Nigel Cares: App helps students with self-care
By Dr. Simon Cordery, director of Student Counseling
People tend to think health and happiness "just happen," fall from the sky, or are a matter of "good" or "bad" luck. The truth is that positive mental health is the result of an investment and practice in a collection of learned skills.
We have to learn how to manage our emotions, reduce our stress, and work toward positivity and happiness. Just like working out for our physical benefit, mental health and happiness are the results of these efforts, not the precursors.
In support of the Nigel Cares student mental health initiative, UNG has made Headspace accounts available to all UNG students for free. Headspace typically costs $12 per month.
Wouldn't it be great to take a few moments for yourself, catch your breath, and relax your mind? Wouldn't you like to get your anxiety under control? How about connecting with positive thoughts and feelings and disconnecting from negative thoughts and feelings? Instead of feeling stuck in your emotions, wouldn't you like to learn how to soothe and comfort yourself? What about putting your mind to bed at night and waking up feeling refreshed? The Headspace App can help you manage your feelings and thoughts using mindfulness.
As one current user of the app said, "Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations."
The app teaches you to build up areas of your brain and actually rewire it to enhance processes like concentration and decision-making and minimize emotions like fear and stress. The app is particularly helpful in managing stress, increasing concentration and focus, and reducing burnout. There are also exercises to help increase your self-compassion and even prepare for presentations or exams.
These are things every student can benefit from and it's free. UNG students can download the app from the UNG Wellness Hub.
Nigel Cares: Finish line is just ahead
As the spring semester winds down, students should practice self-care and use the available UNG resources and services to provide a solid platform for their academic and personal success.
Nigel Cares: Grief helps celebrate life
Grief can give people the opportunity to process their feelings in order to celebrate life. This allows individuals to heal. It permits time to focus on the positive influences a loved one had on a person's life.
Nigel Cares: All play a role in campus safety
All UNG students, faculty and staff can play an active role in connecting themselves and others to support and keeping UNG's campus community safe.
Nigel Cares: Offer help in unhealthy situations
It is important to watch for the signs of unhealthy relationships so we can offer assistance. Offering support without judgment and connecting people with resources are helpful steps.