🌻Weekly Wellness Newsletter - Spring Quarter - Finals Week

Join us for our final Restorative Yoga Class of the quarter! Whether you need a break from finals stress or want a chance to connect and build community, this class offers the perfect space to relax!

Immerse yourself in tranquility at no cost as a UChicago Student. We have mats, bolsters, and blankets ready for you. No experience needed and no need to pre-register, simply slip into your most comfortable attire and let go.

The American Psychiatric Association recognizes burnout as manifesting in a few ways:

1. Exhaustion: Feeling physically and emotionally drained.
2. Cynicism: Developing increased negativity toward aspects of life, such as work, daily responsibilities, or relationships.
3. Ineffectiveness: Experiencing low self-confidence and self-worth, which can reduce motivation and make it harder to complete tasks or achieve goals.

The most important part is recognizing that you need a break. Below are some tips to prevent and alleviate burnout.

Set Boundaries
- This applies to most things in life, but setting boundaries is especially important when it comes to making sure work stays at work, school stays at school, and you still have a fulfilling life outside of both. Creating clear boundaries around when you will be studying, and when you won’t, allows you to fully put everything aside and lean into the things that truly make you happy.
Don't Be Afraid to Seek Help
- Student Wellness offers a variety of therapy options, including access to telehealth mental health services through TimelyCare and in-person appointments. It’s also important to prioritize spending time with loved ones and leaning on people you trust for support.
Establish Your Priorities
- Summer break and graduation can come with a lot of mixed emotions. Whether you’re applying to jobs, planning for next school year, or figuring out what comes next, taking time to outline your priorities and goals can help limit burnout and keep you from getting lost in school or work. Simple habits, like working out once a day or going grocery shopping every Sunday to make sure you have nutritious meals for the week, can make a big difference. Establish what comes first, and make sure your well-being is always part of that priority list.
- Giving back can also help. Community service and helping others have been shown to reduce feelings of stress as well. There are a number of local opportunities to give back, such as the University Community Service Center and the City of Chicago Community Service Centers.

Ashley Levitan is a nurse practitioner at Student Wellness. She began working there in July 2022 and absolutely loves her job. Ashley’s favorite part of working at Student Wellness is being an available resource for students to ask medical questions and learn more about their health. She also appreciates that Student Wellness offers longer appointment times than many other clinics, allowing her to address each patient’s concerns and help provide every student with a positive experience. In her personal life, Ashley is the mother of an adorable 6-month-old boy who was born on Thanksgiving Day.

Ashley advises students to set aside a few hours each day to relax during finals week and make time for activities they enjoy. She recognizes that studying can feel never-ending, and that the amount of information to learn before finals can quickly pile up. However, she believes students will be more productive if they take time to relax and return to studying with a clearer mind. She wishes every student the best of luck during this final stretch of finals week and hopes they enjoy a well-deserved summer break afterward.

Finals Got You Stressed: Take a Short Trivia Break 🧠

Finals are a stressful time, which is whyyyyy this quiz is here to give your mind a short break. This is a general trivia quiz, with a range of topics, so if you think you’re a trivia master, let’s see how well you do. Test out your knowledge and have some fun!

Unfortunately, this information probably won’t help you on your final paper, but it can help take your mind off the intense studying and anxiety for a little bit. Plus, who doesn’t love trivia?

Prioritizing Breaks and Self-Care Before Burnout

Summer break is almost upon us in T-minus four days. The combination of school, work, and life in general can sometimes make us feel like we just have to push through it all, almost like the stress is a necessary evil that we simply have to get over. Burnout is a state of severe emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged or repeated stress. It can cause us to act outside of ourselves, struggle through daily tasks, and maybe even push away the people who love and support us.

In reality, we’ve all had moments where we desperately needed a break. This video discusses the importance of recognizing the signs of burnout and taking advantage of breaks when they arise. It suggests a micro-, meso-, and macro-break structure that gives you time to disconnect from work or school and prioritize your well-being. With summer break approaching, this is the perfect time to reflect on the self-care you’ve been craving.