Brunswick ME May 18, 2012, 4:45 am  38°F wind speed: 0 mph N |
Once you’ve stabilized from the shock of putting on the extra five or 10 pounds the American Heart Association reports that most folks gain during the holidays, you can do something about it. You’ve heard about the importance of drinking water, but did you know about the metabolism-boosting qualities of green tea? What better way to reduce some of the stress that builds at semester’s end than to spend some time basking in the unconditional love of a dog? For years, Bowdoin’s Counseling and Health services have experimented with bringing to campus dogs and cats with which students could interact during periods of high stress. This year, three programs are allowing students to connect with the kind of therapy dogs that regularly visit patients in hospitals and nursing homes, assist children who have difficulty reading, and allow veterans to return to their families and communities after suffering injuries and post traumatic stress. “Many students light up and come alive in the presence of dogs,” says Director of Counseling Service Bernie Hershberger. “It reminds students of their animals at home and allows them to have a few moments to pause, relax, pet and play with the dogs. Research indicates that time with animals lowers blood pressure, boosts immune system functioning, and reduces general levels of stress.” The Counseling Service, Health Center, Residence Life, and student organizations are exploring how contact with pet therapy dogs might ease stress levels and improve overall health and emotional well being for students throughout the year.           
Tired lately? Perhaps a better question is, “Are you always tired?” Even if you do typically get a good night’s sleep, chances are there are times when you aren’t getting what you need. Research culled from the Centers for Disease Control, Penn State and the University of Michigan debunks six popular myths that might be preventing you from getting the rest you deserve.
 Bowdoin housekeeper Jan Day enjoys a cup of coffee at a celebratory gathering after walking from 4:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., with breaks, for the Finance & Administration team.
For five years, the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs has hit the track — challenging staffers to walk in the name of health and fitness. This year, they stepped it up a notch — challenging employees from Finance & Administration to do the same. “We started it back in the fall of 2007 as way to educate folks on how sedentary our jobs can make us and to encourage folks to be active — especially during this period of time over Thanksgiving when work is crazy but you also get a little down time,” says Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs Margaret Hazlett. Fifty-one staffers from Student Affairs and 246 from Finance & Administration participated in the step challenge at the Farley Field House track Wednesday. “For many of us, the benefits of this challenge — aside from shedding light on how easy it is to be inactive in a day — have been the camaraderie and the humor used to motivate us,” says Hazlett.
Even for those folks lucky enough to be working at their dream job, there are those days when frustrations run high and motivation seems non-existent. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or in an entry-level position — or just having a bad day — Inc. magazine offers five steps toward “getting your mojo back.”
Among its Alternative Spring Break 2012 options, the McKeen Center for the Common Good includes Providing Safe Passage in Guatemala, a trip that entails helping in the effort to combat poverty by creating opportunities and fostering dignity through the power of education. Research by trustee emerita Lisa McElaney ’77, president and principal investigator for Vida Health Communications, has been looking at ways media education distributed at childbirth might effectively reduce incidents of child abuse in the first year of life. With NIH funding and a handful of powerful partnerships, “All Babies Cry” is a multiple-dose intervention program distributed during the maternity stay. It includes a video, booklet, take-home DVD and various online components.
The right ingredients for a successful marriage may vary from couple to couple, but spending time around two people who have made it last can’t hurt. The Wall Street Journal examines the dynamics at play within a couple whose elusive chemistry and respect for one another have carried their bond for an epic 52 years.
Disagreements are inevitable, and don’t have to be as prickly as they sometimes feel. The Chronicle of Higher Education shares an article with tips on how to maintain dignity and respect for those involved on both sides. In a similar vein, the Harvard Business Review translates the question, “Would you mind if I gave you some feedback?” into the more truthful “here’s some negative feedback,” and decodes how the sender and recipient may be feeling, in order to help you be a better communicator. |  | ||
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