Wellness Wednesday Environmental Wellness Strategies to Enhance Your

Wellness Wednesday Environmental Wellness

Strategies to Enhance Your Environmental Wellness • Surround yourself by supportive family, friends and resources • Participating in your community • Be cautious about your personal security when drinking and out with friends • Caring for personal belongings and maintaining comfortable working and living spaces • Live an eco-friendly lifestyle on a daily basis • Eat locally produced food Source: http: //www. sfu. ca/students/health/resources/wellness/enviro nmental. html

Support System • Form study groups with peers and support each other with course work and assignments • Make an attempt to meet your professors in office hours. Connect with other resources on campus – advisors, Student Success Center, KEYS office, Student Activities, Registration, Financial Aid • Spend time with friends and family

• Volunteer Committed to Community • Donate Blood • Be a mentor • Shop local • Attend Community Meetings • Organize a clean up

Personal Security • Be aware of who is around you and leave with the same people you came with • Buy your own drinks and keep your drink in sight at all times • Lock the door to your apartment/home when you are alone, asleep, or not home • Walk facing traffic • Emergency Blue Light phones

Online Dating/Dating App Safety Tips • Use a different photo than • When meeting in person: your social media picture • Video chat before you meet up in person. • Avoid connecting with • Tell a friend where you’re suspicious profiles going • Check out your potential date • Meet in a public place on social media • Don’t rely on your date for transportation • Block and report suspicious • Stick to what your most users comfortable with • Wait to share Personal • Enlist the help of a bartender or waiter information • Trust your instincts • Don’t respond to request for financial help Source: https: //www. rainn. org/articles/online-dating-anddating-app-safety-tips

Personal Belonging and Space • Tips to take care of your personal belongings • Maintenance • Inventory • Cleaning • 5 Minute Tidy

• Tips to Organize your Personal Space • Take everything out of the space • Purge • Put like items together • Corral like items (baskets) • Label • Put things back • Train yourself to keep putting things back where they go • Adapt as needed

Eco-friendly Lifestyle • Walk or ride your bike whenever possible • Recycle and reduce waste • Conserve energy by using energy efficient light bulbs and appliances • Print less. Try reading online or sharing reading materials with a classmate. • Save water. Turn off water when brushing your teeth or scrubbing dishes. • Use reusable coffee cup, water bottle or lunch container • Unplug and turn off electronics • Turn down the heat at home, school, and work • Use reusable bags or paper bags when shopping • Use toxic free cleaning materials and personal care products

Eat Local Food • Visit local farmers markets • Ebensburg Farmer’s Market • Johnstown Farmer’s Market (Fridays beginning in June) • Somerset County Farmer’s Market (Saturdays – Opening day 5/22/21) • Altoona Station Farmers Market • CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) • Blue Goose Farm • Local Farms • Benshoff Farms of New Germany • Leighty’s Farm Market

Bonus Tips: • Stay safe during hot weather • Early morning or evening activities • Wear protective clothing • Use sunscreen and sunglasses • Stay in the shade • Drink plenty of water • Guard against cold weather • Dress in layers • Cover up with blankets • Wear a jacket with waterproof/windproof layers • Wear socks, slippers or a cap at home • Set your heat to 68° - close off rooms you are not using

More to consider… • Reduce your Allergies • Avoid going outdoors when you are having allergies • Wash your hair and clothing when you come inside • Keep humidity levels low in the home • Avoid upholstered furniture and carpets. • Wash your bedding once a week • Vacuum floors weekly • Test for Toxic Gasses • Test your home for Radon • Stop smoking

Why do we even care about the Environment? • Reduces Stress • Boosts mood • Fights depression and anxiety • Puts your Mind at ease • Helps you exercise

What you can do outdoors? Go for a walk

What you can do outdoors? Take a bike ride along a trail

What you can do outdoors? Go camping

What you can do outdoors? Garden

What you can do outdoors? Picnic in the park

What you can do outdoors? Swim

What you can do outdoors? Birdwatching

What you can do outdoors? Meditation/Yoga

What you can do outdoors? Hiking

What you can do outdoors? Workout