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

I bear great news: there’s finally a way to take the “guilt” out of “guilty pleasure!” How, you might ask? For every “cheat food” you consume at the dining hall, supplement it with a nutritious side item. I highly recommend eating your side items first and slowly as well; they crush any temptations you have to go grab more of your “cheat food” by pre-filling your stomach with food that is both filling and easier to metabolize. Think of the side item consumption as “conditioning” your body before it takes on the main event! Is your mind absolutely set on the pizza in the dining hall tonight? No problem! If you want one slice of pizza, supplement it with a small side salad; if you feel drawn towards two or more slices of pizza, pick up a piece of fruit to eat alongside your salad. I also recommend investing in a large, reusable water bottle that you can refill regularly and carry with you from class to class. Not only does this encourage consistent hydration; with (free) water constantly in hand, you often feel less inclined to purchase soft drinks or juices when you pass by campus shops and restaurants. Before you know it, pairing your less healthy foods with more healthy ones will transition from an obligation into an enjoyable habit.
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I stroll into South Dining Hall at 7:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, and my eyes involuntarily dart towards the mashed potatoes. They have gravy today. I confidently walk past the stir fry, the salad bar, and baskets of fresh fruit towards my starch-laden destiny. As I inhale spoonful after spoonful of potato, I think to myself that they taste even better than they did yesterday. And on Monday. And on Sunday……

Many people enter college expecting to make a best friend out of their roommate. Sometimes this happens; other times, the priority becomes keeping the peace (if) and when possible. Most students fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. No matter where you currently stand in your relationship with your roommate, never forget that the needs of both of you should be equally considered. This can only be accomplished through meaningful communication. Don’t harbor hard feelings for your roommate over the course of the semester, only for all your grudges to inconveniently surface and pour over during finals week. If you two have different standards of cleanliness, set boundaries, and make compromises. If you operate on different sleep schedules, assign separate study spaces to the early bird and the night owl. Adequate sleep is integral to your overall wellbeing, so don’t forfeit any of it out of fear of confrontation. If you are not okay with who circulates in and out of your room during the day, speak your mind. It is your room just as much as it is your roommate’s, so any physical or mental stimuli that challenge your comfort are worth addressing. Your room is your everyday space, so how do you make the best of sharing 50% of it with someone else (someone who may even be a stranger)? Take a look at this article…

It is not uncommon for students to leave Activities Night adorned with free notebooks, water bottles, and hard candy – ready to take on the world with their newly-packed extracurricular schedules.

One week later, dozens of email lists about orientation meetings and trainings saturate your inbox. “Why did I sign up for that?” you ask yourself. Before you have even finalized your class schedule, you find yourself attending multiple events, sessions, and workshops each day, rendering yourself exhausted and barely motivated to focus on your primary obligation: homework. “This is too much,” you grumble after the third week of school. Already, the wear and tear of college life has aged you.…

Do you ever return to your dorm after a long day, longing for the comfort of your bedroom back home? Ever enter the dining hall praying that your grandma’s homemade soup somehow made the menu that evening? Have you ever desperately needed the advice of your high school best friend, but you knew that a Skype conversation would not nearly parallel the satisfaction you have from seeing them in person? If you responded “yes” to any of these questions, know that you are not alone. We have all been there, so don’t feel like you should repress your homesickness. Not only is communicating your feelings healthy – it is also a great starting point for receiving the support you need. There are plenty of resources around you that can guide you in the process of feeling happy and secure on campus. Every student has a coping mechanism when faced with a new and overwhelming environment, and this article…