Scatter-brained Activities and Self-Care

We are approaching mid-term!

I’m very excited for the 150th birthday of Carleton, which is this upcoming weekend and Mid-Term Break.

It is super easy for Carls to take on a lot of activities on top of their academically rigorous classes and is part of the culture for Carls to be excited, energetic, curious, and willing to do everything. This is a great thing about my peers but unfortunately, this does not necessarily account for self-care time. I need this upcoming day off to catch up on sleep and laundry!

We all need to treat ourselves every once in awhile! My mind is scrambling as I write a Judicial Opinion for Constitutional Law, try to define what global environmental politics are and analyze the Paris Agreement that just went into effect.

I need to carve out some time to treat myself by taking naps, watching Narcos, or going off-campus to grab a meal and get some physical distance from my commitments on campus.

This past weekend I walked around a lot while doing my photography homework – shooting architecture. Right now I have a nice balance where my homework for photography acts as a break from my political science homework.

Peer-Led Class at Carleton

Last year, two seniors, Allie Dulles and Kirstie Barton developed a zero-credit, peer-led class entitled OpenMind. It is a discussion based course that takes a broad-spectrum approach by looking at mental health in society, our individual lives, and at Carleton in particular. The class topics are framed using a wellness lens, which emphasizes that everyone has mental health regardless of the presence of mental illness and can be empowered to reflect on their wellbeing. Through these conversations we hope to normalize discussions around mental health, illness, and wellness, reduce shame and stigma surrounding the pursuit of mental wellness, and create an opportunity for individuals to connect with others who are thinking about these issues. This is happening Winter Term and I’m quite excited about it. I want everyone to do it.

Check-in Questions

At the beginning of a lot of clubs or extra-curriculars, people will introduce themselves with their name, gender pronouns, and class year. We also do a check-in question to start the meeting – everyone goes around the circle and answers, as a way to now focus on the moment we are in, begin active listening, think about the people around us and add some light-heartedness to what could otherwise be a serious meeting. I am active in Divest Carleton, the Collective for Women’s Issues, have a radio show on KRLX and play on the Women’s Nova Ultimate Frisbee team, which is a super casual Division III team. We pretty much do this in all the organizations I’m involved in every time we convene.

Some prime examples that I’ve heard recently:

• “If you could get into a bathtub filled with any substance, what is it filled with?”
• “What color are you feeling?”
• “What is your least favorite smell?”
• “Describe your day in one word.”
• “What is your alter-ego’s name?”
• “Coffee or Tea?”
• “What is your preferred way to eat a bagel?”
• How do you personally pronounce Sequiscentennial?

Ally, a native New Yorker transplanted to the Midwest, is an American Studies major. She loves to drink coffee or kombucha while learning about environmental policy. She also plays Ultimate Frisbee casually and wishes she was better at napping. Read on to meet the rest of our bloggers.