It’s mid-February. The good news is that there are only as few as 4 to 6 weeks of grey and cold weather to left to endure. Some get through it by taking omega-3s and vitamin D, others by jetting off to an all inclusive resort and pretending there is nothing to do during reading week, while others spend the Family Day long weekend complaining about the weather with their closest relations.
There are other options. The Department of Economics’ own Adriano Macedo just completed a course in the Science of Well-Being and agreed to share some of his newly acquired knowledge.
“Sometimes, solutions are seemingly obvious such as engaging in regular exercise, getting quality sleep, devoting daily time to connect with oneself, preventing our minds from wandering, practicing kindness, being grateful, maintaining strong connections with people, and prioritizing experiences over buying things,” he explained.
Behavioural changes to support well-bring can be made in small, but important ways. One component of well-being, Macedo said, is using available time to savour the moment to appreciate its beauty and excellence.
For Macedo, his commute and lunch break presented opportunities to savour.
“I love to take pictures, so I decided to use this time to keep my mind in the present moment and to gain new perspectives of the places I pass by in my daily routine,” he explained. “When I take pictures, it helps me build new frameworks through details I did not notice before. Additionally, I added an exercise component to increase the number of steps I take daily. Using an app called Pacer, I increased the number from an average of 6200 steps to over 8000 steps per day.”
Experts agree that a little more walking, even when it’s cold outside, can benefit everyone, especially older adults, but younger folks should probably get in the habit.
If your flu vaccine or COVID-19 boosters are out-of-date, there is renewed protection available on campus. The Discovery Pharmacy (DRx) is UofT’s dedicated campus pharmacy for students, staff, and faculty, operating on the third floor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy (144 College Street). There are pharmacists available to not only provide vaccinations, but to fill prescriptions, consult on minor illnesses, provide Narcan training, and are generally available to answer any questions you might have. The pharmacy is open M-F from 10AM-4PM. They also have a dedicated e-newsletter to stay up to date on new services, promotions, and other information. Click to subscribe.
It’s Black History Month and the celebration of incredible accomplishments can make people feel like they must be academic superstars all the time. Fact is, just getting by if often just fine and, if you’re having trouble getting by, getting support is essential! This link goes to all the mental health services that are available. Make a same day appointment for referrals and assessments to help your find the right fit for your situation.
If you’re looking at mental health protection, here are a few ideas.
Everyone needs to learn to manage their inner critic and there’s a program for that. Student Life also offers BIPOC Wellness Dialogues: Building Community Through Conversation for Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and/or Persons of Colour (QTBIPOC) identifying students.
The University of Toronto is a big place where it is mysteriously difficult to meet people. Making Social Connections is a program designed to help students develop big city social skills. There are two in-person sessions for undergraduate and graduate students on March 5th and 6th that you can register for now through CLNX.
Return to the Department of Economics website.
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