Understanding
Well-Being

Though we can't avoid struggles in life, it is within our power to stay healthy in body, brain and spirit.

Well-being refers to a state of being healthy, happy, and comfortable, both physically and mentally. It encompasses a sense of contentment and satisfaction with your life and a positive outlook on your personal and professional experiences.

By learning strategies to improve your well-being, we at Steps to Leaps hope to empower you to pursue your sense of happiness and contentment.

To help you along, we've curated a collection of content geared toward helping you develop this crucial pillar of well-being.

Well-Being Learning Modules

Take self-improvement into your own hands with our self-guided learning modules.

Student Spotlights

Read about the many individuals who have incorporated well-being into their holistic sense of wellness.

Well-Being Tips of the Week

Each week, the members of our Research Collaborative share valuable advice on improving your personal well-being and overcoming the challenges of life.

Well-Being Related Research

Read research that explores the importance of Grit / Persistence in our overall well-being.

BY USING SEVERAL RESOURCES ON CAMPUS, EMILY BALANCES SCHOOL AND OTHER INTERESTS

Emily Cain, from South Bend, Indiana, is a junior majoring in English education with a theatre minor. Emily values well-being, but in the transition from high school to college, she experienced a common issue, becoming stressed and overwhelmed.

She began going to a therapist through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Emily finds that seeing a therapist significantly increases her mental well-being and, “has made me be more open to asking others for help when I am in a time of need.”

Emily promotes her overall well-being by making sure she balances her school work with free time on campus. Emily stated, “I make sure that school work does not take over my life. Yes, academics are important and the main reason I am here, but I have to make sure I am enjoying my free time on campus as well.”

Learn more about Emily here.

It's OK to Lose Your Pen

My fourth-grade classroom had a poster titled “if you lose your pen, you’ll die.”

It went as follows:
“If you lose your pen, you can’t take notes. If you can’t take notes, you won’t be able to study. If you can’t study, you will fail in school. If you fail in school, you won’t get a job. If you don’t get a job, you won’t make money. If you don’t make money, you can’t buy food. If you can’t buy food, you’ll die. Don’t lose your pen.”

While the intention was to deter students from losing their belongings, it also serves as an apt representation of a psychological phenomenon known as “catastrophizing.”

Continue reading about Emma here...