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The Final Countdown…for real, this time

Well, we’ve made it. The end of another academic year, the last for a lucky few of you. Funny how time flies when you’re perpetually stressed and at least 23% miserable at all times.

Looking back on this school year, reading the quality of the papers I’m now handing in, enjoying all the social networks I’ve created, reflecting on all the knowledge I’ve gained about myself….I���d say this year has been one of a lot of personal growth for me, in all aspects of my well-being. Mentally, I’ve learned so much more about my world and love that I am capable of having a somewhat intellectual conversation with people about world issues, and now have the tools to think critically about what I’m being taught. I am also starting to develop – slowly but surely – some better study habits and time management techniques. I feel the challenges of school have allowed me to prove to myself that I can handle a lot of emotional and physical stress by just keeping calm and taking one thing at a time. I love the overall mental stimulation that my classes and the university community as a whole have provided for me, and cannot wait to see where my degree takes me as my classes and interactions become more specialized.

I find that these are the things that I’m appreciating the most about my university education, rather than learning about what Marx thought about this or that (that dude had an opinion about every single this AND that) or what prompted the Serbians to invade Kosovo. It’s the broader life lessons, the growing experiences, and the personal challenges that contribute to me truly becoming educated and gaining skills that will help me forge my career. Writing this blog has played a huge part of this personal growth for me, by giving me an outlet where I can articulate my thoughts and come to some important realizations. And if I’ve made a few people smile along the way, well, that’s just the cherry on top.

A word about Campus Rec and their Healthy U initiative: none of the personal benefits I just described are worth it if we do not provide a healthy body for these talents to work through. This includes physical but also mental, social, and emotional aspects. Writing this blog has made me realize how important it is to take care of our body – the only one we get – so that we don’t limit our potential in any way. The Healthy U program is such an amazing resource for students who need some direction, motivation, or strategies for improving their fitness routines, and I’m being completely genuine when I say that it is worth it to invest some of your time in the website. The rewards it offers are amazingly tangible and satisfying, and the people behind it want nothing more than to help you achieve your goals (they’re also very nice and very pretty). So go check it out; it was made for you and provided by our university for your sake. Another important thing I’ve learned: accept help where you can get it!

*Meow*

…Did anyone else hear a noise, it sounded like a cat or something.

*Meow*

Okay what the heck, I swear there’s a cat on this blog.

*MEOW*

Ooooooh of course, it’s our friendly neighbourhood cat, Chester the Cat! No I didn’t forget about you, how could I. Chester would like to say thanks to everyone who took the time to read the blog this year and bask in his feline glory. He litter-ally cannot believe how big his fan base has gotten, and hopes that maybe someday pictures of cats on the internet can become an international sensation (Should I tell him or…..?).

No, but seriously, thanks to everyone who took the time to read this silly thing every once in a while, there is nothing more satisfying for a writer than having a receptive audience.  I know what I had to say wasn’t always wise or accurate or even remotely relevant to anything, but I sure had fun with it and I hope you guys did too.

Good luck with exams everyone; keep your eye on prize, don’t each too much junk food, go for a walk every once in a while and just keep your chin up. To be at university is an amazing opportunity…make the most of it!

-Jess           

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Happy April Fool’s!

Happy 1st of April!

I am so excited that there are only 4 more days of classes. How does your exam schedule look? Are they spaced out, or close together?  I hope that the Healthy U blog has been able to help you get through this school year with less stress, healthier habits, and happier memories.

What are your plans for Easter? I can’t believe how fast it has come up! My sister is going to China tomorrow so I believe my family is going to stay at my place. I will admit that I am a little bit of a neat freak, so when my family stays over, I feel that I am constantly cleaning. But I love Easter. Well, I love the colours that come out everywhere during Easter. In your family do you have kids where you still have to talk about the Easter Bunny? Each year my family still has a little Easter egg hunt, outside if possible, because we still have little kids to entertain. However, sometimes the adults enjoy the hunt just as much! The years that we have the hunt outside, we always forget where we hid all of the eggs, and in the following spring, we always happen to find some.  

Since this school year is coming to an end, unfortunately this is my last blog. I have enjoyed writing each week and I hope that I have been able to help you at some point in time. Whether it was from laughing at my jokes and pictures, being reminded of happy memories, or maybe some of my suggestions have helped you. To be honest, I believe that I have helped myself because I had to be accountable for what I was suggesting to do. I found that I was more relaxed, I ate healthier, and I stayed on top of my schoolwork. I hope that you were able to gain some benefits from reading the blogs. If you wrote out a bucket list this semester, you should try to make the time complete some of the tasks. That way, you can write a new one next year!

I hope you have a great summer and good luck with your finals!!!

Remember to breathe, and stay organized. With hard work, you can make your dreams come true!

-Anna

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Getting what You Want out of Summer

It’s 15 degrees out today. The sun is shining, and I’m sitting on my latticework swing drinking a coffee. I’m trying to convince the sun to bestow me with some freckles, a favorite feature of mine. What could be better? The sad thing is, I’m writing the post where I have to say goodbye. I can honestly say that writing for Healthy U has been one of the best experiences I pushed myself to commit to. It wasn’t a huge part of my life, or a big time commitment, but it became part of a nice routine. When I think of choices I’ve made, and enjoyable moments from this year, being a part of Healthy U and an extension of Campus Rec provoked many of them!

The topics we covered encouraged me to do day-to-day things that would benefit my health, as I wrote to everyone else who reads the blog. Sometimes, knowing I had a blog post to write really motivated me to make that extra effort. I found myself cooking something healthy, and squeezing some yoga into my routine. More recently, one of our topics was to adventure in our own city. Admittedly, it’s easier in the summertime. Despite this, my boyfriend and I ended up going snowshoeing in the river valley, for a Valentine’s Day date. Needless to say, memories like that are part of why I really value this experience. Each reader who set aside time to browse what I had to say really means a lot to me!

In addition, blogging really stretched me in ways I didn’t think it would. Sometimes we don’t pursue opportunities we know may be uncomfortable. It’s not a good feeling! That being said, it’s discomfort that makes us stronger, pushes us onto uncertain ground, and we thrive from that. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that I value this opportunity. From Healthy U stemmed another opportunity that I feel will be really beneficial for me. One post this year was about volunteering. My primary experience with volunteering had always been a necessity of some kind. Mom brought me here, or working off some speeding ticket at the Salvation Army from when I was a 16 year old wild child… things like that. I’ve discovered something within myself that I didn’t know I had, though. My recent involvement with the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatoon is really changing me already. Some of the stigma associated with mental health is so unintentional, and I want to change that. Basically, what I’m doing is sharing my story. It’s a story of minor anxiety that I’ve faced, coupled with mental illness that runs in my family. So far, I can wholeheartedly say it’s one of the most valuable things I’ve pushed myself to do. (That might be saying little, since I’m 21.) It’s just amazing to me. I’ve done one presentation, to a group of grade 7 & 8s, along with some nursing students. Everyone was so engaged, and really valued what I had to say. I’m still sort of reveling in it, I think, not for my sake, but for anyone else’s. For my sister, who has schizoaffective disorder, my dad, with Asperger’s and bipolar II, and my grandma, currently in treatment for bipolar symptoms in the U.S.

Healthy U provoked me and encouraged me to push boundaries even more than I already do, and I’ll be forever grateful. Now I can harness my compassion and create some positive change. As for a message for the summer… I just want to encourage anyone reading this to take the same approach. I’m not easing my way out of finals this year, I intend to work, take a summer class, continue volunteering, and hopefully become a little more fit too! What are your goals for the summer? Whether it’s light reading, travelling, saving money, or just enjoying some well deserved down time, make the most of it. Appreciate where you’re at, and push for more. More experiences, more fun, more sunshine and freckles on your face. Just do what makes you happy!

Thanks for a great and enjoyable year, readers!

Shannon

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Just keep pinning...

How much time have you spent inside, due to the weather? I know, I have found a lot of excuses to stay in doors. I have not taken my puppy out for a walk since last week. This is a problem…it is not like it is -40 with a wind chill. I feel like a wimp saying this out loud now! Thank goodness it’s warmer out today!

Are you someone who likes Pinterest? I am scared to count how many times I catch myself looking there for help. I find a lot of new ideas on Pinterest. Whether it is for new activities for the classes I teach, home ideas, work out tips, inspiration, jokes, or a new recipe; there are always great ideas to be found there! If you find yourself wanting to try new snack foods during stressful times, Pinterest is a great resource.

One of my favorite recipes I found for a great snack food on Pinterest are Chex mixes. I find that when I have to sit down and do homework for a long period of time, I need something to munch on. I love making Chex mixes because they are easy, they can be as simple as you make them, and just by changing a few ingredients you can have a completely different snack each time. You can make the mix salty, sweet, or colourful! The possibilities are endless. If you want to try one of the recipes, just go onto Pinterest or Google and search “Chex Mix”. Another bonus with these recipes is that you can make it as healthy as you want by using certain ingredients. You can use honey, coconut oil, almonds, and dried fruit in a mix instead of chocolate.

At the end of the day…try to do something different and forget about the excuses! If you want to make the change, make the commitment.

Sincerely, Anna Darbyshire

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Snacks are everything.

Let me reiterate. Snacks are everything.

I mean, what better way to make you not throw your computer across the room in angst while writing a paper then to consume some glorious edible comfort? Food is seriously the key to sanity when school imposes its soul crushing levels of stress, especially at the end of the semester. Bite-sized morsels of food can go down pretty easy when the mind needs something to distract itself from everything it has to process. But one must be careful, however; it does not do to just throw anything remotely edible into your pie hole with reckless abandon. One must take care to feed one’s self with wholesome, nutritious, and beneficial eatables! Quantity is allowed as long as quality is up to standard. This means fruits! This means veggies! This means air-popped popcorn! And milk! And only one row of Oreos instead of three!

It’s especially difficult in today’s world of pre-packaged delights that are so conveniently placed by the checkouts at every retail location. As my friend Devin so eloquently puts it: “Why do mini eggs have to come out right before bikini season??” It’s like Cadbury and Lays base their business model on ensuring that we put on (and keep) that winter weight that we’ve all gotten pretty good at disguising under excessive layers. It takes more willpower than ever (and unfortunately, more money than ever) to avoid the chocolate and the chips and the chocolate chips and instead turn to fruits and veggies for some bite-sized satisfaction. Going back to last week’s theme of creating healthy habits, the more you ingrain healthy options into your routine the easier it will become to make the right choice when doing the Fridge Hunt of Hunger. Grocery shopping is also an important step to healthy snacking; if your cupboards are full of crap, you’ll eat crap. Eliminating those temptations from your house entirely means you’re much less likely to find yourself engaging in shameful gluttony.

Now, I’m not much of a chef, but I have encountered a couple of easy little snacks that are good if you need snack-spiration (wow, sorry you had to read that word). If you need even more proof that peanut butter is the most ultimate food accessory ever, try slicing up a banana, covering the edges in peanut butter and rolling them in Rice Crispies (or “crisped rice” if that’s what’s on sale that week. Yeah that’s a real thing. I don’t recommend it though unless it’s a very dire financial situation). Its super easy and delicious and a playful mixture of textures that your palette will enjoy exploring. That sentence was probably an indication that I watch too much MasterChef.

Or, if you’d like to add some snazz to a batch of strawberries, just scoop out the middle, fill them with cream cheese icing and sprinkle graham wafer crumbs on top. In doing so you kind of create a dessert that isn’t abhorrently full of calories but still takes care of those sweet tooth cravings.

Yes, they taste as good as they look.

Until next time – happy snacking!

-Jess

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Super Snack Foods!

Hello Healthy U’ers!

The weather is absolutely gorgeous today, so why not make it that much better by adding in some delicious food??

Being a university student, whether you’re living at home or on your own, you very soon start to realize how unhealthy your snacking habits are. I know I would much rather grab a bag of Cheezies than try to make kale taste...like anything else, really. In reality, there are tons of ways to actually make veggies taste good, trust me; my parents used to make a delicious stir-fry that was full of healthy vegetables! One of my favorite things to do is research some awesome (and easy!) recipes on Pinterest, since it’s absolutely full of mouthwatering creations. Everyone else thinks of the awesome ideas, you enjoy on the first try! (Pro Tip: For something quick to go with supper, I find adding cheese to anything makes it taste yummier, especially on broccoli and cauliflower.) After a thorough browse through Pinterest, I’ve started a page full of recipes that I intend to try in the coming weeks. Here are some of the things I found that looked super yummy:

Zucchini Pizzas:

Pita Chips:

Cucumber Sandwiches:

Cucumber Hummus Caps:

I kinda like cucumbers...can you tell?

My friend and I once attempted kale chips, which admittedly weren’t as salty and delicious as regular chips, but it sure made us feel good about ourselves! With a little olive oil, garlic salt, and parmesan, our chips were actually quite tasty.

Although those tasty little Cheezie treats may never disappear from your life, I find a good strategy for me is to use them as rewards: “When I finish reading this article, I’m going to grab a quick ice cream sandwich for dessert”. This definitely gets me motivated to get things done, but it only works if you really stick to it!

My biggest excuse to myself is that it takes too long to make something/cut something up/get the ingredients/etc, especially when it’s in the morning before school. Even though some of these are legitimate issues, the best solution that works for me is making a big batch of something for the week on Sunday evening, so that it’s super easy to just grab ‘n’ go for the early mornings! Some things I do are cutting up veggies and putting the in Ziploc bags, washing all the fruits and vegetables, or even making ground beef for wraps. These little fixes can help you break your habits of picking up a burger at Harvey’s in Lower Place…(guilty).

If anyone ends up creating something healthy and delicious for a snack, tweet us at @HUIBlogger with a picture!

Have a good Wednesday everyone!

Morgan @ Healthy U HQ

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Crossing the Threshold to Eternal Bliss

That title is deceivingly dramatic, sorry.

I have a lot of habits. Most of them are bad.

I have a habit of staying up late. I have a habit of sleeping in (perhaps there’s a causal relationship between the two…?). I have a habit of leaving assignments until the very last minute. I have a habit of biting my cheek when I’m thinking hard.

All of these terrible behaviours have developed over time for one simple reason: I’ve been able to get away with them. Although making for some serious inconvenience at times, and creating much undue stress, there has been no serious consequences that have made me deeply reconsider a lifestyle change.

Some habits, though, have some very serious repercussions that everyone needs to be aware of; I’m talking about healthy living habits and all of the topics the other bloggers and myself have discussed all year. Think about it theoretically; if it’s easy enough to make a habit of having a cup of coffee in the morning or a lunch date every Wednesday with your friend, how much different can it be to make a habit of stopping by the gym one afternoon a week? Or to go for a glass of water instead of a Pepsi? I think it’s just a matter of reaching the threshold, a critical mass of sorts, where you’ve repeated a behaviour enough that not doing the action takes more conscious effort than it does to actually do the action and it becomes part of a routine that’s easy to follow.

Now, I’m sitting here preaching to you about how simple it is to make healthy decisions habitual, sounding like a kale-munching-marathon-running-yogi, when in fact I know very well from firsthand experience that it is not at all a simple, automatic process. Many-a-time I have “committed” to working out regularly, but I still have yet to reach that that threshold where it has become part of my weekly routine. I often blame it on being busy with school and extra-curriculars, but deep down I know that it’s a decision I’m making to not make the healthy choice, opting instead for too many hours in front of the TV and questionable amounts of snacking (sound familiar?). I have to remember that not living a healthy lifestyle has much more dire consequences than sleeping in and being rushed in the morning, even though they’re not immediately recognizable in the short run; but it could lead to a (potentially shortened!) lifetime of health issues and physical underachievement. To frame it in a more positive way, making health a habit (isn’t that a Sangster’s jingle or something…? Let’s hope for no lawsuit on that one) can provide so many long-term, wholly beneficial gains that it’s worth making the effort.

Recognizing this is one thing, but translating it into action, however, is easier said than done and is what separates the boys from the men…oops sorry, I mean the slightly less capable, non-gender exclusive adolescent from the mature adult of the same non-exclusive gender. My goal going forward is to man up….I mean person up….take my own advice, and truly integrate healthy decisions into my everyday life.

Also, today is International Poultry Appreciation Day. Take time to hug a chicken near you.

I hope everyone is enjoying all the puddles….I mean, warm weather.

-Jess

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Creating Healthy Habits

Hey bloggers!

How was your St. Patrick’s Day? Did you remember to dress up in green and drink green beer? Or, were you like me, and forgot? Well either way, I hope you were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful sun! This week’s blog is about creating healthy habits.

Do you have healthy habits?

I feel that this is an area where most people can improve. However, it is an area that can be very confusing. The other day I saw a President’s Choice commercial that really hit the spot for this topic. We have been told that we should eat certain things and not eat certain things. For example, we were told an apple a day will keep the doctor away but now we are told that there is too much sugar in an apple to eat one every day. We were told to “carb up” after practice and before a tournament, but now we are told less carbs, more protein. You can see where some of the confusion of which habits are truly healthy comes from. I suggest to stick to the Canadian food guide and to watch the labels when you go grocery shopping. Make healthier choices based on the salt, sugar, and fat content. Even different brands of the same product will have different labels.

As a student, it’s hard to follow through with healthy habits because they can be very pricy. But here are some ideas I found help me:

-       Choose almond or coconut milk instead of cows milk

-       Drink 3 more glasses of water than you did yesterday

-       Wash and cut up fruits and veggies before hand (on a Sunday evening) so that they are just as convenient to snack on

-       Do air pop popcorn for a snack while studying instead of that bag of chips

-       When going grocery shopping, plan out meals and snacks ahead of time, and make a list and stick to it

-       Avoid sweetened drinks and drink more water

-       Eat a healthy breakfast!

-       Try to eat smaller portions but every 2-3 hours.

-       Get the right amount of sleep no matter what!

If you have different tips that help you, share them with a friend! I am sure they will be thankful that you shared them!!

Until next week, remember…

Sincerely, Anna Darbyshire

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Healthy Habits to Carry Us Through

I’m a little flustered I think. I’ve been full of heavy sighs lately, and find myself lacking energy. The term “March Madness” has been flitting around in my circle of friends, talking about midterm and paper stress, pre-finals. That’s part of it. Another contributor for me is not eating well. I’ve been doing that thing where I skip meals if I find myself too busy to make something I would actually enjoy. It’s ridiculous. Time for some change, with this awesome change of season we’ve had! Spring is much needed amongst all this busyness!

Thankfully, today is off to a good start, with banana cinnamon pancakes and some fruit (also multiple cups of coffee). Now I just have to write a paper, do laundry, study for an exam, work, and hit up a friend’s birthday before I go house sit. No big deal. (P.S. What if I kill the plants?) Sigh. I just keep thinking – there’s so much more. We have so much more capacity than we think. The more you take on, the more you learn to accommodate. Our habits play a huge role in day-to-day success, though. So, getting down to business. If I’m hoping to eat more frequently, and eat better things, I’ll need a plan. Now, I don’t like to make plans unless I intend to follow through. What inspiration can Pinterest lend, I wonder? Living in this information age, I feel like we don’t have excuses. The simplest search for “high protein snacks” brings up more peanut butter balls, no bake protein bars, with gluten or dairy free options, than we could ever want.

Despite this, I find myself making excuses. “I don’t have time.” I’m just going to take a dose of honesty and say, “I don’t make time.” Can we all just appreciate, for instance, how easy this peanut butter energy ball recipe is to make? Giving credit where credit is due: http://www.getcreativejuice.com/2014/10/peanut-butter-oatmeal-energy-bites.html

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites

Ingredients

•    1 cup oats

•    ⅔ cup toasted shredded coconut

•    ½ cup peanut butter

•    ½ cup mini chocolate chips

•    ⅓ cup honey

•    1 Tbsp. chia seeds

•    1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Roll and compress the mixture into 1 inch rounds and place on parchment paper

3. Refrigerate a few minutes until firm and then transfer to an air-tight container. Refrigerate and enjoy for up to one week.

I know it seems ridiculous to say that I’m going to make it a habit to eat more. Or even to say I want to eat well. Aren’t those basic things? But sometimes, day-to-day, when I pull myself together to go to a dry class, eating is far from my mind. So here’s a habit I want to form: I intend to make snacks and proteins more available to myself over the next few weeks. Whether that’s throwing together these no-bake bites in a bowl, or making healthy choices and spending a little money. (I dislike doing that, especially on campus.) Regardless, I’m motivated. It’s motivation that starts this process, and habits that sustain us. So, this week, cheers to eating better!

Good luck enduring the madness,

Shannon

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Start Creating Healthy Habits Today

Happy Monday! Monday’s can be viewed one of two ways - 1) The start of another long, difficult week, or 2) the chance to start something new. The beginning of a fresh week is a good opportunity to change something you didn’t like about last week, whether that be starting your workout regimen again, or really getting to work on that paper that’s due on Friday. There’s no time like the present to start your healthy habits, and chances are good that if you sluff off pushing yourself on Monday, the rest of the week will end up being much of the same.

Personally, mornings are not my thing. At all. I struggle to start my day, since my cozy bed and soft blankets often try to persuade me to take a “personal day”. Monday’s make this especially hard. However, this morning I woke up earlier than usual to catch a ride with a friend, which got me to school an hour before my classes. I find that if I just get myself to school, I can be productive for most of the day. I’m going to attempt this strategy again tomorrow, so wish me luck!

As I have one more midterm and two papers due in the next two weeks, now is as good a time as ever to pull my socks up and get my studying groove together. I find that having some solid motivation for starting these good habits really helps me want to make them stick, which can be the hardest part about creating habits. So, my motivation for this week is to improve my grades by acing my midterm and putting some extra research time into my papers. I genuinely want my marks to get a boost, so this will keep me strong in the early mornings (along with a small touch of coffee, of course).

As we move into finals soon (sorry to bring that up…), now is the best time to start the 21 day journey. I bet if I got up earlier than usual for three weeks, it would start to come very naturally to me. I’ll let you know how it’s going next week!

Take care, and remember to start creating your healthy habits today.

Morgan @ Healthy U HQ

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How to channel Prince without wearing purple velvet

Hi, I’m Kayla Penteliuk and I’m taking over Jessica’s blog duties for this week. I am aware that a lot of people read Jessica’s advice every week and I have some pretty big shoes to fill. Thanks for the opportunity to write for you, Jess. You’re the best.

Music is a huge part of my identity. When I write a song, play guitar, or put my favourite record on the turntable, I have the power to transport myself to a different frame of mind.

Whether it is a painted picture on a canvas, a series of choreographed dance steps on the stage or words written in a notebook, creating and enjoying art is an expressive, powerful release, no matter the medium. For me, music has always had that special healing power. It doesn’t matter if I’m listening to my favourite band or writing my own lyrics; the feeling is all the same. In fact, I have a Fleetwood Mac record on as I write this blog because sometimes, you just need to pretend that you’re as wise, talented, and graceful as Stevie Nicks.

Chester contemplates which record he wants to listen to.

Sometimes, I have days where I can’t escape the negativity cycle, no matter how much writing I do. I fully embrace the cloud over my head, eat a half-pint of Ben and Jerry’s and listen to melancholy Bruce Springsteen songs with Chester at my feet. We all have days like this. It’s simply a part of being human. However, in order to be positive and healthy, we have to learn how to properly deal with all of the anxieties in everyday life.

There are a lot of really conventional ways to maintain a positive attitude – things like surrounding yourself with people you love, taking time for yourself, practicing meditation, getting adequate rest, and so on – but if these suggestions don’t work, I have more of an unconventional approach.

Clear your mind. Inhale through the nose, out through the mouth. This might be kind of weird at first, but just bear with me. Take a minute (just a minute, I promise!) and picture this.

You’re on a stage, standing in the spotlight. You’re wearing a floor-length, purple velvet cape and a pair of magnificent gold sequined pants. The audience is screaming your name. Everyone is here to see you. You feel absolutely, without a doubt, beyond description, amazing. You take a deep breath, looking out at the thousands of people surrounding you. You begin to wail through a fifteen-minute guitar solo and sing “Purple Rain” at the top of your lungs. You are the definition of fabulous. You are Prince.

Didn’t that make you feel invincible?

I have one rule when it comes to harnessing positive energy. If you can’t find the power within yourself to feel good, channel the persona of someone else that inspires you.

You don’t need to have wicked guitar skills or an endless wardrobe of purple velvet in order to harness the powers of Prince. In fact, Jess and I channel Prince together pretty frequently – all it takes is the two of us dancing in one collective space (usually the kitchen) to “Kiss” and we start to feel happy, empowered and ready to take on anything.

Maybe you need to transport yourself to 1969 and channel Janis Joplin as she performs onstage at Woodstock. Perhaps David Bowie in a full-on Ziggy Stardust costume is more your style. I think I live in an entirely different decade most of the time, so if you want to channel someone more modern that the kids are listening to these days, you’re more than welcome to. Find a persona that works for you. Tap into that feeling of empowerment whenever you need a boost. Learn something by putting yourself in the shoes of someone else. It may sound incredibly cheesy, but sometimes you have to channel your inner rock star in order to bring yourself out of a funk. Music is a magical thing. For me, all it takes is singing Prince’s “Raspberry Beret” or Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon” at the top of my lungs and I start to feel less anxious and more downright groovy.

On the other hand, Chester doesn’t need a lot to feel paws-itive. He has very complex feline music tastes. The cat loves disco. Truly, it doesn’t matter if you’re losing yourself in an ABBA song like Chester or dancing with reckless abandon like you’re in the movie Flashdance, my message is all the same. In the words of the Purple One himself, circa his 1984 song “Let’s Go Crazy”:

Dearly beloved

We are gathered here today

To get through this thing

Called life

If you need to find some positive energy, turn on some tunes. Dance it out. Sing loudly. Get creative. Express yourself. And always remember, my friends - sometimes, you just have to channel Prince.

-Kayla

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Embracing Life is the First Step to Positivity

Have you asked yourself to define who you are? During an interview, have you found yourself trying to answer the same question, “What will score yourself the job”? In order for you to be truly happy with yourself, you need to be completely honest with yourself when answering these questions.

We are always trying to compare ourselves to someone else instead of focusing on what we have in our lives that makes us who we are. For us to be happy, we have to have a positive attitude. We should try to value a long-term outlook rather than a short-term emotion. As well, we should try to cancel out any negative thoughts that interfere with our attitude. For example, instead of being angry and upset over your latest project or midterm mark, talk to your prof and see how you can improve your mark. Be active in creating positivity in your life rather than focusing on negativity.

When you try to define who you are, keep in mind that our professions (i.e. I am a teacher/salesperson/etc.) or our current feelings (I am sad/angry/stressed) do not define us as individuals. So who are you?

The following are some helpful hints that I find keep my attitude positive:

1. Choose to embrace life: stop fussing over trivial matters and start focusing on what’s really important to you.

2. Realize that you and only you gets to control your reactions: nothing makes you feel happy, sad, or angry - you choose what you take away from situations. Killing negativity with kindness and sincerity is a fantastic way to not only make yourself feel better, but uplift the people around you.

3. Know that no one is better qualified: we are always comparing ourselves to someone else. Instead, focus on what you want from life, and strive to achieve those things. Life is not a competition against anyone else.

4. Love yourself.

If you ever find yourself getting upset, just think:

I hope you have an excellent week!!

Sincerely, Anna Darbyshire

[hui-blogger-blog]

Power to the Positive

It’s funny that being positive is our blog topic for this week, because it’s something I often think about. My boyfriend and I have talked about the merits of a positive outlook. He’s Mr. “it’ll all work out”, and I’m oftentimes Miss “wait and see”. The reality is, we’re a product of our life experiences. I have a positive outlook, but I really approach situations knowing that some things may be beyond my control. I do what I can with what I’ve been given. That’s really all you can do in this life!

Positivity is a game changer though. I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase “If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you can’t.” I’ve always found that to be true. If you doubt your ability to complete a tough workout, finding the grit to sustain yourself is more difficult. If you believe a relationship is beyond saving, it likely is. (You’re not putting your share of effort in, or communicating, whatever the breakdown may be.) Mindset is a great determinant of where you’ll go.  

Applying this to academics, I’m also convinced that a positive outlook is everything. Discouragement comes in many forms, from an essay that was brutalized by a prof, or a midterm whose questions took you by surprise. Your response changes everything. A defeatist would admit that there’s nothing more they could have done, a realist could objectively say the exam was unfair, or surprising. A positive individual will likely say, “This isn’t what I hoped for, but now I know how to prepare for what’s next.” Having said that, positivity and optimism are not the same. For instance: optimists see the glass half full, pessimists see it half empty. I prefer to realize the glass is full of lukewarm coffee, and I don’t want it anyways. (Coffee is dreamy, hot or cold - there is no middle ground!) Seriously though, if your life circumstances present challenges, you just have to run with what you’ve got. Be real about the situation, but hold your head high.

Our lives are so unique, determined by each decision we make, who we associate with, and how our habits shape and form our days. With this in mind, I try to put lots of thought into my decision-making, surround myself with driven, positive people, and form habits that will benefit me moving forward. It can make all the difference in the world! Whenever I get overwhelmed with difficulties, my boyfriend reminds me its okay to be sad. Then he makes me laugh, and smile, and I make plans to change what I can, not what I can’t. It’s a really valuable thing to have in a best friend, and boyfriend.  

Just remember, you have the power to create positive change in your own life. Focus on what’s good, and is within your realm of control.

See you next week!

Shannon

[hui-blogger-blog]

Do-Si-Do I Have To?

What do hummus, Led Zeppelin, and pilates have in common?

(It sounds like there should be a good, semi-offensive punchline for that, but there’s not. Sorry.)

They are all exciting things that you won’t know you enjoy until you try them! The world is a vast and amazing place full of variety and sneaky little prizes that you have to fearlessly go out and discover on your own. Whether it’s a new activity, food, band, haircut, bar, mascara, or cat litter brand, trying new things is such an important part of keeping life spicy. You may surprise yourself with what random things tickle your fancy.

As evidence for this claim, I will now impart to you a tale of a time when I decided to try something new and my life was never the same again.

That thing was square dancing.

Without spending much time on the particulars, I will give as many details as are necessary to set the scene. My attitude: reluctant. The general demographic: elderly. My expectations: low. Yet my brother, sister and I decided to participate because hey, you never know.

The appropriate geometric shapes of humanity were formed, the fiddler rosined up her bow, the caller cleared his throat. I loved to dance, but promenading two by two was a far cry from the disciplines I was familiar with. My brother and I exchanged wary glances as the caller explained the maneuvers we would have to do once the music started. We were to touch hands with strangers. We were to engage in the dreaded Sibling Hand-hold. We were to all go in the middle and yell like a bunch of rednecks. There was no way this could be fun.

Boy, were we ever wrong.

Feeling confident we had achieved a minimal level of square dancing competency, the caller cued the fiddler and geared up for the first dance.

The music started: a lively jig.  I looked down and was surprised to see my foot tapping to the beat. My inner dancer never could resist a good foot tap when the music was right. Something within me began to stir.

All of a sudden, the caller sung out in his deep, velvety voice that we were to all join hands and circle to the left. I shuffled around, going through the motions and hoping my square was at least good at following directions. It appeared that at least everyone knew which way was left. Next: swing your partner, do-si-do. I took the lead in the partnership (naturally) and swung my brother around like our lives depended on it.

If you don’t know this yet, I hope you will learn someday soon: there is nothing like a good, fast spin to awaken your dancefloor mojo.

Before I knew it, we were zig-zagging around the square, in and out, over and under, right hand left hand zip-a-dee-do-dah, and I was loving every second of it. The tempo was quick and the caller made the steps fall right in line with the beat. We all went to the middle and hooped and hollered like a rowdy gang of cowboys. The genuine joy of the people around me was infectious, and before long I realized I couldn’t stop smiling. I was actually having fun while square dancing with a bunch of strangers. Who would’ve thunk it.

There are a few lessons one can take away from this story. The one you’re probably stuck on is, “Woooooow Jess likes square dancing, what a goob”. Think what you may, I stand by my statement. I was untouchable in that square. But the conclusion I’m hoping you’ll come to is that sometimes, having an open mind and trying things that seem completely out there will pay off. It comes down to having the right attitude; anything can be fun if you allow it to be.

As the semester draaaaags on and the last month of classes becomes increasingly monotonous, I encourage everyone to go outside their boxes and try something new. It’s the perfect way to add some zest to a grey, difficult month and who knows - you may find a lifelong passion in an unexpected place.

-Jess

[hui-blogger-blog]

Be brave - put yourself out there!

Happy March!

Try not to think about the cold cold weather. I like to think about the cuddle time I get to have in a big blanket while studying.

This week I wanted to start by asking, what type of person you are? Take a minute, and think about this. Are you someone that takes unnecessary risks? Do you like trying new things or do you like to stick to the same thing that’s comfortable? If you are feeling stuck or maybe a little bored with your life (besides the constant school work), then maybe it is time to get out of your comfort zone. I know I need to jump out. Have you tried to get out of your comfort zone before? Did you notice that even with the smallest shift in your life could create a big opportunity for you?

Now that I have you thinking about that, the Healthy U challenge this week is trying something new each day and compiling a list of behaviours you would like to make into new habits. Maybe every Sunday or every second Sunday, you meet with a friend for coffee at a new coffee shop, restaurants etc. Personally, this is hard. As I am sure you can tell, I am someone who likes a schedule and I will usually pick what is comfortable.  When I go out for supper, I like to go to places that are familiar but I try to pick something new off the menu. Sometimes I find this hard because I will pick a place based on what I am craving but I do try to change. Even at the gym I am trying to change up my workouts. It is hard and it takes a lot of convincing but I think it is worth a try.

In one of my classes we are learning how to change the idea of play. Play in this generation is about building your resume instead of getting outside and being adventurous. Maybe you can take the idea of trying something new and bring back the play in your life. Get out of the idea of only working on your resume building and enjoy the small things.

Here are some tips I found to help me be more adventurous:

1.     Try to not waste a single second of your life

2.     Don’t look at today saying, “I will start tomorrow”. Tomorrow usually doesn’t come, so start today.

3.     Be in control of your own time and make the most of it.

4.     Be brave and take a leap! This will hopefully stop you from looking back and wishing you had.

5.     Try removing something from your life that you may not need to make room for something new! You could try cooking with something new to spice up your taste buds.

6.     Find a friend to commit to something new with you so that you are responsible for taking the appropriate steps.

7.     Identify blocks that kept you from breaking a bad habit. You could try this by writing down new things you have tried writing in the past and the reasons why you were unsuccessful.

8.     Forgive someone who you have been holding a grudge against and see if you can rekindle your past friendship.

9.     Try to make an effort to connect with people you pass in the hallway. Try smiling at them, walk with your head up and pay attention to the small details. Who knows what you are missing while your eyes are on your phone. You could also try to compliment someone on something you notice.  

10. Try volunteering  somewhere that interests you. This way you can meet new people and try something new.

So break out of your normal as best you can! Try something new. GOOD LUCK!

Sincerely, Anna Darbyshire

[hui-blogger-blog]

Try It, You’ll Like it

Trying new things is surprisingly like waterskiing. You spend a lot of time falling on your face, there’s some strain, and moments of exhilaration before once again, falling on your face. It’s the moments of exhilaration that make trying new things so worthwhile. I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about taking some risks, and finding out new things about yourself. Some wonderful memories I have come from moments where I was unsure if I wanted to try something new. I remember so clearly when I was debating going skydiving. Questions were raised to me such as “Why would you jump out of a perfectly good plane?” I just wanted to exclaim, “Because it’s fun!” I was nervous leading up to the day I decided to do it. That bright summer day though, ascending in circles over a field in Saskatchewan was everything I hoped it would be. I had nerves in my stomach, beauty all around me, and that day made for an experience I’ll never forget!

I also remember the day I decided to fundraise for Camp Easter Seals, and rappel down one of the tallest buildings in Saskatoon, Carlton Towers. Leading up to that day was a lot of fundraising, but the morning of my rappel with my good friend Ariel was much like skydiving. Anticipation, nerves, and a fireman knotting my harness and joking that he wasn’t sure he tied it right. Hilarious, when you’re about to descend 29 storeys! Honestly though, it was such a thrill to know I was being adventurous while raising awareness for an awesome cause. It’s something people don’t often prioritize. I had the pleasure of going out to their actual camp facilities near Watrous, too. That really made volunteering and fundraising more personal, knowing what I was rappelling for. I love multitasking. Try it, you’ll like it!

Going back to that first time waterskiing though, its funny how we romanticize things. It’s nice to think that you’ll be gazing at the sunlight glinting off Emma Lake as your 13 year old self gracefully glides over the waves. Not so. In reality, you’ll be freezing in your wetsuit on May long, chasing adventure as you always have, and finding yourself smack down in the water before you’re even begun. That’s adventure for you, though. It teaches you so much about life. Not everything is going to come to you easily, but the rewards are oh so worth it. Breezing over the water for half a minute when I finally got the hang of things was awesome.

Trying new things is all good fun, but it needs to be habitual in order to last. Skydiving, rappelling, and waterskiing are all pastimes I enjoy in moderation. It’s really unlikely that I would want to do them daily though! One change I would like to make in my life is doing yoga more regularly. It’s been years since yoga was a new thing for me, but my practice is definitely not consistent at all. I treat it more like an event, a challenge, or even a go to when my body isn’t up to a more intense workout. Sometimes I have an achy back, or a “grandma hip” that pops when I get out of bed. These are things I could control through more consistent exercise. I would love to try something new with consistency. That’s the great thing about this blog; it keeps me accountable and critical of my own life. So, here’s to doing yoga, trying new things, and making the most of what life has to offer.

P.S. Our Healthy U challenge this week is making new habits and trying one every day to see what fits your lifestyle. Get on it, and try new things!

Catch you Tuesday,

Shannon

[hui-blogger-blog]

How trying new things is healthy for you

Hello everyone, I'm back! It's been too long and I am sorry for that. But now I’m here with some new material and words o' wisdom for you to read and hopefully enjoy. This week's topic is definitely something I can write a lot about. It has actually played a big part in my life as I grew up into the person that I am now.

Trying new things can be very difficult for an individual. As a kid, I was very picky when it came to food and other things, but as I grew up I fought against myself and started trying new things and exploring uncharted territory. Applying what I've learned so far in psychology, I think the hesitation to try different or new things comes from the fear of the unknown. “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” ~ H.P. Lovecraft. Now I think that some people who are too afraid, too uncomfortable, or just had bad experiences live within a bubble of comfort and routine that doesn't allow anything new to come into that bubble. It goes without saying that everyone has a personal bubble and that having routines in your life is definitely a healthy thing. However, some people refuse to try new things because they don't know anything about it or are afraid it will be a bad experience. Think back to that moment before you decided to try sky-diving or eating a piece of weird-looking seafood. You were probably a little scared, but I bet you are so glad you went outside of your bubble and tried something new, because now you love doing new things and have discovered there so much more out there! Can you imagine if you didn't go through with it though? You wouldn't have flown through the air, or fallen in love with seafood, or whatever it was that you did! My point is that while routines are healthy (like I said earlier), refusing to be open to new experiences is very unhealthy.

I have recently decided to try many new things and step outside of my comfort zone. Last Tuesday, I decided to cut my hair off that I had been growing for two and a half years. It was a big deal for me, and there were many times where I wanted to keep my long curly locks. However, I am very happy that I went through with cutting my hair. I think I look preeetty nice.

I've also put in effort to hang out with friends whom I haven't really seen in a while and wouldn't normally hang out with. Yesterday I spent the late afternoon at an old friend's place and it was the best time I have had in a long time. All of the positivity that has been going on because of these decisions has also got my spirits up and I'm getting back into working out more frequently. In my group of friends I am known to always have something new to show everyone, so I’m glad that there’s been so many new things I’ve tried and can share, and how it has effected my life. I think I've shared enough though, so how about we look at this week's Healthy U challenge!

Tasks for HU Challenge: practice a new habit every day this week and compile a list of behaviours you’d like to make into habits.

I'll definitely be doing this challenge, and I hope you will too! Thanks for reading, and see you next week!

-Jonah Vanstone