With the end of the fall semester a few short weeks away, it’s no wonder many students are feverishly working on final projects, cramming for exams, and firming up winter travel plans. Stopping to take a deep breath can sometimes seem like a luxury.
The staff at Student Health and Counseling Services (SHACS) know students who take care of themselves emerge from this busy time healthier and happier, so they partnered with several groups on campus for Grinnell College Self-Care Week.
Activities included chair massages, a card-making party, and an indoor petting zoo, as well as free HIV testing, techniques for dealing with stress, and strategies for efficiently managing your time.
The week’s activities, says Stephanie Brown, director of SHACS, are designed to “promote resilience and wellness behaviors among Grinnellians.”
Co-sponsored by:
Academic Advising, Active Minds, the Division of Student Affairs, Athletics, the Stonewall Resource Center (SRC), Student Health and Counseling Services, Live Well Grinnell, and the Hall Wellness Coordinators.
Schedule of Events
— November 29 - December 3
| Monday November 29 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Information Table | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Rosenfield Center Lobby | Sponsored by Active Minds & SHACS |
| Stop by to pick up an “I am a Resilient Grinnellian” button, get information about the week’s activities as well as useful info about wellness, resilience & stress management. | ||
| Free HIV Testing | By appt. at SHACS | Sponsored by the SRC & SHACS |
| The first 25 people who call SHACS (x3230) to schedule an appointment between 11/29-12/2 will receive a free HIV test. Free testing will be offered Monday through Thursday only. | ||
| Tuesday November 30 | ||
| Hot Drinks, Stress Ball, & Card-Making Party | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Rosenfield Center 101 | Sponsored by Hall Wellness Coordinators |
| Get warm, express your creativity and de-stress with the Hall Wellness Coordinators. Hot beverages and snacks will be served. Bring your spare change to donate to MICA to help provide happy holidays for local families. | ||
| Wednesday December 1 | ||
| Information Table | 11-1 in Rosenfield Center Lobby | Sponsored by the SRC |
| In honor of World AIDS day, you are invited to “take action to tackle HIV prejudice and to protect yourself and others from HIV transmission”. Stop by to learn the facts about HIV/AIDS and how you can “ACT AWARE”. | ||
| Stretching for Strength | 12-12:30 in Rosenfield Center 101 | Sponsored by Athletics |
| Learn to physically strengthen and invigorate your body through the art of simple stretching with our own Grinnell College Volleyball Coach, Jackie Hutchison. | ||
| HIV/AIDS Panel Discussion | 4:15 pm in Rosenfield Center 209 | Sponsored by SRC |
| This discussion will examine the impact this epidemic is having on college students, as well as residents of our county and state. | ||
| Perspectives on Depression | 8 – 9 p.m. ARH 102 | Sponsored by Active Minds |
| Did you know that over 1 in 4 Grinnell students live with depression? Learn about depression, a prevalent yet often un-discussed mental health disorder, from a variety of perspectives. The panel will feature four Grinnell students, a resident psychologist from SHACS, and a physician's assistant from PCMHC. There will be a short Q&A session following the panel, and refreshments will be served. | ||
| Thursday December 2 | ||
| Chair Massages | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Smith Gallery in the Rosenfield Center | Sponsored by SHACS |
| Trained massage therapists from Postels Community Health Park of Grinnell Regional Medical Center will provide Grinnell students with 7-minute chair massages designed to soothe the body and renew the spirit. Massages will be provided two at a time on a first come first served basis. | ||
| Preparing for Finals | 3 p.m. in Rosenfield Center 209 | Sponsored by Academic Advising |
| Final Exam week at Grinnell can be a difficult combination of exams and long papers due simultaneously. Find out from upper-class students what to expect from a finals’ week at Grinnell. Hear strategies for studying for tests, for staying organized and efficient with your time, and for managing your week (and the week before!). | ||
| Friday December 3 | ||
| Indoor Petting Zoo | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Lazier Lounge | Sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs |
| All of us need to take some time out every day for play. So come on over and play with our furry friends from the Quail Valley Farms Interactive Petting Zoo. There will be bunnies, kitties, dogs, sheep and goats for your petting pleasure! | ||
