Keeping Your Mind and Body Healthy: An Apple a Day Keeps the Stress Away

Growing up, my mom always told me, “Get some rest, eat healthy, stay off of your phone, and go to the gym.” This response was the common answer whenever I would feel overwhelmed and stressed. It wasn’t until I started my first semester of college that I truly understood the power of these words. While my anxiety cannot be cured by the treadmill in Harrington or CR’s salad bar, adopting a healthier lifestyle has undoubtedly helped my mental and physical wellbeing.

After interviewing five people, I learned that this notion was not unfamiliar. My roommate stressed the importance of the fact that many health issues can be prevented early on in life with a healthy diet and exercise regimen. She told me that personally, she finds going to the gym as time for herself where she is able to unwind and eating healthy as a way of feeling energetic. Ani DaPonte also said that, as a nursing major, “You have to have a healthy lifestyle in order to communicate the importance of healthy living to others,” which has motivated her to adopt a healthier lifestyle. My RA told me that “the general public has, at best, minimal knowledge about health.” He noted that a majority of the health problems in today’s society are a result of the fact that people do not know how to take care of themselves properly and have had false realities about health from a young age that are either outdated or were never even true to begin with. Maddie Ehrlich said that starting college was one of the biggest factors in opening her perspective of mental health and allowing her to seek help. While it was uncomfortable and foreign at first, college allowed her to take the steps necessary to feel better, many of which were going to the gym more often and setting aside time in the day to focus on herself and to relax. 

Redding RA Matt Ward expressed his concern for Student Health Services, stating that he knows very few people who have had positive experiences with them. Ella Kolln similarly mentioned how Student Health Services failed to properly treat her recurring symptoms, leaving her to visit Urgent Care in Newark several times. While most of the people I interviewed shared their personal, more negative experiences with UD health services, they also acknowledged that they believe UD is doing the best they can with the resources they have. Maddie Ehrlich mentioned that even though the counseling center is understaffed, “they are aware of the issue and have been actively taking steps to expand their resources and are putting time and effort into advertising their resources and benefits to the UD community.” My RA talked about the variety of classes that the LilBob gym has to offer. Whether it is rock climbing or CrossFit, he thinks that there is something that can suit anyone’s needs, which makes UD’s efforts to increase health awareness more accessible. 

An apple a day may not keep the stress completely away, but it is a good first step. 

Selma Cemerlic