Health and Wellness Newsletter

Visit the Oasis Wellness Lounge



Calling all undergrads and grad students! Take a moment to escape the academic hustle and take a break at the Oasis Wellness Lounge, your haven for relaxation located in the Shapiro Campus Center (SCC) room 328.

🧘‍♀️ De-stress with sensory items and fidgets

☕ Sip tea or coffee and unwind

😴 Nap on a couch or comfy beanbag chair

🌼 Connect with peers

🎨 Color or draw in a relaxing environment

Hours

Monday, Tuesday: 4pm - 6pm

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 10am - 12pm

Ask a question: hawp@brandeis.edu

Free Flu Vaccine

A flu shot is your best defense against the flu virus. It not only safeguards your health but also helps prevent its spread to vulnerable populations.

The Student Health Center is holding flu vaccine clinics on Wednesdays from 1-4 pm. These will run until December 22, 2023. All Brandeis students - graduate and undergraduate - are welcome.

Sign up via the secure patient portal

**Dates for upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be announced soon. For up-to-date information about vaccines at the Health Center, follow @brandeiswellness on Instagram.

Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests

The U.S. government currently provides free at-home rapid tests for COVID-19. It's good to have these on hand in case you get sick or are exposed to the virus. Here's how to get your free tests:

1. Visit the COVID.gov website.
2. Fill out the simple form with your shipping information. If you live on campus, put your Brandeis mailbox number in the "apartment / suite / other" box.
3. Confirm your order, and the tests will be sent to you, free of charge.

Order free tests

Mindful Moments

Slow down from the business of life and join any Mindful Moments session. Students and staff take turns leading meditations and mindful activities. Mindful Moments takes place every Tuesday and Friday in the Peace Room in Usdan Campus Center.

Tuesdays, 12:30-1 p.m.

Fridays, 12:30-1 p.m.

Peace Room, Usdan Campus Center

Sign up to receive email updates

CCBT: Comprehensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program for Graduate Students

If you are struggling with anxiety, distress, or interpersonal challenges, this may be a great fit for you. Comprehensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a weekly skills-based group designed to help graduate students learn to manage feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. This comprehensive program includes weekly group therapy in addition to monthly individual check-ins with group leader Dr. Tal Nir.

Note: for students new to the BCC, please call the front desk at 781-736-3730 to set up an assessment session. For students who have already completed an assessment, please contact Tal Nir. 

Mental Illness Awareness Week October 1-7, 2023

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. This week is dedicated to education on mental illness in order to eliminate stigma and spread awareness of the resources available to support people who are living with mental health conditions.

Learn more and get involved

Top five things to do in Massachusetts in the fall

• Celebrate the harvest! A lot of farms in Massachusetts open their orchards for apple picking. In addition, you can enjoy hay rides, getting lost and find your way in mazes, and try hot apple cider. Here are some local farms to explore:
• Lookout Farm - Natick, MA
• Honey Pot Hill Farm - Stow, MA

• Enjoy seasonal treats! A New England favorite is cider donuts. Here are some local farms and bakeries where you can enjoy this famous treat:
• Pizzi Farm - Waltham, MA
• Union Square Donuts - Somerville, MA
• Wilson Farm - Lexington, MA

• See the foliage! New England is famous for its foliage. In October, you will see trees with mellow gold, deep red, and bright orange leaves. Here are some places where you can get outside to see the foliage in Boston and the surrounding area:
• Boston Common - Boston, MA
• Mount Auburn cemetery - Cambridge, MA
• Blue Hills Reservation - Milton, MA
• Middlesex Fells Reservation - Stoneham, MA

• Carve a pumpkin! A long time ago, when local farmers couldn't produce enough wheat, potato or other food, pumpkins were a reliable substitute. Irish immigrants started the tradition of carving faces into pumpkins (Jack-o-lanterns), which remains a popular fall pastime. (When you scoop out your pumpkin, try roasting the seeds with some oil and salt for a delicious snack.) Here’s a local farm to harvest pumpkins:
• Hanson's Farms - Framingham, MA

• Celebrate Halloween! October 31 is Halloween, and Massachusetts is one of the best places to celebrate this spooky holiday. You'll find lots of haunted houses, trails, and hayrides in October. The city of Salem, MA, is connected to Halloween as a result of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Today, Salem offers a vibrant downtown of museums and shops that embrace their witchy history. Since it’s a famous place for people to visit on Halloween, it is extremely crowded. We recommend visiting in the weeks before Halloween, and taking public transportation.
• Salem Haunted Happenings Guide

Multitasking vs. Meditation

Contemporary life puts a lot of demands on people. It may seem that one way to accomplish a lot of tasks in one day is to multitask. However, multitasking can lead to increased errors and fatigue. Staying focused on one task, and being present in the moment, can increase productivity. Meditation - a skill that anyone can learn - improves our ability to stay present in the moment, improves focus, and reduces stress.



The Headspace app is free for Brandeis students. Once you sign up for Headspace, you’ll get access to short courses and a library of meditations. You can pick a meditation that meets your goals and even select a meditation teacher.

If you are new to meditation, you might start with “Beginning Meditation.” Here is the link to one of the meditations offered in this section. Please, note that you’ll only be able to access this meditation after signing up for the Headspace.

Sign up