\u00a0 As we wrap up the fall semester- finishing finals, packing up, and making our way back home for the holidays- it is important to pause and prioritize our mental and emotional well-being. The holiday season can be exciting and joyful, but it can also be incredibly stressful and bring up mixed emotions. No matter what holiday you celebrate, or overall enjoy the winter break, this time of year provides an opportunity to find balance, recharge, and take care of yourself. At Campus Rec, our mission is to promote wellness and belonging for our URI community. Here are a few ways to navigate this holiday season and how to practice self-care and wellness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0 Remember, no matter what feelings arise, whether it\u2019s anxiety from stress or pressure to feel festive when you don\u2019t, they are completely valid. Allow yourself to feel each feeling, positive and negative, and keep in mind that it is okay. Keeping track of your emotions can help you better identify and understand what you are feeling. Some ways to go about this are by journaling your feelings down or having an open conversation with someone you trust. The URI Counseling Center has also collaborated with the TELUS Health<\/a> app in order to guarantee that all students have access to mental health help outside of the center\u2019s usual business hours. TELUS offers free 24\/7 support via video, text, and phone, along with short-term counseling, referrals for treatment in your area, self-assessments, and virtual fitness classes. Remember that you are not alone in your mental wellness journey.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0 Sometimes, we take on more than we can chew. The holidays bring all sorts of challenges and tasks, and sometimes we take on more than we can handle. This can be from who\u2019s in charge of wrapping presents, cooking, or hosting. It is important to say no, even if you want to be as helpful as possible. Taking on too much responsibility can lead to being overwhelmed and feeling anxiety. Remember that the best present you can give yourself this season is the gift of putting yourself first in situations that require you to do more than you can. Keep in mind that saying \u201cno\u201d is a complete sentence, and you do not have to justify it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n After exams are done and we get to relax and unwind for a month, it can be easy to forget about sticking with healthy habits. While the holidays are joyful, they also bring late nights, lots of sweets, and an endless amount of time curled up on the sofa. But because of this, it\u2019s the perfect time to remind ourselves that practicing wellness doesn\u2019t stop over the holidays. Even if you\u2019re not hitting the gym, try to incorporate movement into your routine. Going for a walk, doing some yoga, or dancing to some holiday music are all great ways to keep your blood pumping. Keep in mind that wellness isn\u2019t just about physical activity- it\u2019s also about caring for your emotional and mental well-being. Take time to rest, but balance it with moments of mindfulness. Try deep breathing exercises, journaling, or doing face masks while watching holiday movies. Along with holiday treats, take care of yourself with healthy meals and remember the importance of staying connected with loved ones. On campus, our nutrition and food allergy resources range from NetNutrition<\/a>, an online tool to help navigate nutritional information, to EatLocal@URI<\/a>, partnering with local vendors and farms. If you are planning on staying on campus for J-term, Campus Recreation\u2019s<\/a> facility hours will be open, including the Anna Fascitelli Fitness and Wellness Center, Mackal Field House, and Tootell Aquatic Center. URI Health Services will also be open during the week from 9:00 AM til 3:00 PM to help accommodate your needs. All these little things can help you feel refreshed, grounded, and prepared to take on the new semester after break.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0 \u2018Tis the season of giving! Sometimes, giving back to your community can be one of the most rewarding experiences. Volunteering not only helps those in need but also promotes your overall well-being. Acts of service release stress, improve mood, and create a sense of purpose. Helping others is a form of self-care since it not only helps build your own gratitude but also connects with others. Serving others puts aside everyday stress and focuses on what really matters. Giving back to others turns into a reset that lets you refuel mentally and emotionally. Self-care is more than just relaxation; it also involves purpose, meaningful connections, and the fulfillment of making a difference.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The holidays can be a happy yet stressful time of the year, and taking care of yourself often means reaching out for help when you need it the most. Inviting others into your self-care journey can make the season lighter and much more meaningful. Whether it\u2019s asking a friend to go on a walk, asking family for help with traditions, or just sharing how you\u2019re feeling. Remember that self-care isn\u2019t selfish- it is a means of maintaining your energy so you\u2019re able to enjoy the holiday festivities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n From our Campus Rec family to yours, we wish you the best this holiday season and remember to take care of yourself. Happy Holidays!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n By: Aaliyah Holford<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0 As we wrap up the fall semester- finishing finals, packing up, and making our way back home for the holidays- it is important to pause and prioritize our mental and emotional well-being. The holiday season can be exciting and joyful, but it can also be incredibly stressful and bring up mixed emotions. No matter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4702,"featured_media":6642,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spring-2025"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4702"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6641"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6643,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6641\/revisions\/6643"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/inside-rec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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Major: Communications\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
Graduating 2025<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"