Rev. James E. McDonald, C.S.C., Center for Student Well-Being

McWell has developed a new initiative, Failure Redefined, which is designed to challenge perfectionism by encouraging students, faculty and staff to embrace failure.  Failure is part of being human; we all fail at some point in our lives and that is okay! Student, please join us Monday, April 29th for an art-themed Health Hut experience at 1:30 at the South Quad flagpole, and again at 7pm in Carey Auditorium (1st floor of Hesburgh Library) for Caitie Whelan’s workshop, The Art of Risk Taking, where there will be VIP prizes for the first 15 attendees. Stories of resilience will also be shared through our Instagram account - follow along @McWellND.  …

Boost your social well-being this week by participating in McWell's Turn Off, Tune In Challenge. Studies suggest that the average person checks their phone 110 times a day, and we encourage you to 'turn off' that technology and 'tune in' to the social connections and activities that you may be missing out on.  The New York Times recently published an article called How to Break Up with Your Phone…

Interested in a well-being hack? Check out this one, brought to you by McWell Student Assistant, Kenzie Issac: On a given day, try replacing fifteen minutes of every hour you spend looking at your phone or television with a personal mindfulness session. Oftentimes, we attempt to escape our daily stressors (albeit futilely) by immersing ourselves in the interesting, alternate realities provided through our technology. This is not always the best coping mechanism, especially since too much screen time can give you a headache, making it even more difficult to become productive. Do not run away from your worries; embrace them - put them into perspective - and you may find that they are not as urgent or as scary as you thought them to be. So the next time you decide to put off that paper by binge-watching a show on Netflix, slow down, and bring yourself to a stop. Close your eyes. Breathe. Release all of the pressure buildup in your head. Think about what you you are grateful for that day, what made you smile, which challenges served to be learning…

We hope you enjoy your fall break, ND!  Please stop by to see us if you're on campus. We will be open from 9am-4pm during the break and will resume usual operating hours on 10/23/17.…

Ways to Practice Self-Care During Finals. 

Finals week can certainly be challenging, which makes it that much more important to proactively nurture and maintain your personal well-being.  We recommend that students make a point to continue to practice their normal self-care routines, which can sometimes fall by the wayside during stressful times like finals week.  This includes things like taking the time to eat nutritious meals to nourish your mind and your body, giving yourself plenty of time to sleep (aiming for 7-9 hours per night for optimal performance), and continuing normal physical activity routines which can be excellent for stress relief.  Of course it's also important to practice other stress management techniques such as mindfulness and meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or even something as simple as intentionally taking a stroll around ND's beautiful campus.  Additionally, we are big advocates for taking intentional study breaks to engage in something that you love to do, even if it's only for a short period of time during your long study sessions!  …

Now seeking student applicants for McWell Assistant Role.

Are you interested in the work that McWell does? We are currently seeking applicants to fill our role of McWell Assistant.  This student will work alongside our staff to support the department’s initiatives, and will be paid based on the University’s 2017-2018 Hourly Student Pay Rates, anticipating an average of 6-8 hours per week. Some evening/weekend hours may apply, in which case the student's typical weekly work schedule would be adjusted.  For specific job requirements and desired qualifications, and to apply, please visit here…

Take a break from technology!

Boost your social well-being this week by participating in McWell's Turn Off, Tune In Challenge. Studies suggest that college students spend an average of 8-10 hours on cell phones per day, so we encourage you to 'turn off' that technology and 'tune in' to the social connections and bonds that you may be missing out on.  Take our Turn Off, Tune In Challenge Pledge and be entered to win prizes. Make your pledge at bit.ly/NOTECH…

Applications currently being accepted until 4/13/2017.

Looking to get involved with McWell?  Apply to be a Thrive Well-Being Leader and be an integral part of the McWell team.  By joining Thrive, you will encourage your fellow students to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle by managing and implementing some of McWell’s largest events like our Expo and Health Huts.  …

Celebrate International Day of Happiness.

McWell will be celebrating the International Day of Happiness on March 20. What is the International Day of Happiness, you ask? It’s a day to be happy, of course! Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness as a way to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of all people around the world.  Find positive messages around campus and on the McWell Twitter page on March 20.  We invite you to share your own positive messages on Twitter using #happyND.  Feel free to also jam out to our Happiness Playlist on Spotify…

Sleep for Success.

McWell is hosting a Sleep Awareness Week to highlight the importance of, and benefit to, prioritizing sleep from March 6-10.  Why March 6-10, you ask?  It's midterms week at ND and we know our students may be tempted to get late night study sessions in before their exams.  However, deprioritizing sleep is not the wisest strategy.  Aiming for 7-9 hours of sleep per night and adding in a 20 minute nap can help your creativity and will help you process memory, regulate emotion, and manage stress.  We encourage you to make time for sleep, especially in the "crunch time" of midterms!…

Explore your choices with McWell. 

The topic for Spring Break & Beyond this week is "Being Well" and we're emphasizing tips to reduce risk and keep yourself safer if you choose to drink.  Check out an image of the postcard below and stop by McWell this week to collect one!  We also offer great resources and services related to substance use risk reduction.  Here's a quick sampling: …

Be wise with your social media.

For our fifth week of Spring Break & Beyond, we chose to highlight Occupational Well-Being.  As you prepare for spring break travels, remember to be smart with your social media usage. Our colleagues at the ND Career Center …

"Good friends are like stars."

With this week of Spring Break & Beyond focusing on "Being a Friend" and social well-being, we thought we'd share some info about how to nurture your friendships.  Here are some helpful tips, presented by the Mayo Clinic…

Spring Break Health and Safety Tips

Whether you are staying on campus, going home, or going to a new destination, it's never too early to start thinking about spring break safety.  Make this year's spring break memorable by having fun and helping yourself, your friends, and others stay safe and healthy. The CDC has recommended a few key guidelines that we wanted to share.  Find more tips on this week's Spring Break & Beyond…

Using your dollars and "sense."

By now, you may have found our second collectible postcard for Spring Break & Beyond by visiting us or the Office of Student Enrichment on the second floor of LaFortune.  The featured topic of the postcard this week is Spending Wisely which connects us to our financial well-being piece of the Wellness Wheel pie.  Have you thought much about your financial well-being before?  If not, check out this article…

The Ultimate Burrito

Thinking about your next dining hall meal and wanting to add your own personal flair?  Consider trying this featured recipe utilizing ingredients that already exsist at NDH/SDH.  

While takeout restaurant burritos are delicious and made with natural and generally nutritious ingredients, their large size and generous portions of meat, cheese, and sour cream add high levels of sodium, fat, cholesterol, and carbs.  To make a lighter alternative right on campus, make sure to watch those particular toppings and focus on loading up with vegetables.  …

For some, the holidays can be a stressful time.  This article from Psychology Today suggests that much of our holiday stress stems from perfectionism.  We often will hear phrases along the lines of, "I have to find the best gift," (perfect presents), or "No need to bring anything, I've got it all covered" (perfect host).  This year, instead of aiming for perfection, we encourage you to be better than perfect…

Have you noticed yummy soaps in your main Hall bathrooms and in other places around campus?  McWell is sharing these suds with you in hopes that you will take a moment to remember how important handwashing is, in honor of National Handwashing Awareness Week.  Regular handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. It's quick, it's simple, and it can keep us all from getting sick. Handwashing is a win for everyone, except the germs.  …

Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day - a day to acknowledge our progress in HIV prevention and treatment around the world and renew our commitment to a future free of HIV.  To read more information from the CDC, click here. …

Courtesy of the JED Foundation. 

If you've found recent political campaigns and the election to be emotionally challenging and dramatic, here are a few tips for you to manage the stress. Click the Jed Foundation link for descriptive details: 

• Stick to your routine.
…

Spending time on campus over Fall Break?  McWell will be open, but will close earlier than usual.  Next week (October 17-21) we will only be open until 4:00pm Monday-Friday.  Stop by and visit us!…

October 10 is World Mental Health Day, as recognized by the World Health Organization, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.  We're celebrating with you by sharing 31 Tips to Boost Your Mental Health…

The McDonald Center for Student Well-Being was higlighted in The Observer on September 16.  Learn more about our scope of work by reading the article here!…

Be on the lookout for McWell and our Health Hut this fall on Mondays (when weather agrees) from 11:00-1:00.  You'll find us near the dining halls sharing information and hosting activities that pertain to the various dimensions of well-being!  We look forward to seeing you there.…