Campus & Culture
Ten reasons why Saint Joseph’s University should be at the top of your list when exploring your options for college.
Campus & Culture
Wednesday, April 28 marks the second official Health and Wellness Day at Saint Joseph’s University. The decision to launch Health and Wellness Days — formerly known as Reading Days — was made by a committee of faculty and staff who wanted to shift the focus from a class-free day to catch up on studies to a day focused on student wellness.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of changes, one big shift was a new emphasis on mental and physical health. Companies like Facebook, YouTube, Verizon and more have begun embracing this shift by implementing regular wellness events, allowing for flexible working hours and providing mental health resources through employee healthcare programs.
However, it’s not just working professionals who need a break to focus on their wellbeing. “Saint Joseph’s students are very involved and high achieving. It is critical that they are given time to find moments to slow down and reflect,” says Ashley Lillie, assistant director in the Office of Student Outreach and Support.
Lillie compares the need to find a health and wellness routine as a college student to preparing for a trip to a new destination. She says, “If you’re going on your very first white water rafting tour, you may talk to others about how to pack, what to wear, etc. On your second trip, you will have learned and will probably approach the trip much differently. Health and wellness is similar in the sense that you need to learn what works for you and try out different approaches to taking care of yourself. How are you going to prepare your own health and wellness in a way that will help you get through periods of stress or anxiety?”
This is where the shift from Reading Days to Health and Wellness Days at St. Joe’s came in. According to Greg Nichols Ph.D., director of Counseling and Psychological Services, “Reading Days send a message that students should be studying. We felt it was important to still have a designated few days in the semester to not focus on academics, but to have a day to downshift, relax, seek resources, rest and refresh.”
So how can students participate in the next Health and Wellness Day? According to Angie Nagle, assistant athletics director for Campus Recreation, “For some students, the next Health and Wellness Day could mean attending fitness events or a program at the gym. Others just want to do nothing and there is value in that, too. The University is simply creating space for students to get what they need in that moment to recharge and focus on themselves.”
Christina Foggie, director of special projects and special assistant to the athletics director echoes this sentiment and encourages every Hawk to use the day to the fullest. “Your recovery day is the most important day of the week. When you give yourself time to recharge and unwind, it allows you to really be at the top of your game.”
As the program continues to evolve, the University will look to its students to help determine what best suits their needs.
“We are gathering data on what is working and what is not. We hope to combine the efforts of many student-focused groups across the University to build even better programming around what students continue to need,” says Foggie.
Saint Joseph's encourages all students to share their wellness activities on social media using #SJUWellnessDay.