Don’t wait until you have no money left to start thinking about budgeting. This is a major stressor for college students so plan ahead to keep your cool. Being prepared means you can maintain your relaxed mind which is going to help you succeed socially and academically.
Maybe you are thinking it is already too late to budget but getting a clear sense of how you will survive this home stretch is well worth some time.
The Loyalist Financial Aid office has a wonderful pamphlet which will help guide you through the necessary steps for good money management.
Emergency food hampers are available to students so be sure you don't go hungry. Students can meet with their Student Success Mentor, Counselling Services, Mind and Wellness Nurse if they are in need of food.
This site offers tips on budgeting your funds.
http://www.mala.ca/mariners/mental.htm#Budgeting%20Funds
Monday, February 25, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Emotional Intelligence
Your mind and body react to perceived stress created by our own thoughts just the same as they do if we are being threatened by a saber tooth tiger.
Your body does not know the difference between an actual threat ( a tiger ) and you believing you are threatened (an exam).
The immune system shuts down because we are preparing to run from danger rather than fight any infections. Students tend to get sick around exam time because their stress responses have dampened the immune response.
Our digestion shuts down because again, all energy goes to the big muscles that will help us run to escape rather than to digesting a meal so stress tends to cause stomach problems.
Blood is shunted away from the frontal lobes and is sent rushing to the hind brain which supports reflex reactions. Your body wants you to run, not think! So under stress we are actually less intelligent.
So, it is important to see the importance of teaching our brains new ways of perceiving situations and to teach it the relaxation response.
Fascinating audio on how emotions actually work in our body both chemically and electrically.
http://www.6seconds.org/pod/media/eq-planet-pert.mp3
More info on emotional intelligence and how it affects success in learning and in life.
http://www.funderstanding.com/eq.cfm
Your body does not know the difference between an actual threat ( a tiger ) and you believing you are threatened (an exam).
The immune system shuts down because we are preparing to run from danger rather than fight any infections. Students tend to get sick around exam time because their stress responses have dampened the immune response.
Our digestion shuts down because again, all energy goes to the big muscles that will help us run to escape rather than to digesting a meal so stress tends to cause stomach problems.
Blood is shunted away from the frontal lobes and is sent rushing to the hind brain which supports reflex reactions. Your body wants you to run, not think! So under stress we are actually less intelligent.
So, it is important to see the importance of teaching our brains new ways of perceiving situations and to teach it the relaxation response.
Fascinating audio on how emotions actually work in our body both chemically and electrically.
http://www.6seconds.org/pod/media/eq-planet-pert.mp3
More info on emotional intelligence and how it affects success in learning and in life.
http://www.funderstanding.com/eq.cfm
Suicide Prevention
Take steps to maintain your mental health through the darker months. Stay active, eat and sleep well and stay connected to friends and fun.
Our culture leads us to believe that youth is the best time of our lives. This is just not true. It is a time when we are growing up emotionally and this is a challenge. If you think you are the only one having trouble, be assured, you are not.
Young people think about suicide. Don’t be afraid to talk about it. If you have concerns about a friend, do not be afraid to talk to them about it – this does not cause them to act on it. Non-judgemental listening can bring relief to someone who is troubled.
Young people can be high risk because of school pressures, major life changes, hormone changes, over use of drugs including alcohol and sexual orientation issues.
Some warning sign can be eating disorders, deliberate self harm,
withdrawal from normal activities, exceptional and extreme
mood swings, perfectionistic behaviour or extreme self
critical behaviour.
Talk about it. See Jodie in the Student Success Hub to make an appointment with counselling or Mind and Wellness Services. You do not have to say why you are making an appointment. Many students seek support for a variety of reasons.
Check in with campus health services. These are free and the staff are wonderful. The campus doctor is available for appointments on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons
Keep in contact with trusted friends.
"Learn to recognize the symptoms of suicide. Don’t be
ashamed. Remember feelings are not facts. Suicidal feelings
are a symptom of your illness. You need help and support to
get through them but you will get through them." (from checkupfrom theneckup)
Suicide is rarely a sudden decision but is part of a process. Check out the listed websites for information on how to deal with these feelings or on how to recognize the signs in yourself or someone else.
These sites offer information on myths about suicide, common warning signs and what you can do to help yourself or someone else.
http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-101-104&lang=1
http://www.checkupfromtheneckup.ca/Suicide_final.pdf
Our culture leads us to believe that youth is the best time of our lives. This is just not true. It is a time when we are growing up emotionally and this is a challenge. If you think you are the only one having trouble, be assured, you are not.
Young people think about suicide. Don’t be afraid to talk about it. If you have concerns about a friend, do not be afraid to talk to them about it – this does not cause them to act on it. Non-judgemental listening can bring relief to someone who is troubled.
Young people can be high risk because of school pressures, major life changes, hormone changes, over use of drugs including alcohol and sexual orientation issues.
Some warning sign can be eating disorders, deliberate self harm,
withdrawal from normal activities, exceptional and extreme
mood swings, perfectionistic behaviour or extreme self
critical behaviour.
Talk about it. See Jodie in the Student Success Hub to make an appointment with counselling or Mind and Wellness Services. You do not have to say why you are making an appointment. Many students seek support for a variety of reasons.
Check in with campus health services. These are free and the staff are wonderful. The campus doctor is available for appointments on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons
Keep in contact with trusted friends.
"Learn to recognize the symptoms of suicide. Don’t be
ashamed. Remember feelings are not facts. Suicidal feelings
are a symptom of your illness. You need help and support to
get through them but you will get through them." (from checkupfrom theneckup)
Suicide is rarely a sudden decision but is part of a process. Check out the listed websites for information on how to deal with these feelings or on how to recognize the signs in yourself or someone else.
These sites offer information on myths about suicide, common warning signs and what you can do to help yourself or someone else.
http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-101-104&lang=1
http://www.checkupfromtheneckup.ca/Suicide_final.pdf
Thursday, January 31, 2008
To Eat or Not to Eat
Eating Disorders has its own Awareness Week and it is from Feb 3-9. You will see a special display in the Loyalist cafeteria on Wednesday, Feb 6 from 11:30-1:30. A specialist in Eating Disorder counselling will be on hand to answer questions and offer resources. There will be a slide show presentation at the display table. Drop by and increase your awareness of this growing problem.
Eating and sleeping disorders are becoming more prevalent among college aged students.
According to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) a recent study revealed that 27 per cent of Ontario girls, aged 12-18 were reported to be engaged in severely problematic food and weight behaviours.
We have to be the change we want to see. Challenge your own focus on physical beauty – look for the qualities of kindness, flexibility, generosity and compassion, for example both in yourself and in others as your part in making a change in our world.
View the media critically, realizing that the way media represents people is highly manipulative and creates unachievable images that have hugely negative impacts on self esteem.
College life offers you the chance to start to think for yourself and choose your own beliefs rather than following the mainstream thought track. Now is a time to work on the lifelong journey of self acceptance and acceptance of others. Think about comments you make about how others look or how you view yourself.
Do you want to perpetuate the cultural myths that suggest thin is beautiful and means you are in control? Do you want to be part of the belief system that values males who are constantly working on their body? What about valuing qualities in yourself and others? How about valuing those who treat themselves with respect and choose a healthy lifestyle for themselves? What would our world look like if our goal was trying to find who we are, what our particular gifts might be and how we can take care so we can offer the best of ourselves?
This is the national eating disorders info website. It has information for you if you have an eating disorder or helpful info if you are worried about a friend who you think might have a problem.
http://www.nedic.ca/
This is a local Belleville website listing free resources/counselling support for eating disorders in this community.
http://www.qyfc.com/resourcesforeatingdisordersc44.php
This site has a quiz so you can assess whether or not you may have a problem
http://eatingdisorders.about.com/od/eatingdisorderquiz/index_r.htm
Eating and sleeping disorders are becoming more prevalent among college aged students.
According to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) a recent study revealed that 27 per cent of Ontario girls, aged 12-18 were reported to be engaged in severely problematic food and weight behaviours.
We have to be the change we want to see. Challenge your own focus on physical beauty – look for the qualities of kindness, flexibility, generosity and compassion, for example both in yourself and in others as your part in making a change in our world.
View the media critically, realizing that the way media represents people is highly manipulative and creates unachievable images that have hugely negative impacts on self esteem.
College life offers you the chance to start to think for yourself and choose your own beliefs rather than following the mainstream thought track. Now is a time to work on the lifelong journey of self acceptance and acceptance of others. Think about comments you make about how others look or how you view yourself.
Do you want to perpetuate the cultural myths that suggest thin is beautiful and means you are in control? Do you want to be part of the belief system that values males who are constantly working on their body? What about valuing qualities in yourself and others? How about valuing those who treat themselves with respect and choose a healthy lifestyle for themselves? What would our world look like if our goal was trying to find who we are, what our particular gifts might be and how we can take care so we can offer the best of ourselves?
This is the national eating disorders info website. It has information for you if you have an eating disorder or helpful info if you are worried about a friend who you think might have a problem.
http://www.nedic.ca/
This is a local Belleville website listing free resources/counselling support for eating disorders in this community.
http://www.qyfc.com/resourcesforeatingdisordersc44.php
This site has a quiz so you can assess whether or not you may have a problem
http://eatingdisorders.about.com/od/eatingdisorderquiz/index_r.htm
Friday, January 25, 2008
'Tis a Gift to be Simple'
Healthy self, healthy community, healthy world.
Ever feel like you don't really matter in the big scheme of things. Well you do - each choice you make has an impact and that puts a lot of power in your hands. You are of major importance to the health of this planet. How you treat yourself and your surroundings has an impact.
Here are a few very simple ideas for making some powerful choices
1.Turn off – anything that you are not using.
2.Reduce-when you shop for your groceries, look for items that use less packaging
3.You will use a lot of paper this year at school. Try to be mindful – use both sides – use recycled paper in your printer when you can.
4.Recycling is a powerful habit. Loyalist now offer you lots of opportunities to recycle with many receptacles throughout the halls.
5.If you are finished with certain items or clothing, trade with friends. You don’t have to always buy new.
6.Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth or shaving.
7.Reuse your plastic grocery bags or buy a few snappy cloth bags at the second hand stores to cart your groceries home in.
7.Practice kindness – to yourself, others and the planet you live on.
Ever feel like you don't really matter in the big scheme of things. Well you do - each choice you make has an impact and that puts a lot of power in your hands. You are of major importance to the health of this planet. How you treat yourself and your surroundings has an impact.
Here are a few very simple ideas for making some powerful choices
1.Turn off – anything that you are not using.
2.Reduce-when you shop for your groceries, look for items that use less packaging
3.You will use a lot of paper this year at school. Try to be mindful – use both sides – use recycled paper in your printer when you can.
4.Recycling is a powerful habit. Loyalist now offer you lots of opportunities to recycle with many receptacles throughout the halls.
5.If you are finished with certain items or clothing, trade with friends. You don’t have to always buy new.
6.Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth or shaving.
7.Reuse your plastic grocery bags or buy a few snappy cloth bags at the second hand stores to cart your groceries home in.
7.Practice kindness – to yourself, others and the planet you live on.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Leave The Pack Behind
Yeah, yeah, I know I should quit but I’m just not ready. It is too hard and I’m stressed out.
Read on….
It is hard to quit. There are lots of good reasons to quit though and each time you read about those good reasons and each time you try to quit brings you closer to the day when you will be free of the habit.
Some of the great benefits of quitting:
1.Your sense of smell and taste improve, mmmm.
2.You look younger since smoking causes wrinkling and premature aging
3.More energy to do the things you love.
4.No more nagging from friends and family!
5.Save money
6.You don’t stink anymore.
7.Brain fog clears since your blood is no longer binding with the carbon monoxide toxins from the cigarette smoke.
It is hard to kick the habit but you can certainly find lots of help and support from your friends.
Loyalist is part of a province wide initiative created at Brock University. It was developed by students for students. The initiative is called Leave The Pack Behind and the website is very funky – it offers on-line week by week strategies to help you quit.
You can grab one of the nifty packages they developed. These are available at Mind and Wellness Services in the Student Success Hub.
You can also see our display in the cafeteria and grab some of the helpful literature there.
Great interactive site developed by university students to help other students quit.
http://www.leavethepackbehind.org/main.cfm
This site has a lot of information on how to support yourself while quitting – how to work towards a quitting date, dealing with the stress and withdrawal, etc.
http://www.nnsw.ca/
Lots of tips and strategies here to support you in quitting.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/pubs/tobac-tabac/orq-svr/index_e.html
This site will show you how to calculate how much of your hard earned money is spent on the habit.
http://www.healthyontario.com/Health_Tools/Cost_of_Smoking_Calculator.htm
Read on….
It is hard to quit. There are lots of good reasons to quit though and each time you read about those good reasons and each time you try to quit brings you closer to the day when you will be free of the habit.
Some of the great benefits of quitting:
1.Your sense of smell and taste improve, mmmm.
2.You look younger since smoking causes wrinkling and premature aging
3.More energy to do the things you love.
4.No more nagging from friends and family!
5.Save money
6.You don’t stink anymore.
7.Brain fog clears since your blood is no longer binding with the carbon monoxide toxins from the cigarette smoke.
It is hard to kick the habit but you can certainly find lots of help and support from your friends.
Loyalist is part of a province wide initiative created at Brock University. It was developed by students for students. The initiative is called Leave The Pack Behind and the website is very funky – it offers on-line week by week strategies to help you quit.
You can grab one of the nifty packages they developed. These are available at Mind and Wellness Services in the Student Success Hub.
You can also see our display in the cafeteria and grab some of the helpful literature there.
Great interactive site developed by university students to help other students quit.
http://www.leavethepackbehind.org/main.cfm
This site has a lot of information on how to support yourself while quitting – how to work towards a quitting date, dealing with the stress and withdrawal, etc.
http://www.nnsw.ca/
Lots of tips and strategies here to support you in quitting.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/pubs/tobac-tabac/orq-svr/index_e.html
This site will show you how to calculate how much of your hard earned money is spent on the habit.
http://www.healthyontario.com/Health_Tools/Cost_of_Smoking_Calculator.htm
Friday, January 11, 2008
Beating the Winter Blues
The tendency around this time of year can be to eat more sugar and lay around on the couch a lot. Try to NOT do this.
1.Even 10 minutes outdoors- a brief walk around the campus or around the block will help you feel more energized. If it’s just too cold, check out the fitness centre – it’s free to all Loyalist students.
2.Sugar does not energize – it has been shown in labs that sugar is a tranquilizer – those of us who turn to sugar at this time of year are trying to tranquilize ourselves. Carbohydrates are a favourite as well- try to avoid the empty ones in junk food and fill up on rice and whole wheat pasta instead.
3.Avoid large amounts of alcohol – it acts as a depressant.
4.Be sure to get the support of your family and friends.
5.Have breakfast every day – this very simple act will benefit you tremendously.
6.And another basic- 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
If you no longer take pleasure in your usual activities, are gaining weight rapidly, sleeping long hours and having despairing thoughts, check in with your doctor or with our campus doctor.
Information on SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder
http://www.mooddisorders.on.ca/sad.html
1.Even 10 minutes outdoors- a brief walk around the campus or around the block will help you feel more energized. If it’s just too cold, check out the fitness centre – it’s free to all Loyalist students.
2.Sugar does not energize – it has been shown in labs that sugar is a tranquilizer – those of us who turn to sugar at this time of year are trying to tranquilize ourselves. Carbohydrates are a favourite as well- try to avoid the empty ones in junk food and fill up on rice and whole wheat pasta instead.
3.Avoid large amounts of alcohol – it acts as a depressant.
4.Be sure to get the support of your family and friends.
5.Have breakfast every day – this very simple act will benefit you tremendously.
6.And another basic- 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
If you no longer take pleasure in your usual activities, are gaining weight rapidly, sleeping long hours and having despairing thoughts, check in with your doctor or with our campus doctor.
Information on SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder
http://www.mooddisorders.on.ca/sad.html
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