Dear Grad Students,

The fall semester is a roller coaster within the rhythm of the year. Across the spectrum of degree program stage, students deal with the stresses of the job market, preparing for upcoming program milestones, and adjusting to new demands and responsibilities at the start of the academic year.
 
As you focus on your professional development and career preparation, it is important to be mindful of your stress, wellness, and time management. Now more than ever, you need to maintain a positive work/life balance. You cannot teach, write, research, or positively maintain professional relationships without paying attention to your own needs.
 
I encourage you to become familiar with the Be Well initiative from University Health Services (UHS), a collection of resources aimed at the multifaceted aspects of wellness, including stress, sleep, time management, self-compassion, and exercise. GradPro has also curated a list of Self-Care Links that includes resources on mental and physical health, attention hygiene, screen wellness, and more. See also the Black Lives Matter page from UHS, where you can find resources and information specifically for BIPOC students, and the list from UHS of Community-Specific Resources and Services.
 
Don’t forget also to subscribe to the Graduate Student Life Digest for a biweekly collection of opportunities related to graduate student well-being released by Larissa Charnsangavej, Director of Graduate Student Life.

I hope you all take the opportunity to pause, breathe, and consider your wellness preemptively as an integral aspect of your professional development and graduate student experience.

– Linda von Hoene, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Professional Development 
GradPro | 307 Sproul Hall