The Cornell Quaranzine

Supporting Your Well-being - Fall 2020

10/07/2020

Dear Community,


October... ikr? With the semester in full swing it's time to consider the balance between your workload and activities that replenish your physical, mental and emotional energy. Having fun, getting enough sleep, and taking purposeful breaks are all important components to maintaining your health and well-being. Consider how much time you spend on different activities each day. Notice any habit or pattern that isn't really serving you anymore and replace it with something that you enjoy and/or that allows you to re-charge yourself when multiple deadlines and responsibilities pull your life out of balance. Lots of tips to follow!


Wishing you wellness,

The Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell Health


* If you would like to continue receiving issues of the newsletter each week, follow this link!

But First: A Self Check-in

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Do you find yourself feeling swept up by the constant headlines related to public health guidelines, academic deadlines, and the national political landscape?


It seems like at least every hour, one trending topic is traded in for the next. We update our devices to the latest iOS and refresh our feeds without fail. But how often do we pause to refresh our own selves, reimagine our habits, and establish balance in our daily routines?


It’s easy in such a fast paced world to get caught up with trying to keep up, and lose sight of the impact (either negative or positive) certain habits can have on our well-being. Habits such as these can either make or break your sense of balance:


  • Morning & nighttime routines

  • Negative self-talk

  • Not asking for help

  • Drinking enough water

  • Taking a break from social media

  • Trying to pull an all-nighter

  • Procrastination
  • Exercise
  • Proper nutrition

Mr. Miyagi teaches his pupil, Daniel, the importance of having balance- not just in karate, but in life. From "The Karate Kid"

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How you choose to begin and end your day is important. Each morning brings the gift of a clean slate. How can you reimagine ways to start and end your day that invite balance into your routine?

Fall = Apples!

In a year when we cannot gather in large groups, we can still enjoy the apple harvest season safely and in physically distant ways. Looking for some great apple picking in the area? Find a list of local u-pick apple farms here: http://ccetompkins.org/agriculture/buy-local/u-pick-apple-farms Grab your mask, some hand sanitizer and a few friends to head out for an afternoon away from your academic demands. You'll return to your work refreshed and ready to go!

Photo: Lindsay France

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NEED A SHORT BREAK?

10-Minute Play Festival: Fabrication

Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 7:30pm

Virtual Event

Join us for the 2020 10-Minute Play Festival, the 8th annual performance of short student-written plays in the Department of Performing & Media Arts. This year’s festival theme is Fabrication, featuring five original works. We hope you join us for this digital event! Reserve your free ticket at schwartztickets.com.
It is essential that we not only apply balance to our own life, but also in regards to the way that we treat the environment. Enjoy this video of Jay Potter going over all kinds of different ways that contribute to making the Botanic Gardens an oasis of sustainability and ecological health. Check out some of the lesser known features of the gardens including the Welcome Center's Green Roof or the Ag Quad Retention Basins!
Sustainable Landscapes Trail

BRIGHT SPOT

We're thrilled to see professors and students finding ways to reimagine the typical classroom setting!

"Toodling through the Cornell Engineering quad I usually find Dr. Hadas Ritz and her ENGRD2020 statics class deep in discussion on the rolling #covid19-proof whiteboard. I should teach outside! @CornellEng"


- From Professor Brian J. Kirby, Cornell Engineering
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Resources for Connecting

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Connecting for Emotional Support: Behavioral Health Consultation

Behavioral health is one component of addressing a student’s mental and emotional health care. Much like a visit with a medical professional, behavioral health targets specific goals and concerns in the “here and now,” utilizing concrete strategies to promote change toward a student’s desired outcome.

Behavioral health consultants (BHCs) are licensed mental health clinicians — often psychologists and social workers — qualified to conduct brief behavioral interventions on a wide range of issues.


If you'd like to connect with a Behavioral health consultant, talk with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) or another member of your primary care team about your interest in BHC service options.

Connecting for Academic Support: The Learning Strategies Center

The Learning Strategies Center (LSC) wants to help you break the procrastination cycle!


People who procrastinate rarely do nothing instead of the task at hand. Procrastinators often find themselves cleaning their room, feeding the cat, calling their aunt, going down a very interesting but pointless YouTube rabbit hole—they’re not doing nothing, but they’re not doing the thing they want and need to be doing.

The first step in breaking your procrastination cycle is to figure out why you’re not doing whatever it is you really should be doing. Can you relate to any of the following statements?


I procrastinate because I’m overwhelmed

I procrastinate because I’m frustrated

I procrastinate because of perfectionism

I procrastinate because of inertia

I procrastinate because I’m not that motivated

I procrastinate because of self-doubt

I procrastinate because of anger

I procrastinate because I truly genuinely do not have time


If so, visit http://lsc.cornell.edu/break-the-cycle-of-procrastination/ for their strategies in breaking the cycle!

Social Connecting: Check out these upcoming activities!

Night Sky Cruise

  • Fri Oct 9, 9PM-10:30PM
  • The late evening is a beautiful time to be on the lake. The stars and moon shine brightly above and are reflected in the lake's surface. Come enjoy the wide, open skies for yourself! $35 fee for students. Visit https://www.discovercayugalake.org


Finger Lakes Cider Week (hybrid in-person and virtual)

Quick COVID-19 Updates

Here's a reminder about why wearing masks, especially in indoor spaces, is important!

SARS-CoV-2 virus is spread through respiration. Aerosol particles containing the virus remain indoors for long periods of time. Masks CAN prevent you from inhaling and exhaling the virus. Protect yourself and those around you while you're in indoor spaces, whether hanging out or studying indoors with others, wear your mask!

Talk/Text Resources

If you find yourself struggling or in need of someone to talk to, know that you are not alone.

The following resources are here to support you:


Cornell Resources

  • Cornell Health phone consultation (24/7): 607-255-5155

  • EARS peer counselors phone consultation 3-11pm M-F; 7-11pm S/S: 607-255-3277

Ithaca Resources (24/7)

National Talk-Lines (24/7)

  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

  • Trevor Project hotline (LGBTQ+): 866-488-7386

  • LGBT+ National Hotline: 888-843-4564

  • TransLifeline: 877-565-8860

National Text/Chat Services

  • National Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741

  • Steve Fund crisis text line: Text STEVE to 741741 (connects you to a counselor of color)

  • Trevor Project text line (LGBTQ+): Text START to 678678

National Suicide Prevention "Lifeline CHAT" service: suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat

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