Promoting Health and Wellness for Grantham University Students

By Laura Barker April 23, 2020

Succeeding in college requires more than just completing classes and getting good grades. We hear a lot about the idea of “self-care,” and the truth is that it’s essential to take care of yourself outside of class in order to do well in school.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle—physically, mentally and socially—is crucial to your success, both in school and life in general.

Physical health

When it comes to health and wellness, most of us think about our physical well-being first. If you’re looking to stay fit without having to go to the gym, try taking a quick glance at YouTube or your mobile device’s app store. You’ll find tons of videos, routines, trackers and demos to help you stay in shape—often for free or for a nominal fee.

Money isn’t the only cost of maintaining your physical health, however. As a student, it may feel impossible to find the time to get in a full yoga class or a five-mile run. But remember that fitness doesn’t always require a lot of time, and taking even ten minutes for a walk around the block between homework assignments can do wonders for your health.

Mental health

No matter how good your physical health may be, do not neglect the mind. Prioritizing your mental health is important not just for your stress levels today, but for your long-term well-being. As with physical fitness, you don’t have to commit a lot of time to your mental health in order to see the benefits. A few minutes of meditation (or just sitting quietly) every day has been shown to help reduce stress, and long-term practice could be a helpful tool in managing anything from high blood pressure to irritable bowel syndrome.

Therapy may be another important tool for supporting your mental health. Counseling is often used to help solve or alleviate life challenges, overcome anxiety, and talk through emotions and stress. Cost (or perceived cost) of therapy has historically been a hurdle for many, but some health insurance plans and many employee assistance programs (EAPs) offer low- or no-cost therapy services.

Plus, there’s an app for that! Search your mobile device’s library and you’ll find apps (some free, some paid) to help you with meditation practice, addiction support, mood improvement, anxiety reduction and more.

Social health

Loneliness, especially right now, is a big problem for many. Having a strong social network and making time for relationships is as important to our general well-being as getting enough sleep at night or eating fruits and veggies. Online communication tools are a great way to connect with others.

Face-to-face meetings with friends and family via Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime or phone calls can help you maintain your social health (and offer a nice break in between work and study). And in this time of social distancing, try to make eye contact, share a smile or wave at a neighbor. Even quick interactions like these can help with feelings of loneliness or isolation.

Veterans’ health

As a school with a core population of military students, Grantham University offers targeted support for veteran students. We know that veterans often face unique challenges when returning to school and transitioning back into civilian life, which is why we have developed programs specifically for them. Our Veteran Support Team offers services like career planning, ADA accommodations, mentorship, help maximizing military benefits, transfer credits and more for both military students and their families.

In addition, Grantham has partnered with the Veterans Voices Writing Project, which has been helping veterans and service members share their stories since 1946 in the wake of World War II. The Grantham University Veterans' Voices Writing Group aims to support veteran students’ personal growth and healing by offering an opportunity to share their experiences through written expression within a community of fellow military veteran students.

Health and wellness are about much more than eating an apple a day. At Grantham, we want our students to develop the skills and habits they need to keep them happy and healthy—while they’re in school and beyond.