3 Quick Tips to Take Care of Your Mental Health

 Hi everyone! 

October is filled with lots of fun, including fall weather, pumpkin patches, and Halloween. But, October also has Mental Health Awareness week, which is more important than anything mentioned above. Up to 44% of college students experience depression and anxiety, which is why I wanted to write about mental health care in this week's post. 

Set aside time for self-care 

I know college can be stressful, and sometimes time feels scarce. But, you should always prioritize your self-care over other things. Self-care comes in a lot of different forms and is different for everyone; for some, it might be taking a long shower, and for others, it might be going to the gym. Whatever it is, you should try and set aside at least 30 minutes a day for anything that helps your mind settle. 

Don't take on too much 

Continuing on the same note as the last point - Balancing a lot of extracurricular activities like clubs and sports might be possible, but sometimes it's not the best alternative. As students, we typically have 3-4 classes, homework, a part-time job and multiple activities going on in our life to the point where we do not have enough time for ourselves, or even sleep. Try your best to find a balance, and if you can't, then you are definitely taking on too much. 

Use your resources

College campuses know that their students are prone to depression and anxiety, and they are also aware that college students are the ones who probably take the least care of their mental health. There are always campus resources to get help. PLU has multiple resources for us, including counseling sessions, a crisis hotline, and Lute Telehealth, where you can speak to professionals. Lute telehealth offers both on-demand counseling and scheduled therapy sessions - on-demand has unlimited sessions, and scheduled therapy offers 12 free sessions per semester which equal out to about one session per week. Find your resources from PLU's counseling, health & wellness services here. 

The PLU health center also offers happy lamps for students who feel signs of seasonal depression. A happy lamp mimics outdoor light, which is especially helpful here in Washington where it gets dark and gloomy around this time. For information on how to get a hold of a happy lamp, reach out to the PLU Health Center. 

That's all for today folks - take care of yourself! 

- Silje

See ya in Seattle!

Hey everyone - it's Rei! It is officially October and mid-term season! When you take a break from studying for upcoming tough tests, think of all the things you can look forward to when you're done. A small post-exam weekend trip to Seattle is one easy and accessible option for us as we are right in Parkland! Since I just went to Seattle last weekend, I would like to share what I did in Seattle and my own ways to explore Seattle for those of you who are planning to visit or may visit in the future. There are some previous blog posts about Seattle too, so please check them out! 

On the way to our first stop :)

Walking around the neighborhood

Unlike the area around PLU and Parkland, the streets in central Seattle are paved and many areas are very walkable. Especially on weekends, the streets are full of pedestrians, some walking with a cup of coffee in hand, others walking with their pets/children. Although some farmer's markets and event areas are pedestrian zones, most streets have cars passing quite close to the sidewalks. Also, there are many cars driving at crazy speeds in the city, so extra caution is required at crosswalks and other crossings. As long as you keep those things in mind, strolling in Seattle is relaxing, and easy on the wallet. The picture on the left is just a random area that we passed through on our way to the first destination, but the surrounding trees were so pleasant that I even felt like I could walk to anywhere. Some well-known nice neighborhoods, such as Ballard, Capitol Hill, Belltown, and so on, blend seamlessly together, while others have their own special vibe. It is definitely worth trying to get around one at a time! 

Exterior of the Starbucks Reserve

1st destination: Starbucks Reserve Roastery Seattle

After we walked around the neighborhood, we decided to have some fresh coffee and pastries at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery! Although the line was super long, it was worth it as we got a Hazelnut Bianco, Dark Mocha, and a Sandwich! As a side note, Starbucks Reserve is Starbuck's rarest and most exclusive selection of coffees. They develop a unique and special roast for each lot and artistically brew, age, extract, and blend their coffees to offer imaginative drinks. The roastery also had a bar area inside, where bartenders were making delicious-looking drinks, both coffee-like and cocktail-like. There are coffee shops with different vibes all over the United States, but this place is perfect for both: Starbucks lovers and those who just want to enjoy a cup of coffee. This store is also a place of art filled with features such as the interior, a huge coffee roasting machine, and limited-edition store goods. It is a multipurpose tourist destination to visit that can be transformed into both a cafe and a museum. 

I got a lipstick and a serum hehe

2nd destination: Glossier Seattle

After filling our bellies with coffee and a sandwich, we walked about 10 minutes to one of my favorite makeup and skincare stores! Glossier is a clean beauty brand that is popular among a wide range of generations. They used to sell their products as an online-only beauty brand, but in 2019 they opened a physical store in Seattle, Capitol Hill! As you can tell from the picture, the interior of the store features pale pink furniture which is a resemblance of the Glossier logo, which surrounds an object growing artificial mushrooms. Almost all of the store has a pale pink ambience, making it a fun place to just walk around and there are spots scattered throughout to take some cute pictures. The display of products was also very well arranged with all products easy to see, it made me buy a serum and lip color. The way you receive your products is also different from other makeup stores, as the staff hands them to you from a post box-like area in the corner of the store, along with a cute pink bag with your name written on it. It is a nice place to visit if you are looking for a cute space or clean, skin-friendly product!

After that, we went shopping at University Village (people also call this mall U-Village). This is another favorite place of mine where you can find a wide variety of apparel stores and delicious restaurants, but it would be quite long to explain, so I will come back to it next time! Instead, here are some photos below for your quick reference. I am only on my third-year in Washington and am not a Seattle trip professional, but Seattle is one of the cities I visit often. I hope this information has been of some help to you in your future trip to Seattle. Midterm week can be as hard as finals week, but it's time to grind and think about your post-exam plans! Go Lutes!!

Yum burger @Shake Shack

    

-Rei