Healthy bowel movements

Vaccines are more important now than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are also subject to misinformation campaigns and misunderstandings. In order to reach herd immunity in a number of deadly and debilitating diseases, including COVID-19, vaccine acceptance needs to be high. This piece provides an overview of vaccine safety and history, as well as safety information on the COVID-19 vaccines.

 

Back-to-school money-saving tips

The cost of higher education is going up, which places an increased amount of financial pressure on students to keep their expenses at a reasonable level and avoid incurring additional debt. This article offers tips for current students on how they can save in certain categories, such as books and supplies, housing, and food costs, to hit their budgets while still enjoying the perks of student life.

Mantra meditation

This meditation will guide students in the use of mantras as a tool to quiet and focus the mind using a sound, word, or phrase. The meditation will begin by asking participants to reflect on the qualities they want to grow (calm, ease, strength, etc.) and what they want to release (stress, tension, worry, etc.). Then, the participant will attach those words to the inhale and exhale. Reciting these words aloud creates the mantra, which encourages anxiety and stress reduction, and improves focus, concentration, and self-awareness.

 

Growing houseplants to improve mental and physical well-being

The benefits of spending time in nature for our mental and physical health are well documented in scientific literature. But what about the benefits of having plants inside the home? This burgeoning area of research suggests that houseplants may contribute to lower stress levels, improved mental health, and improved air quality. This piece provides a brief overview of the physical and mental health benefits of having houseplants, along with tutorials on how to care for a few easy-to-grow varieties.

How to cope with unrequited love

Having a crush can be an exciting experience, especially when the other person feels the same way. But this isn’t always the case. Sometimes people who develop unrequited romantic feelings for their friends are placed in the “friend zone,” and this can make continuing the friendship a challenge. This article provides tips on how to navigate being put in the friend zone, including learning how to accept and respect the other person’s decision, and finding healthy ways to cope with feelings of rejection. It also provides advice on how to remain friends (when possible), or how to come to terms with the other person’s need for space and establish healthy boundaries if salvaging the friendship is not possible.

Systemic racism

There are countless examples of systemic and institutionalized racism in the US, and the negative impact for people of color is clear: Health inequities, limited financial growth opportunities, higher incarceration rates, poorer access to education, and more. This piece explains systemic racism with examples and input from experts. Ideas for helping fight against racist laws, practices, and policies are discussed.

Meal prep plan

Between classes, work, clubs, and sports, when is there time to prepare nourishing meals? Many students say they don’t feel like they have enough time to cook each day, let alone eat. Meal prepping—the act of setting aside a chunk of time to prepare meals or staples to eat throughout the week—can help save students time and money in the long run, as they don’t have to worry about cooking every day or relying on overpriced takeout options. Meal prepping also ensures that students are eating more nutritious foods rather than convenience foods that tend to be highly processed. This article covers the basics of meal prepping and offers a step-by-step meal plan for students.

Trauma-informed care

How one wants to proceed after surviving a traumatic event like sexual assault or abuse can vary widely from person to person. It can be beneficial for survivors to seek care from providers who specialize in trauma. Trauma-informed care—or “survivor-centered care”—is a therapeutic approach that recognizes that sexual trauma is something that has happened to a person, rather than the sexual trauma defining who they are as a person. In this article, readers will learn what trauma-informed care is, what its benefits are, and how to find therapists who practice trauma-informed therapy.

 

How to quit vaping

As of spring 2021, 33 percent of college students surveyed in the National College Health Assessment said they had used some kind of tobacco or nicotine delivery product in their lifetime, with 12 percent saying they had used vapes, jules, or e-cigarettes in the last three months. Vaping has proven health concerns, including e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Students who are ready to quit may need guidance on how to do so. This piece examines a possible quit strategy for any unhealthy habit using the three Rs—reminder, routine, and reward—to help students understand what triggers their vaping use, their readiness to change, and what other rewards might satisfy their cravings.

 

Study tips infographic

Everyone learns differently. Effective study strategies depend both on the topic at hand as well as the individual—and often different tactics are needed for different materials and courses. This infographic gives students an easy-to-follow guide covering different study strategies, which they can print out and keep near their desk when prepping for tests and exams.

 

How to read a food label

This article breaks down the different sections included on food labels (i.e., “Nutrition Facts” listed on packaged/processed foods). Students will learn how to understand each of the sections of a food label (e.g., ingredients, carbohydrates, protein), what each nutrient or additive provides for the body, and the ways in which food labels can be misleading (e.g., “hiding” sugar in an ingredient list by using a pseudonym like “fructose”, why serving sizes are not one-size-fits-all).

Eco-friendly gift list

Gift giving can be a stressful process. Everyone wants to find something that suits the recipient’s unique tastes, and also matches with our personal morals and values. Not all products are created equal—why not give something that is not only thoughtful but also helps protect the environment? This environmentally conscious gift list provides low-cost, earth-friendly holiday gift ideas for students so that they can surprise their friends and family with something unique.

 

Orthorexia

Orthorexia is an eating disorder that involves a fixation on or obsession with eating “healthy” foods. It includes behaviors such as eliminating specific food groups from one’s diet or eating only foods that have been deemed “healthy” or “safe.” “Healthy” may also be defined in a seemingly arbitrary or individualistic way, especially when influenced by spaces like the #healthyeating communities on Instagram and TikTok. This article explores the growing body of evidence linking social media use and orthorexia and provides tips on how to reframe thoughts and behaviors around food, with a focus on intuitive eating.

 

Tips to improve memory

Memory is not only crucial for students to excel at school—it’s what makes us who we are. Unfortunately, cognitive impairment is on the rise. An estimated 5.1 million Americans aged 65 years or older may currently have Alzheimer’s disease, and this number could rise to 13.2 million by 2050, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, prevention is key. Along with practical tips to help students hone their memory for succeeding academically, this article will provide strategies for what young people can do now to protect their brain and avoid cognitive impairment later in life.