As an Emory student, your schedule is full of commitments that often make it tough to squeeze in other important things in your life. At the same time, you know that taking care of yourself and every element of your well-being is a priority so you can continue to meet those demands and be there for others.
“That’s pretty much where I was after starting grad school,” says Brynna Garden, a student at Rollins School of Public Health. In addition to her heavy course load, Garden works as a research assistant and serves as co-president of Emory’s Reproductive Health Association.
“I was severely ignoring my self-care from not getting enough sleep to not eating well and not making it to the gym as often as I would like. I knew that, if nothing changed, it would catch up with me sooner or later and my health would suffer,” she explains.
Garden decided to make a change. She signed up for the Wellbeing Challenge, a pilot project offered by Campus Life’s Center for Student Wellbeing, Emory’s hub for holistic health promotion, prevention and peer engagement for students.
As Wellbeing Challenge participants, undergraduate, graduate and professional students receive daily reminders to nurture the basic self-care habits that will serve them well on the path to graduation and the future they are planning. Students can receive the messages via any device that accepts push notifications, texts or email messages.
One monthly well-being focus
During one week of the month, the challenge speaks to a specific element of well-being: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, physical, professional, relational and spiritual. Students participating in the program receive a different challenge prompt for each day.
The Wellbeing Challenge pilot project was launched in February with a focus on the physical element. This week, it’s relational well-being. The message to participants for the week is: “Strong relationships boost long-term health and happiness! Get ready to take 5 actions in 5 days to boost your relational well-being!”
On the first day of the relational well-being challenge, participants are encouraged to express gratitude: “Call, text or send a note to tell someone you're grateful for them.”
The second day focuses on offering support and invites participants to “Have an uninterrupted convo with someone — no distractions, just connection.” And so on throughout the week.
“I signed up for the Wellbeing Challenge to have a daily reminder to put myself and my self-care first,” says Garden, who completed the first week challenge and is now participating in the second week.
“I loved the first week of the Wellbeing Challenge and its focus on physical well-being,” she explains. “It helped me think about the ways I operate, specifically my sleeping habits, and it reminded me that one good way to take care of my physical well-being is simply taking a 15-minute walk.”
Signing up for the Wellbeing Challenge takes only a few minutes, according to Brandi Benton, director of health education for the Center for Student Wellbeing.
“The Wellbeing Challenge is a great way for students to cultivate well-being practices in a holistic manner,” says Benton. “It is only one of the many services that Emory offers to encourage students to embrace health and well-being practices as foundational to their flourishing at Emory and throughout life.”
Sign up for the Wellbeing Challenge. With three weeks left in the pilot program, there’s still time to start enhancing your self-care. And, while you are at it, learn more about other services offered by the Center for Student Wellbeing.