Hello, all!

Congratulations on pushing through to week six! We can’t believe it’s already October.

Last week, Student Wellness and Spiritual Development led Biola’s community in observing Mental Health Awareness Week. Each day, they emphasized one “tool” which might better equip us to care for ourselves during these strange times. Even though MHAW is technically over, you’re more than welcome to check the tools on our Instagram page and continue to make use of them; we know we will!

When the weight of responsibilities from work, school, family, and friends feels crushing, when the state of the world seems so overwhelming, taking time to care for our mental and emotional wellbeing can feel nearly impossible. And, In a time of remote learning and at-home employment, it can be incredibly difficult to set boundaries for ourselves. If we’re not careful, the fine line between work and leisure time can become blurry-- if not nonexistent.

One thing we, as a team, really took away from the week is the fact that prioritizing our mental health is a discipline, even if we don’t often think of it like that. The practice of caring for ourselves is just that-- a practice. And arguably, engaging in such practices has never been more important. Our team is learning that mental health and wellness is a journey filled with many highs and lows. It’s a journey best taken one step at a time, one day at a time.

Wherever you may be, please remember to check in with yourself. Unscrunch your eyebrows, if they’re scrunched. If your jaw is clenched, relax it. Inhale. Exhale. Take a few minutes to be kind to your mind today and every day.

Cheering for you,

The GRIT Team