DLSPH Open: Wellness
March 15/2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
Dionne Gesink, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
It’s been a year of learning together, apart, and ‘so much has happened’ feels like an understatement, especially since it is all still happening. The burden of suffering, like the burden of work, is not shared equally across communities, evoking significant and complex emotions and stresses. The endurance of the pandemic is eroding coping, contributing to ubiquitous mental, emotional and physical burnout, and straining relationships. And yet we press on.
And so, it is more important now than ever to be kind to yourself, to be kind to others, and to support our neighbours and communities. We do not know what others are navigating and managing. In the words of Maya Angelou, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”
I want to remind you of two important supports we have available to all students, faculty and staff:
- The 8th Floor Lounge
The 8th Floor Lounge has a self-care corner, curated wellness resources, and mental health and well-being resources. I understand some of you are unsure how to use the 8th Floor Lounge, so I have made a short orientation video to walk you through it.
- Wellness and Exercise Coaching
You now have the opportunity to book individual confidential coaching sessions with a student Wellness coach or exercise coach. Wellness and exercise coaches can help you improve your health, lower stress, and increase happiness and productivity. If you have been curious about what wellness is and would like to explore further into what it means to you, this is your chance! Students in Humber College’s Post Graduate Program in Wellness and Exercise Coaching are available to assist you on your journey. Bring your own ideas of what wellness means to you to your appointments and your coach will work with you to build on that vision.
You can learn more about Wellness and Exercise Coaching, including how to sign up, through the 8th Floor Wellness page or the attached flyer.
Please take care of yourself. It’s not selfish. You will be much more effective in helping others if you are not depleted yourself. Don’t know how? Start with one breath. One proper, deep breath. Add more. Be patient with yourself. Witness joy – in my darkest times I have watched my daughters laugh with abandon as they lived in the moment. Their laughter was infectious. Check out the self-care resources on the 8th Floor. Talk to a wellness coach.
“If you feel “burnout” setting in, if you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself.” – Dalai Lama
Dionne Gesink
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs