Promoting Wellness in your Student Organization

Why is Wellness Important in College?

According to the National College Health Assessment, in 2008 the top 10 reported health impediments to UC San Diego students’ academic performance were:

  1. Stress
  2. Cold/flu/sore throat
  3. Sleep difficulties
  4. Internet use/computer games
  5. Concern for troubled friend or family member
  6. Relationship difficulty
  7. Depression/anxiety/seasonal affective disorder
  8. Death of a friend or family member
  9. Sinus/ear infection or bronchitis/strep throat
  10. Attention deficit disorder

Managing your Student Organization

  • Designate/Elect a LiveWell Officer
  • Bring healthy snacks/food for general body meetings (pdf)
  • Have wellness-oriented icebreakers at your meetings (i.e., state your name, college, and one way that you take care of your well-being).
  • For smaller organizations or executive board meetings, hold "walking meetings" instead.
    • Find a walking route around UCSD and discuss your organization's plans while walking. Walking routes at UCSD

Planning your events

  • Create an event that promotes one of the 8 dimensions of wellness.
  • Buy in bulk to save money and limit waste.
  • Buy/order healthy food.
  • Aim for a zero waste event (use reusable and recyclable products).
  • Check out our list of healthy programs that you can use at your next meeting.

Reserve The Zone for a Healthy Meeting

The Zone is a state of the art facility suitable for staging many different types of events, including lecture/presentation, movie, board style meeting, social mixer, yoga/meditation, and other low impact physical activity. More information is available here

Be a Role Model for Wellness

As a student leader, you can be a role model for wellness by living a healthy, balanced lifestyle and sharing your wellness tips with members in your organization.

  • Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
  • Be Active - join an intramural team, take a rec class, walk around campus, etc...
  • Reflect and take action on your life purpose.
  • Relate to and connect with your organization members.
  • Sign up your organization for a community service event (MLK Jr. Parade, Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity).
  • Maintain an optimistic attitude (more info)
  • Be realistic, accept help, practice gratitude, and forgiveness.
  • Get enough sleep.
  • Maintain composure, wisdom, and compassion no matter what the situation.

 

Wellness Resources on Campus

Know the UC San Diego campus resources for wellness. Promote them to your members and use them yourself!

Click on any of the icons on the map below to learn more about the wellness resources on campus that are available for students.

View Larger Map