Hullabaloo U Review: The Dimensions of Wellness

Published on 9/24/2020 3:24:14 PM
By Jada Gonzalez '20

As Texas A&M enters its sixth week of the semester, many first-year students are still adjusting to life on campus. For some students, their first experience away from home is an awakening experience; for others, the transition from high school to college can be stressful. It is not uncommon for students to feel pressured and disconnected from themselves, family members, and friends during their first few weeks of college. Despite the many academic and personal challenges students may come across during their undergraduate career, it is important that they seek a balance between all of the eight dimensions of wellness.

As part of the Hullabaloo U curriculum at Texas A&M University, the first-year experience course teaches students the importance of balancing the eight dimensions of wellness: physical, mental, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, financial, and environmental. Review the following tips to help students maintain a balance between all dimensions of wellness.

Exercise
Include some type of physical activity in your daily schedule. Take a walk around campus or visit the Student Rec Center.

Eat a Balanced Diet
With leading busy lifestyles in college, all students must remember to eat a balanced diet. Adding “2 to 3 cups of veggies and a serving or two of fruit every day in a meal” is one of the most manageable steps a person can take to supplementing unhealthier foods in their diet (Shereen Lehman, MS, VeryWellFit). Plan out your meals is to drink more water to stay hydrated, try new foods in the dining hall, and opt for healthier dorm room snacks. Review more healthy eating tips from Texas A&M Health Promotion.

Making Time for Self-Care
Although it can be easy to get caught up in assignments and late-night cramming sessions for exams, students need time away from the computer screen. Self-Care is all about creating and dedicating time to yourself. Some ways to do this are journaling, listening to music/podcasts, or taking a break in between your studying to relax and acknowledge the work you have done.

Maintain a Sleeping Schedule
Most students tend to take advantage of a good night’s sleep. Making sure to get about seven to nine hours of sleep is crucial for college students (Texas A&M Health Promotion). Some benefits to maintaining a good sleep schedule include decreased chance of getting sick, improved mood and grades, and better memory.

If you want to know more about health and wellness, seek guidance from the Health Promotions Office in the Student Services Building.