Taking care of your health is essential during college. It is important to keep your body and mind healthy so you are able to attend class regularly and complete your coursework on time (not to mention enjoy your college experience!).  Your physical, mental and emotional health are more connected than you may think.

There are excellent resources on campus which can help you stay in tip-top shape.

Boynton Health Service (http://www.bhs.umn.edu/) provides comprehensive medical services to students. It is the place to go on campus to see a physician, have your eyesight checked, your teeth cleaned, to get vaccinated, receive a massage, seek mental health assistance and much more. Many of their services are free or offered at a reduced rate for students!  Be sure to check out their “New Student FAQs” page!

Also on campus, we have The Recreation Center (http://www.recsports.umn.edu/facilities/index.html). The Rec has fitness rooms, gymnasiums, a pool, and organized intramural and court sports. Stay fit! The St. Paul Campus Rec Center even has a climbing wall!

In addition to your physical wellbeing, it is important to make sure you look after your mental health. College is a huge transition from high school life, and oftentimes, new freshmen can go through an adjustment period of several months.  During this time, it’s important to seek out trusted people to talk with, whether they’re friends, family members or staff members of the university.  University Counseling and Consulting Services (http://www.uccs.umn.edu/) provides confidential personal counseling, group counseling, career counseling, and study skills workshops to University students.  Additionally, mental health assistance is available at the Boynton Health Service.  For additional information on mental health, go to http://www.mentalhealth.umn.edu/.

Another helpful resource on campus for many students is the Disability Services Office (http://www.ds.umn.edu/) .  Almost ten percent of first-year college students report having a disability.  The goal of this office is to ensure equal learning opportunities for all students by working with them individually to meet their specific needs.

Stay well!

For those of you interested in a health science career, watch of our next item: Health Career Information.