Feb 2025 🌸🌼 Student Health & Wellness

UHS Monthly Student Newsletter

February 2025

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UHS February 2025 Calendar 🗓️

2/5: Pet Hugs at Doe Library North Entrance from 12-1 pm - Learn more

2/5: Holistic Sleep Wellness Workshop at 3:30 pm via Zoom - Learn more

2/6-7: Free Drop-in Nutrition Counseling every Thurs/Fri from 12:30-1:30 pm - Learn more

2/7: Sexpert Education Clinic, 12-3 pm in Health Promotion (2nd floor of UHS) - Learn more

2/10-14: Condom Week with SHEP - Learn more

2/10: Wellness in Action 4-Week Skill-Building Group - Learn more

2/11: Mindfulness Meditation Drop-In Group - Learn more

2/13: Transgender and Gender Diverse Support Group - Learn more

2/13: Navigating Bipolar Group - Learn more

2/14: Sexpert Education Clinic, 12-3 pm in Health Promotion (2nd floor of UHS) - Learn more

2/17: UHS Closed (Presidents' Day) - View After-Hour Care

2/19: Holistic Sleep Wellness Workshop at 3:30 pm via Zoom - Sign up via eTang

2/19: Survivor Support Group - Learn more

2/24-3/2: Eating Disorders Awareness Week - UHS ED Support

2/24: Understanding Self & Others (9 weeks), Virtual - Learn more

2/24: UHS Nutrition Team Tabling at the Tang Center, First Floor from 2-3 pm

2/25: First-Gen College BIPOC Student Support Group - Learn more

2/25: Managing Emotions (4 Weeks) - Learn more

2/26: Empowerment Through Expression Workshop - Learn more

2/27: Encontrando Communidad: Latine/Hispanic Support & Process Group - Learn more

2/27: UHS Nutrition Team Tabling at the Tang Center, First Floor from 2-3 pm

2/28: Free Rapid HIV testing - Learn more

Want to Make Friends? Accept the Awkwardness 👫

It's not always easy, but making and maintaining friendships help us be healthier and happier and are worth the time investment. Here are a few tips from an NPR article on making friends:

Accept the awkwardness and assume that other people need new friends too.
Remember that people will like you more than you think they will.
Engage in hobbies and activities you enjoy to meet people with similar interests.
Carve out the time and space you need to find and nourish your friendships.
Be present and show up for your friends.

Need more tips and advice? Find more resources on our Social Health webpage.

Qless Waiting System Now Available at UHS Pharmacy 💬

Have you visited the UHS Pharmacy recently? If so, you might have noticed the new Qless Waiting System in action. Upon arriving at the UHS Pharmacy, you can easily check in at the Qless kiosk and receive a notification on your phone when it's your turn. For your convenience, there are simple instructions on how to use this system available right in the pharmacy. If you've visited the Appointment Office or our Travel/Immunization Department, you may already be familiar with this system.

Homemade Pizza 🍕

Celebrate National Pizza Day (2/9) by making a delicious homemade pizza! This recipe, created by the UHS Nutrition team, is student-friendly and allows you to select your choice of flatbread and toppings.

Sweet Potato Tacos 🌮

Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamins and taste great too. Not sure what to do with them? Our nutrition team has developed this delicious sweet potato taco recipe for UC Berkeley students. Give it a try!

For Valentine’s Day, Try Being Nice to Yourself 😍

Show yourself some kindness this Valentine’s Day by taking a self-compassion break:

Close your eyes and think of a situation causing you a mild or moderate amount of stress (Don’t try to tackle your biggest problems right away). Acknowledge your pain: “This is stressful. This is difficult.” Remember, everyone struggles: “Stress is part of life. I’m not alone.” Soothe yourself by placing your hands on your heart or stomach, or wrap your arms around your body. Offer yourself words of kindness: “May I be kind to myself. May I forgive myself. May I be strong. May I accept myself.”

Read about self-compassion breaks and other self-compassion exercises in this New York Times article. Access it through the UC Berkeley Library or the Berkeley Public Library.

Dealing with Procrastination ⏰

Procrastination can be frustrating. We often delay tasks due to perfectionism or feeling overwhelmed. In those moments, remind yourself that you can start imperfectly, ask for help, and it usually doesn't get any easier if we wait until the last minute! Here are some tips to help you move past procrastination and get started:

Get organized: List all of your tasks and important due dates. Focus on priority tasks.
Break it down: Try breaking down large assignments into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Reward yourself: Take breaks and treat yourself in between tasks to unwind and recharge.

Remember that behavior change is hard. Be patient and kind to yourself as you try to make progress on your to-do list. For support, make a health coaching appointment. For more tips on study skills, visit our website.

Ditch the Diet Talk 🚫

Diet talk involves discussing food or exercise to achieve a specific body image. Comments about body size, shape, weight, or food can harm those who hear or receive them. It reinforces a culture that values weight over health, suggesting that some bodies are wrong, certain foods are shameful, and there’s only one accepted image. This can be especially harmful to those with disordered eating.

Ending up in conversations about diets or bodies can be uncomfortable, especially when trying to avoid them. Here are some ways to respond to and eliminate diet talk from your life:

"Would you mind if we talked about something else?"
"To be honest, I feel a bit uncomfortable when diets come up."
"Diet talk isn't really my cup of tea. Let’s talk about x instead."
“I’m uncomfortable with those comments and would appreciate it if you could keep those thoughts to yourself. Thank you for understanding."
"It would really mean a lot to me if we could avoid any food or body shaming."
"Thanks so much! I’d truly appreciate compliments that focus on other aspects rather than my body.”

If you feel uneasy addressing diet talk directly, that’s okay! You might opt to ignore it or shift the conversation. Not participating in diet talk is a positive step forward. If a conversation is too uncomfortable, you can also choose to remove yourself from the situation. Eliminating diet talk helps create an environment and culture that is more inclusive of all bodies.

Learn about our body-inclusive Nutrition Services.

Condom Week + Safer Sex Supplies ☔

Did you know? National Condom Week was established by students at Berkeley in 1978.

If you’re in need of condoms, don't forget that the UHS Pharmacy offers safer sex supplies at discounted prices for UC Berkeley students regardless of insurance. Thanks to the Sexual Health Education Program (SHEP), there is a free condom dispenser on the second floor of UHS. There are also many other ways to obtain condoms for purchase or for free. Keep an eye out for the SHEP team, who will be on Sproul Plaza distributing free safer sex kits from February 10 to February 14!

Calming Affirmations for Uncertain Times 🧘🏽

This period of uncertainty will pass.
I can remain grounded even when the world feels chaotic.
I am capable of handling whatever comes my way.
I deserve peace and happiness, even in uncertain times.
I know that worrying doesn’t solve tomorrow’s troubles; it only takes away today’s peace.
I know that hope is not lost.
I protect my peace and take breaks when I need to.
I can care deeply without constantly consuming.
I can hold space for hope and worry at the same time.
I’ve made it through all of my toughest days!

Find stress management tips at uhs.berkeley.edu/stress

Try it Out: Bilateral Drawing 🎨

Bilateral drawing is drawing simultaneously with both hands and is sometimes referred to as bilateral doodling or scribbling. It is an exercise in both self-soothing and warming up your whole brain. Grab a piece of paper and try it out!

Write it Out: Journal Prompt 📝

Although joy may seem small, experiencing joy in your daily life can be good for your body and mind. Take 2 to 5 minutes to write out your response to this prompt: Name 5 to 10 people, places, or things that bring you joy. Learn about the benefits of journaling.

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