Happy New Year, and welcome to the January/February edition of the Well-Being Newsletter!

Upcoming Well-Being Events

St. Olaf Book Clubs

There are four book clubs starting on campus in January. Click here for more details about the books, leaders and meeting times. Being a part of a book club is a good way to meet new people and build community. 

Brown Bag Lunch Talk – RSVP here

Thursday, January 18 | 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | Valhalla (BC 211)

Bring your lunch (light appetizers will be served) and join the Well-Being Committee for TED Talk:  “How To Make Stress Your Friend” and guided discussion time. 

Yoga during January 

• Mondays, January 8, 15, and 22 with Nancy Veverka | 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | CAD Studio 3
• Wednesdays, January 17 and 24 with Denny Bengston | 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Skogland 18A

Lunch Gatherings for Staff & Faculty

Bring your lunch and gather with others for some social time!

• Tuesdays, January 9 and 23 | 12–1 p.m. | BC 221
• Wednesdays, January  3, 17, and 31 | 12–1 p.m. | BC 221

Veganuary

Submitted by Cindy Herda, St. Olaf Student Health Services

What is this you ask — it’s an annual event that encourages non-vegans to adopt a vegan diet during the month of January (Collins Dictionary). It may sound hard, but you can do it if you set your mind to it! It is a new year, so why not let this be one of your resolutions?

The eating regimen means omitting all animal products including meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs and even honey. Instead, vegans load up on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and soy like tofu, edamame and tempeh. Experts advise easing into it, rather than going all in at once. If you are feeling deprived you won’t stick with it.

Modifications may include:

• Start with “meatless Mondays”
• Consider a “Vegetarian January” that omits meat, but still includes eggs and dairy. Just eating more plant-based foods could be a realistic goal.
• Try going vegan three days a week, and eat mostly a plant-based diet. On the other days still include fish, dairy and eggs

This past Lenten season, a coworker and myself decided to try a Daniel Fast, which is basically going vegan and then some. Below are my favorite recipes I tried:

• Easy Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats Recipe
• Easy Chickpea Curry Recipe
• Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl Recipe

National Blood and Organ Donor Month

The need for blood is constant and can be essential during surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. You can help by donating here on campus!

St. Olaf Blood Drive Details

Site: Buntrock Commons – Lion’s Pause Mane Stage
Address: 1521 Campus Dr, Northfield, MN, 55057
Location: Lion’s Pause
Dates: Monday February 19, Tuesday February 20, Wednesday February 21
Time: 1:00-7:00 p.m.

Click here to make an appointment

Mental Health First Aid Training

This FREE training will be held on Wednesday, January 10 from 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. in Trollhaugen (BC 210) with a certified instructor. All materials will be provided for you.  Sign Up Here! Identify. Understand. Respond. Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help. #BetheDifference

National Day of Racial Healing

January 16, 2024, marks the eighth annual National Day of Racial Healing. On this day, individuals, organizations and communities across the U.S. come together to explore their common humanity and build the relationships necessary to create a more just and equitable world. It falls the day after Martin Luther King Day.  Racism and Mental Health Resources