Edition

Strengthen Mental Health Habits:

Anxiety Edition

We all know that we could use a little help sometimes.

But it's hard, it makes you feel vulnerable, and for some of us, it can make us feel inadequate.

Campus has done a wonderful job getting information out about their services; however, many individuals don't seek help even when they know who to go to.

This post isn't to make you write an email to Emily Barnard and make an appointment; however, you should definitely ask to pet her dog, Maverick. 

This is a list of things you can do on campus that can help you if you don't desire intervention with a professional.

Some tips for anxiety:

1. Visit the quiet room

The quiet room is a small blue-walled room in Upper Gage. It has a white noise machine, massage chair, floor pillows and a couple tables to do work. 

2. Steal some fruit from the Caf

Eating more fruits and veggies in general has been linked to decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression and increased happiness levels.

3. Invest in some slime or a fidget toy

The purpose of a fidget toy isn't to distract your teachers but actually to bring your attention to something in the present. When manipulating this small toy, you can remove yourself from your head and put yourself into the now, helping you recover from a place of anxiety.

4. Take some time to confront what is bothering you

This is something that is more for preventing anxiety and may or may not be helpful. If there is a root to the problem, such as procrastination or "there isn't enough time in the day," make a resolution to work on saying ‘No’ to more activities, asking for a friend to join you in doing your work, or try the Pomodoro method.

5. Sing or dance to a song you enjoy

Singing or dancing is another great way to bring yourself to the present. If you do so regularly, you may see benefits of the release of endorphins that help reduce mental stress.

6. Chew some gum

Research has shown that chewing gum can reduce anxiety in adults. This action increases blood flow which reduces stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression and leads to a more positive mood1. Chewing gum was also associated with perceptions of better performance (both at work and outside).  (There is also an academic benefit for the same reason.)

7. Take a yoga class

Or maybe just a few minutes every day to stretch. Stretching helps increase blood flow and will help induce being in the present and slow your breathing.

Coe provides opportunities for introductory level classes and would be a great opportunity for light exercise and to spend time with friends.

Spring schedule:

Mondays: 5-6 pm, Yoga with Darcy

Tuesdays: 6-7 pm, Pound with Trisha

Thursdays: 6-7 pm, Yoga and Meditation with Andrea (starting 1/23)

8. Breathing techniques

Taking the time to focus on your breathing makes sure that your body is balanced. When stressed, the body tends to breathe using the chest, rather than the diaphragm, which can cause an imbalance of oxygen and carbon.

Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Your abdomen should expand, and your chest should rise very little.

Exhale slowly through your mouth. As you blow air out, purse your lips slightly, but keep your jaw relaxed. You may hear a soft “whooshing” sound as you exhale.

Repeat this breathing exercise for several minutes.

9. Have a friend send you some memes

If you are feeling tense or stiff and maybe a little stressed, set an alarm for 10 minutes, and look on Youtube for some funny videos or maybe some memes. Laughing is known to help reduce stress and will help release the tension in your body. 

10. Take 10 min and go for a walk

The outside is a little frigid right now; however, that can actually help with an anxiety attack. The cold will help reduce your heart rate and the fresh air is good to help clear your mind. If you really don't want to go outside though, cracking a window and splashing your face with some cold water is also beneficial.

Remember that no matter how you are feeling, someone cares about you and you are important. College is difficult and it can be hard to adjust. If you have any concerns about you or a loved one, reach out to your adviser or for professional help contact Emily Barnard (ebarnard@coe.edu) or Melea White (meleawhite@coe.edu).