Be Well @ KU

Well-being is an optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential. 

- Inter-association Definition of Well-being
 

Student Affairs values students’ well-being by prioritizing holistic health, well-being, and safety to help students achieve their goals. Your well-being and your academic success matter and they are interdependent and interconnected.

Well-being is not one size fits all, but rather doing what’s best for you; furthermore, well-being is holistic and looks at the whole person.

It is important to develop and continually strengthen positive behaviors in each dimension to achieve optimal well-being.

Here are some tips and tools to help you achieve your full well-being potential:

Be Connected

Find community, develop supportive relationships with others, and get involved with others at KU. There are several offices to help you get involved and find communities of students that share your interests– Sorority & Fraternity Life, Housing & Residential Life, KU Memorial Unions, and Student Involvement and Leadership Center – that offer a variety of opportunities to engage and connect with others.

• Join an organization or find a group and get involved in ways that support you and support others. Developing personal and professional relationships is important in networking with others that have similar morals, ethics, and values.
• Cultivate awareness, appreciation, and celebration of individual differences. It is important to unite and support one another to create positive and safe spaces for all.
• Develop supportive relationships built on honesty, trust, communication, appreciation, equality, etc. These relationships can help solve problems, boost self-confidence, and support independence.
• Learn skills for engaging with others who hold different identities or have different lived experiences by participating in programs from the Student Engagement Center.
• Plan to spend quality time with family and/or friends, groups, organizations, etc. Schedules get hectic, so plan time with others to do something you enjoy.

Be Fueled

Food contains nutrients that are essential to provide energy to keep the body alive and well, promote growth, repair the body, and support the immune system.

• Plan time to eat and eat the rainbow. KU Dining provides nutritious and delicious food to thousands of people each day in numerous locations.
• The KU Campus Cupboard is a food pantry to reduce food insecurity among the campus community.
• Ask a Nutritionist and Eat Well Live Well Nutrition Program are designed to provide nutrition education to promote a healthy lifestyle.
• Hydration is fuel too! Water is essential for our bodies, mind, and mood. 

Be Inspired

Approach life with a growth mindset, open to opportunities and new experiences. College is the perfect place to learn new things and explore.

• Take advantage of KU’s museums and performing arts opportunities.
• Enjoy the beauty of the environment around us: Potter’s Lake, Campanile, walking paths and trails.
• Each class, project, and assignment is an opportunity to expand your knowledge, learn a new skill, or exercise your critical thinking or creativity.

Be Proactive  

To be healthy and stay healthy, you must practice self-care for the needs of your body, whether this is related to exercise, nutrition, sleep, and/or preventive care.  Many resources and services are available through the Health Education Resource Office, Recreation Services, and Watkins Health Services.

• Practice preventive health care to prevent or avoid poor health, illness, or injury.  Schedule annual check-ups and screenings. Get vaccinated. Meet with a health educator. Ask questions. Actively participate in your health care.
• Make a commitment to exercise and movement. Aim for 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity movement or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. Pick activities you enjoy and incorporate variety.  Incorporate yoga or stretching in your day.
• Prioritize your sleep. College students need 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
• Seek opportunities to participate in programs and activities that center wellness and health information.

Be Reflective and Resilient

Learn to process emotions and cope effectively with life challenges. Counseling and Psychological Services provides therapy services, groups, workshops, and the Telus Student Support Program.

• Be aware of sensations, emotions, and behaviors you feel when stressed. Identifying stressors as they occur can help you to cope effectively.
• Practice mindfulness/meditation/relaxation techniques. There are many techniques to help so find the one that’s right for you.
• Talk with someone you trust about your feelings. Talking it out can help to process your emotions in a constructive way.
• Make time for activities that help you reduce your stress, whether it be listening to music, journaling, being in fresh air and sunshine, spending time with friends or family, watching a favorite show or movie, or hanging out with a dog during Pause for Pups.

Be Supported

“(We) Make Learning Possible” is our mission There are many services available to support a variety of needs. Take advantage of these services to meet your needs while here at KU.

• Hilltop Child Development Center is an inclusive community where children learn from passionate professionals in a nurturing and academically rich environment.
• Legal Services for Students provides legal services, advice, assistance, and education to students on a wide range of issues.
• Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center promotes social change and the elimination of sexual violence through prevention education, inclusive programming, and campus-wide collaboration.
• Student Conduct and Community Standards fosters a holistic learning environment through education focused on community membership and standards.
• Care Services supports students affected by sexual violence, relationship or dating violence, or stalking.
• Student Support and Case Management  empowers all students to address and overcome barriers to achieve their educational and personal goals.

Remember, one size does not fit all for well-being so find what works best for you. Student Affairs has many more programs and resources to help you achieve your optimal well-being.