Current THRIVE Season: Rejuvenate
About Rejuvenate
The middle of the spring semester represents a time to pause and reflect. How are the routines you set at the beginning of the semester serving you? Are you making expected progress toward your semester goals? As you reflect on your progress so far and perhaps semester mid-terms, big projects or other deadlines begin to approach, in what ways can you adjust your routines and/or your goals to continue progress through the semester toward your self-authored definition of success?
Reflection Questions
- How is your energy feeling right now?
- What helps sustain you throughout the semester?
- What does rest look like for you?
- How are you tending to your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, creative, financial, and social wellbeing?
- Are your daily and weekly habits support accomplishing the goals you have for yourself?
- Do any routines or goals need to be adjusted now that you’re midway through the semester?
What is Rejuvenation and why is it important?
What is Rejuvenation? Why Does it Matter As We Approach Midterms?
As we approach midterms, it’s important to think about how rejuvenation can rekindle the inner spark that can carry us forward to achieve optimal performance. Since 90% of optimal performance is an inside job, now is the time to review your inner thinking practices. Are there any energy-vampires sneaking around the shadows of your mind? Two prime energy-drainers are ‘rehashing’ and ‘rehearsing’:
- Rehashing is the excessive review of events or conversations that we replay in our mind. Rehearsing is the excessive preview of events or conversations that we replay in our mind. Perfectionism is the enemy of optimal performance. We get lost in rehashing trying to craft a perfect past “If only I would have…, then it would be better”.
- Also, we get lost in rehearsing trying to craft a perfect future “If only I can say it this way…, then it will be better”.
In the next few weeks, we invite you to stay mindful of reducing the excessive time that you spend rehashing or rehearsing unwanted possibilities. This will provide more time to rest and restore your inner energy supply. Consequently, you can redirect your inner thinking practices to increase actual preparation and preferred behaviors that move you closer to optimal performance.
For more, check out this article https://sfbaytimes.com/take-break-rehearsing-rehashing/ and this video: Reduce Anxiety, Rumination: Finish Every Day with Mindfulness | HealthyPlace
Refill Your Cup for Second Half of Spring Semester: Tips for Utilizing Spring Break to Rejuvenate
- Take a break, for real. Slow down and give yourself time to decompress.
- Get outside. Spring in the PNW is beautiful — go for a walk, nap or read outside, take time to marvel at nature and experience wonder and awe
- Move your body. Yoga with Adriene is an accessible yoga program to relax and keep flexible mind, body, and spirit
- Read something new! Campus Life recommends anything by: Adrienne Maree Brown
- Rest your mind and spirit. Examen Daily Prayer is a gratitude and guided reflection practice app that can be helpful in getting grounded
- Reflect on your routines & habits so far. Habit Tracking Apps can be helpful to think about routines, making changes, self-care, etc
- If you’re going to travel, go out, or party, plan ahead to keep yourself and others safe and healthy, including being smart about substances, using a buddy system, and being mindful of consent
- *Content adapted from Colorado State University’s Self-Care for Spring Break Webpage (click to learn more!)
Rejuvenate with Others
LuteConnects: We want to talk to you! LuteConnects are a chance for all students to connect with a Resident Assistant (RA) or Commuter Advocate (CA) to talk about how their semester is going. This quick, 15-minute conversation can include catching up since the last time you talked, checking in about your classes and co-curriculars, or seeking resources for an area where you could use extra support. All students should complete a LuteConnect with their RA or CA before April 7th
- Residential Students: Reach out to your RA for how you can schedule time to check-in with them in the next few weeks.
- Commuter Students: You can sign up for a time to talk with a Commuter Advocate in the CAVE by following this link.
Rejuvenate Your Health, Wellness, & Wellbeing
Dog Days of Spring: Come play with us! The Counseling Center is pleased to continue it’s partnership with Therapeutic Dogs International as they bring therapeutic dogs with their handlers for students to enjoy as stress relief. Save the Date: March 21st 12-1:30, Clock Tower Area
LuteTeleHealth: Trying to do a re-set and work on some health and wellbeing goals? The Health Coaches at Lute Telehealth are free for unlimited use and specialize in helping you re-set and achieve specific health and wellbeing goals. As you rejuvenate, consider setting up a consultation with a Health Coach today!
Rejuvenate Your Plans for Future Self
Declaration Days (hosted by Center for Student Success): Are you ready to declare? This event is for undergraduate students who have not declared a major (or minor) yet. Join the Center for Student Success staff, who will help with the declaration process.
- Monday, March 20th: AUC, tables outside OMM, from 10am-2pm
- Tuesday, March 21st: CSS lobby, from 10am-2pm
Travel as a Wildly Hopeful Act (hosted by Wild Hope Center for Vocation): Take some time to think about your Vocation: Does that include travel for you? On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, Mr. Rick Steves, an expert on European Travel, will give a presentation on “Travel as a Wildly Hopeful Act” at 7 PM in Chris Knutzen Hall at the Anderson University Center on the PLU Campus.
Take Care of Your Future Self
It’s time to start thinking about where you’re going to live next year!
- Complete the Living Plans and Learning Community Application by March 23rd.
- All continuing students need to complete this form regardless of if you are planning to live on-campus or at home!
- Planning to live on-campus? Attend the Room Selection Event on April 11 & 12
- Make sure to check your email (in early April) for estimated time to arrive
- Be sure to bring your PLU ID
- Don’t forget not everyone gets a single room, start looking for a roommate now!
- Can’t attend the event? Make sure to designate a proxy. Contact your RA or rlif@plu.edu with any questions!
Looking for Student Leadership opportunities for next year? The time is now to begin applying!
- Check out available positions, descriptions, and selection processes and timelines on the Campus Life website
- Looking for more on-campus and/or off-campus leadership or employment opportunities? Check out the PLU Opportunities Board
What does it mean to THRIVE?
Our goal is to support students as they THRIVE (i.e., support students’ Transition, Holistic-wellbeing, Retention, Innovation, Vocation, Engagement).
About THRIVE: THRIVE supports students as they flow through various seasons in the semester. The THRIVE semester flow will be highlighted digitally (on this website) and IRL (via 2022-23 poster series). You’ll also see these themes woven throughout university programming and engagement. This webpage is a home to organize resources for student thriving all semester long! Continue to check back in as the content, links, and opportunities highlighted below will rotate with each semester season!
The THRIVE Network includes representatives from: Athletics, Campus Life, Center for Diversity Justice and Sustainability, Campus Ministry, Hospitality Services & Campus Restaurants, Counseling/Health Centers, Campus Safety, Dean of Students Office, Center for Student Success, Wang Center, Alumni and Student Connections, Advancement, Admission, Center for Wild Hope, International Student Services.
From Arriving to Thriving: Supporting Lutes in Every ``Season``
The academic year (and the terms that comprise it) have a rhythm. While fall and spring semester follow similar cycles, their timing in both the academic and calendar years present slightly differently. Below is an outline of these annual rhythms presented through the THRIVE “Seasons” (each represented by a different “R”). As we move into each season of THRIVE, we will update the content on this page with a deeper dive into the opportunities and challenges that each season brings.
THRIVE Reflection Questions
Rooting
Rooting (beginning of the fall semester) // Whether you’re returning to campus or arriving as a brand-new Lute, THRIVE will invite you to set down roots and be intentional about setting yourself up for success—as you define it.
- Put down roots in your WHY (why are you here at PLU, getting a degree, working here, living according to certain values, etc.).
- Find or reconnect with “your people.” Who are your academic and social supports? You are not alone!
- Make a plan for the overall wellbeing of mind, body, and spirit.
Refresh
Refresh (middle of the fall semester) // Amid the long to-do lists from classes, job and graduate school applications, and work, it’s essential to rest, play, check in with ourselves, and reconnect with our hopes and goals. Mid-semester provides the opportunity to disrupt the burnout cycle and focus on your wellbeing to sustain you through the end.
- How can you refresh your priorities for the semester? Are there people and/or campus resources that can support you?
- Rejuvenation through rest, play, and refueling is key to caring for mind, body, and spirit. Interweaving these with your commitments can bring greater meaning and joy.
Reflect
Reflect (end of the fall semester) // The end of a semester often represents an overlapping of occupations, from focusing on finals and finishing the semester to looking ahead to next opportunities and preparing for crucial transitions. The end of the semester also provides another opportunity to check in with yourself and reflect mindfully on the past few months. It’s important to do this intentionally, and reaffirm for yourself what the semester has meant to you.
- Reflect on the journey of this semester: What have you learned? How have you grown? Where have you experienced joy?
- Reflect on the goals you established at the beginning of the semester. Which ones will you carry into the next chapter?
Renew
Renew (winter break & J-term) // The period between semesters presents an opportunity for renewal. As you prepare to engage the next cycle of spring semester, it’s important to take time to (re)fill your cup!
- What are you looking forward to doing or not doing in this in-between time (before spring semester commences)?
- What gives you energy and life? How can you focus on these things as you take time to renew your mind, body, and spirit?
Routine
Routine (beginning of the spring semester) // The start of spring represents not just a new semester, but a new calendar year as well. Whether you are a new or continuing student, the start of spring invites you to consider what routines and habits for the semester and year will bring you joy, wellbeing, and sustainable progress toward your goals?
Reflection Questions
- What helps you get into/develop a routine at the start of a new year and/or semester?
- How can your routines support flourishing for you and others?
- How do your routines support your values (for example, diversity, justice, and sustainability)?
- What goals do you have for the upcoming year/semester?
- What are 1-2 sustainable habits you would like to cultivate to support your concurrent goal progress and wellbeing this semester? Why are these habits (or routines) important to you
Routines are sets of regular habits that help you to thrive. Particularly at the beginning of a new season, such as a new year or a new semester, reflecting on goals and setting new or updating existing routines can be a strategy to sustain your daily, weekly, and monthly habits to engage your goals.
How do routines support wellbeing? (Insights from Northwestern Medicine)
- Routines help with effective stress management
- Routines can support healthy sleeping, mental clarity, and emotional wellbeing and energy
- Routines can support healthy eating, including making time to make or get healthy meals and snacks
- Routines can support us getting and staying active with regular movement and/or exercise habits
How do I start a routine? (Tips from Northwestern Medicine)
- Start small: try on one or two small things at a time. Once you have a new habit down, you can consider adding another one
- Make plans & identify ways to hold yourself accountable to those plans (like co-planning with an accountabili-buddy)
- Reframe thinking: Routines and habits don’t need to be boring chores. Reflect on how the routines and/or habits you consider keeping, changing, or adding this semester can help you live a life that is more joyful, healthy, fun, and thoughtful?
Social & Community Thriving
- Make the DJS Coalition Series part of your routine and connect with others around shared DJS values
- Make Clubs & Organizations part of your routine! Join us on Wednesday February 15 from 4-6pm to learn out continuing and new clubs and how to get involved!
Academic & Spiritual Thriving
- Make tutoring & supplemental instruction part of your routine!
- Make Chapel Break part of your routine every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30-11am
Mental & Physical Thriving
- Make LuteTelehealth part of your routine with a variety of active and passive resources available to all Lutes!
- Make Recreational Sports (including Outdoor Rec, Club Sports, Intramurals, and/or Group X classes) part of your routine for fun movement & connection with others!
Why is it that New Year resolutions seem to fade away without sustainability?
Fear, uncertainty, and doubt are common barriers that often show-up which get us off-track and take us to places we don’t want to be. This is a very human situation. We all want to make healthy habits to get back on-track and where we want to be.
Here is a brief video clip (longer version here) that shows common barriers and pathways for rooting in useful routines. If you have any comments questions or concerns or would like us to present on the material, feel free to contact us at counseling@plu.edu or 253-535-7206.
Rejuvenate
Rejuvenate (middle of the spring semester) // The middle of the spring semester represents a time to pause and reflect. How are the routines you set at the beginning of the semester serving you? Are you making expected progress toward your semester goals? As you reflect on your progress so far and perhaps semester mid-terms, big projects or other deadlines begin to approach, in what ways can you adjust your routines and/or your goals to continue progress through the semester toward your self-authored definition of success?
- How is your energy feeling right now?
- What helps sustain you throughout the semester?
- What does rest look like for you?
- How are you tending to your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, creative, financial, and social wellbeing?
- Are your daily and weekly habits support accomplishing the goals you have for yourself?
- Do any routines or goals need to be adjusted now that you’re midway through the semester?
Rejoice
Rejoice (end of the spring semester) // The end of the spring semester is also the end of the academic year and a time for reflective rejoicing. As you for finals, capstones, and, for some, commencement, how are you celebrating yourself and others?
- What are the major milestones for you in this season (e.g., finals, capstone, commencement)?
- Who and what can support you as you close the chapter of this semester and academic year, including all the things you are carrying right now?
- How are you expressing gratitude right now as you reflect on the gifts of this semester/year and who/what has helped sustain you?
Rest
Rest (summer term/break) // The period between spring and fall semesters is a longer season during which we are all invited to rest.
- What does rest look like for you? What helps you feel most rested and energized?
- What opportunities (and sometimes challenges) does the summer season hold for you this year?
