As Falvey’s Cat in the Stax, Rebecca writes articles covering a broad range of topics, from academics to hobbies to random events. All the while highlighting how Falvey Library can enhance your Villanova experience!

Happy Wednesday, Wildcats! The last day of classes is next Thursday, can you believe it? It feels so close yet so far at the same time. I know most of you are probably feeling burnt out right now, I sure am. Aware that this is a stressful time for students, I’ll keep this post short, but that doesn’t make the message any less important.

Self-care is critical for our physical and mental well-being. You’ve definitely heard this term before–it means caring for yourself. By looking after yourself and taking care of often-ignored needs, you can benefit your overall well-being and improve your productivity in the long run. The benefits of continuous self-care include improved physical, mental, and emotional health, increased productivity, better social relationships, heightened self-esteem, and decreased chances of burnout.

Photo by Content Pixie from Unsplash.com

Taking a step away from your work is necessary every once in a while. Make some time these next few weeks to take a break and relax, even if it’s only for five minutes. Do something for yourself that makes you happy. Below are a variety of ways you can engage in some self-care:

Physical:

• Work out
• Take a walk
• Sit outside in the sun and fresh air
• Eat well
• Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night

Mental/Emotional:

• Talk to someone–a friend, relative, therapist, professor, mentor, etc.
• Journal
• Stay Positive
• Volunteer
• Meet up with friends and family
• Read a book
• Do something artistic
• Watch a movie

Spiritual:

• Meditate/Pray
• Practice Mindfulness
• Practice Yoga

If you happen to be studying in Falvey on May 3, please take some time to check out our Stress Busting Open House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Library will have snacks, fun activities, and some cute furry friends! It will be a great way to take a break from work and re-energize yourself!

Looking to get involved in making a difference? Villanova has organized a myriad of events over the next two weeks to celebrate Earth Week. Click here to look at what’s being offered and to sign up!

Rebecca Amrick is a first-year graduate student in the English Department and a Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Atonement, Ian McEwan wrote, “A person is, among all else, a material thing, easily torn and not easily mended.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats! Sometimes, mental health is a delicate thing. It’s far easier to succumb to stress than it is to recover from it.

The good news is that it’s early in the semester. This is the perfect time to build good habits. It’s hard to get yourself out of a hole once it’s already been dug. So, if you want to minimize burnout and anxiety later in the semester, now is an opportunity to prioritize self-care and making time for things that help you de-stress.

THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, January 29

Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Multifaith Prayer Room, St. Rita’s Hall | Virtual Option | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Tuesday, January 30

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Wednesday, January 31

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Thursday, February 1

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 12-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Sunday, February 4

Celebration in Honor of Villanova’s Digital Library and Bethel AME Church of Ardmore’s Digitization Partnership | 1 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | Refreshments Served | RSVP by Monday, Jan. 29, by emailing Beaudry Allen (beaudry.allen@villanova.edu).

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 3-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

Photo by Alysha Rosly on Unsplash

If you’re a fan of breakfast pastries, tomorrow, Jan. 30, is National Croissant Day. While a croissant from Dunkin’ or another coffee shop will suffice, if you want to elevate your experience and support a local business, buy one from a local bakery.

If you’re looking for a warm beverage to keep you toasty, National Hot Chocolate Day is this Wednesday, Jan. 31. It might feel a bit warmer than the temperatures we had a couple weeks ago, but the chilly weather is still perfect to enjoy a warm cup of hot cocoa.

Already feeling stressed? Friday, Feb. 2, is Self Renewal Day, a day for self-care and self-improvement. If you’re feeling up to it, use the day to do something that makes you feel happier and healthier, whether that’s going for a walk, doing some cleaning, or making some time to enjoy a hobby.

If you want to try your hand in some seasonal cooking, National Homemade Soup Day is this Sunday, Feb. 4. Cooking soup might seem daunting, but it’s easier than you might be thinking. Although I’m not a huge soup person, it’s customizable and undeniably perfect for a chilly winter day.

Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

For some of you, you’re still in the hustle and bustle of finals week. For others, you’ve finished your exams and papers and are settling into break. Regardless, during this stressful time of the year, we could all use a little pick-me-up to brighten our days and help us relax.

That looks different for everyone. For some, it’s watching a movie you love. For others, it’s spending time with loved ones, reading a good book, or going on a run. While our last weekend rec’s of the semester will share some of my pick-me-ups, if these aren’t your cup of tea, my highest recommendation is to do something that makes you happy this weekend. Enjoy your break!

Photo by Jacqueline Munguía on Unsplash

If you have 5 minutes…and like little brain-teaser games, play one (or all) of the New York Times daily games. While Wordle is certainly gets the most attention, I’m biased towards Connections and Letter Boxed.

If you have 15 minutes…and need a caffeine boost, swing by a coffee shop for your go-to drink. Whether you’re into cold brew, black coffee, chai, or hot chocolate (or even a delicious pastry), you’ve earned it. And, if you’re still studying in the library, you can always swing by Holy Grounds for your caffeine fix.

If you have 30 minutes…and need some relaxation, come to our last Mindfulness Monday session of the semester this Monday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. If you’re not on campus, no need to worry, it’s offered in-person and on Zoom.

If you have 1 hour and 30 minutes…and need some happy nostalgia, watch Shrek, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. Shrek is just one of those movies that stuck around in the minds of 2000s kids, and it’s the perfect thing to watch when you just want to watch something familiar and entertaining.

If you have 2 hours and 1 minute…and love rom-coms, watch Mamma Mia!, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. Although rom-coms aren’t typically my go-to genre, they are perfect for when you need something lighthearted to destress, and with it’s sunny Greek setting and ABBA-filled soundtrack, Mamma Mia! is perfect just for that.

Bonus: for more rom-com fun (without needing a DVD player), we also have Clueless, Legally Blonde, and Crazy Rich Asians, all available to stream through Falvey. If you want to stream more movies, check out our Digital Campus library here.

If you have 7 hours…and want to read a classic, read Pride and Prejudice, available online through Falvey. I’ve actually never gotten around to reading Pride and Prejudice (despite absolutely adoring the 2005 Keira Knightley movie), but it’s something I hope to enjoy over break.

Annie Stockmal is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library.

As Falvey’s Cat in the Stax, Rebecca writes articles covering a broad range of topics, from academics to hobbies to random events. All the while highlighting how Falvey Library can enhance your Villanova experience!

Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash.com

Welcome back to campus, Wildcats! I hope you all had a restful break and were able to enjoy your time off and spend it with friends and family. It is important to be rejuvenated and re-energized as we enter the home stretch of the semester.

The passing of Thanksgiving marks various occasions: the end of November, the approach of December, the beginning of official preparations for Christmas, and the coming of finals. We are not only entering the Christmas season but the season of finals as well. From today, there are only two weeks until the first day of finals. And for those of you who are liberal arts majors, chances are you have papers to write instead of tests to study for, so these next two weeks are really crunch time.

While you research, write, and study, remember that it is important to take care of yourself too. Your work is only as good as you are! If you are stressed, tired, and overwhelmed, you won’t do as well on your assignments.

Take it Little by Little

This is a potential time-management strategy you can use to complete your final assignments. Let’s say you have a ten-page research paper coming up. Instead of looking at this project as a huge undertaking, break it down into smaller steps: read, highlight and take notes, outline, and write. You can break it down even further by doing a little bit each day (starting today). Reading 1-2 sources and take notes on Days 1-3, create an outline on Day 4, write 2-3 pages on Days 5-10 (or even 5 pages a day if you’re a fast typer, meaning you could have your entire paper written in 2 days), and review and edit on Day 11. And just like that you’re done, with some time to spare! This process works the same if you have a big test to study for. Study a chapter or section each day and review the material the day or two before the exam.

This method only works if you start early enough and give yourself enough time to work. If you wait until a few days before a paper is due to start working on it, you’re going to have to do everything at once which will stress you out. Starting your work ahead of time and working on it in bite-sized portions allows you to complete everything in a timely manner and keeps you from feeling overwhelmed. Hopefully, you’ll then have some free time to relax and focus on self-care. This strategy is also great if you have multiple assignments: you work on a little bit for each project every day, and you’ll have everything completed before their due dates.

Do Something You Enjoy

With all your focus directed toward schoolwork, it can be easy to forget to take some time to yourself. Do something this week that you love. This can be a range of things: read a book, watch a movie, workout, take a nap, get dinner with a friend, whatever makes you happy and will get your mind off school and exams.

Villanova’s Health Services has many opportunities for students to de-stress and take a break. They offer Pet Therapy every Wednesday at noon and 15 minute Chair Massages every Monday.

To remind students to take care of themselves during the finals season, Health Services will be hosting a Thriving Through Finals event on Thursday, December 7 at 12 p.m. in the Connelly Center. Pick up a healthy snack, meet the campus dietitian, and learn what foods you can eat to support you during finals week!

If you happen to be studying in Falvey on December 7, feel free to stop by Speakers’ Corner for our Stress Busting Open House from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Library will have snacks and video games. It will be a great way to take a break from work and re-energize yourself!

Rebecca Amrick is a first year graduate student in the English Department and a Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week.

As Fall Break comes to a close, it may be easy to mourn the loss of your free time and feel stressed for what is to come. While (sadly), we can’t exactly change our upcoming workloads and schedules, we can take a moment to breathe and take care of ourselves before it gets overwhelming. This weekend’s recs are some of my self-care favorites to keep you rejuvenated as you enter the semester once more (but even if none of these are your cup of tea, I still hope you are able to take some time to prioritize your own self-care).

If you have 49 seconds…and are dealing with negative thoughts, watch this soothing and uplifting TikTok. It might not cure you of all the negativity swirling around in your (I’m sure beautiful and capable) brain, but it might be a helpful reminder when you’re struggling.

If you have 4 minutes…and want to relax with an oddly calming classic Internet video, watch “MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON.” Perhaps an early version of ASMR, Marcel the Shell is an oddly endearing sentient clay-mation seashell with a small voice (provided by the very talented Jenny Slate) and positive vibes.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

If you have 5 minutes…and need to do something tactile, play with some putty (slime’s less messy cousin). I use Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, which comes in a wide variety of colors, textures, and scents. (Also, if you can get your hands on one, Falvey’s stress balls are great).

If you have 15 minutes…and want to learn more about self-care and what it looks like for others, read this New York Times article. It might give you some ideas for new self-care practices you could work into your own routine.

If you have 20 minutes…and need to find a new calming soundtrack, listen to Alice Kristiansen’s recent album Memos from Maine. “Lucid Dreaming” and “Oregon” are my particular favorites for taking a few minutes for myself. (And of course, Hozier’s self titled album is also great for calming any nerves).

If you have 1 hour…and need to get your endorphins pumping, go on a walk or a hike. If you don’t want to leave campus, check out Villanova’s self-guided tree tour. It’ll take you on a walk around campus and show you some interesting greenery.

If you have 2 hours…and need to throw something on in the background, watch one of your comfort movies or TV shows (perhaps from Falvey’s DVD Collection). Addams Family Values is my favorite comfort film, especially during October. Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing is a more recent comfort movie of mine (even though it’s not entirely comforting).

If you have 8 hours…and have been bogged down with reading for classes, read a book for fun. Although we might be a bit biased at Falvey, reading something you actually enjoy might help rekindle your love for reading (or at least make it seem less like a chore), while keeping your brain active. Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen has been a comfort book of mine since middle school.

Bonus: If you want to set-up a good habit for the rest of the semester, join Falvey’s Mindfulness Monday virtual session this Monday, Oct. 17. Campus Ministries will lead us through a guided meditation/mindfulness exercise that will leave you feeling less stressed.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.