Current circumstances have certainly been challenging for us all and have required many of us to dig deep to find ways to maintain a sense of grounding and focus. Here are some self and community care strategies the BWell staff are using to nurture our wellbeing during this time:
I have been making sure to drink plenty of water. It sounds so simple but I found that because I was out of my regular routines I was forgetting to stay hydrated and started to feel more sluggish. I definitely have a bit more energy now and adding this practice to my days wasn’t a heavy lift. - Tanya
I’m participating in supporting the local economy by getting local produce deliveries and signing up for a CSA (community supported agriculture) share from a local farm. In times like these it's become even more apparent that we need to rely on the people closest by to help us get through hard times, and supporting local farms feels like a win-win for me: I feel safer about getting food that hasn’t passed through so many hands, it’s more sustainable for our earth and it keeps the local economy alive. - Elliot
BWell’s fantastic student staff and volunteers are also sharing self and community care strategies they are using:
I have been making art as a creative expression of my personality and current emotions and a way to pass the time (even during zoom calls). Because schoolwork can be all-life-encompassing as a Brown student, I am glad to find some time in my schedule now to be able to express myself creatively. Customizing earrings, embellishing old pillowcases or working on a large quilt/blanket creation to keep my hands busy while watching tv, listening to podcasts, attending zoom lectures or facetiming with friends has kept me from getting bored most days and gives me something to be proud of when I complete a project. Working with shiny objects, colors and textures that give me joy has brought me something to look forward to in this uncertain time. - Pazia, SHAG Peer Educator
What is working for you? What might be other things which would support you in having a sense of wellbeing, community and grounding? Click here to let us know and we will share your strategies on this page for others to learn from.
Here are some additional tools for this week:
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Escape into SHAG’s Virtual Sex Week on Instagram (www.instagram.com/shagbrownu). Access podcasts and brochures created by SHAG peer educators to learn about sexual health topics ranging from mental health and sex to destigmatizing STIs.
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In a mindful journaling group with Nicole Annete from http://journaljunky.blogspot.com/, we learned this incredibly helpful and informative technique. In utilizing the 5 A's of Mindfulness, you can gain perspective on your thoughts and feelings and see how they move and shift with different modes of perception. The 5 A’s of mindfulness are:
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Awareness
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Attention
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Acceptance
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Affection
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Affirmation
Use this journaling sheet to try applying the 5 A’s to something weighing on your mind. Download the fillable pdf:
mindful journal.pdf
