Rush University students are on a rigorous path to become the best health care providers they can be. They complete hours of clinicals, are tasked with challenging coursework and have commitments outside of school hours.
On top of all that, they often put the needs of their patients before their own.
Richa Sharma and Kendall Kobe, co-presidents of RU Well, the Rush University Student Wellness Association, know the importance of self-care and are making sure their classmates do, too.
RU Well promotes wellness and hosts events to give students the tools and techniques they need to manage their well-being.
“We had a succulent planting event. It was a great way for people to take a break from studying,” Sharma said. “We saw groups of people from across the colleges, including occupational therapy, medicine and nursing. People were able to interact and relax during a stressful time.”
Sharma is in her second year of medical school and is interested in pursuing psychiatry and internal medicine. She says no matter the direction students take, working in health care inevitably comes with stress and sadness.
“There’s a lot that goes into every job at Rush. We’re always caring for other people, but we have to also take care of ourselves,” she says. “If we don’t, we can’t continue school or do what we need to do. Mental health is so important, and I think it’s easy to lose sight of our own well-being.”
Kobe says she joined the student organization as a first-year student looking for new activities. She enjoyed how Rush’s occupational therapy program and RU Well complemented one another.
“Coloring helps de-stress during school, and in OT, we’re really big on arts, crafts and mental health,” Kobe says.
6 ways to manage stress and improve well-being
Mary Duckett, senior wellness administrator, Rush University Wellness Center, offers these tips on managing stress.
Eliminate intentional worrying
Duckett suggests carving out a couple of minutes every day to think about what worries you. Identify if there is anything you have control over and can take the first steps to address.
For example, you may be stressed about having to schedule a doctor’s appointment or pay a bill. But making the initial call or starting the process can help it seem less intimidating.
There may be things stressing you out that you can’t control, such as how someone else is acting or events happening in the world. Identify which stressors are out of your control and instead focus on how you can respond to them by taking care of your mental health and nervous system.
Practice mindfulness
Duckett says we’re all guilty of mind wandering — when we're present in a space, but we are thinking about something completely unrelated to what we're doing. For example, you may be spending time with a friend but thinking about what work you need to complete for school.
Duckett says engaging in mind-wandering increases your stress levels and can affect your ability to be in the moment.
One way to practice mindfulness is through guided meditation. Students and staff can download a free meditation app called Koa Care 360 through the Rush Employee/Student Assistance program.
Set boundaries
Communicate with your professor or manager if there’s a task overwhelming you.
Setting boundaries not only applies to work and school, but social media and invitations to events.
Show gratitude
Expressing gratitude to someone else or receiving gratitude releases endorphins and can put you and the person you recognized in a brighter mood.
Make a realistic schedule with room for breaks
Creating a schedule with break times can help you focus and work toward a break that you can use any way you want, whether it's going for a walk, watching your favorite show or taking a nap.
Make time to do things you enjoy
Take time for things like listening to music, hanging out with friends or moving your body.
The Rush Fitness Center is free for all students. Activate your membership by visiting the Rush Fitness Center, open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
You can find more information on managing stress or Rush Wellness Center therapy resources here.
