Women Living Well: Mind/Body Connection - 2002
Student Papers
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The talks that were held in this wellness seminar were about the mind and the body being inter-related aspects of human experience. These talks have helped my thinking regarding my lifestyle. The things I do, the environment I am in, and the choices I make in my everyday life have a significant effect on my mind and body.

In general, everything you do in your everyday life will eventually have an effect on your mind and your body. Sometimes the effect is a positive one and sometimes it is a negative one. For example, if you are under a lot of stress due to schoolwork and exams, you are more likely to suffer from migraines or headaches because your mind and body are under a lot of pressure. Your mind and body cannot handle so much pressure and thus this pressure is expressed through headaches or migraines. Another example would be of sleep. If you are sleep deprived, your body and mind will not be able to function as well as they could. Statistics prove that you are not as alert and sharp in your thinking as you could be if you were getting an adequate amount of sleep. If you were getting an adequate amount of sleep every night, your mind and body would not be deprived of any component and would function better. Another example is regarding exercise and eating well. You should eat at least three meals a day and should exercise regularly to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Your mind and body need the exercise and food in order to function properly. Hence, it is extremely important to make choices that will not affect your mind and your body in a negative way in order to lead a healthy life.

Here at Bryn Mawr, these discussions have made me aware of a lot of things I was not aware of before. I have learned that for my mind and body to function to their fullest potential, I need to get a good amount of sleep every night. Usually I get about 8 hours of sleep every night but sometimes I get more work and get only 5 hours or less of sleep. Ms. Pien mentioned that the sleep lost could pretty much never be recovered no matter how much you try and make up for it. She also stated the effects of sleep deprivation on your mind and body and their ability to function. It has made me realize that I need to manage my time better so that I can get enough sleep every night so that I can function better the following day. The talk by Ms. Fonshell about exercise and mental health was very useful as well. I have not been exercising since I have come to Bryn Mawr even though I know it is very important. Her talk motivated me to start exercising regularly because you become more energetic and feel better about yourself and your surroundings. The talks regarding depression, migraine headaches, anxiety, and addiction were also very useful in explaining how these things can affect your mind and body. Overall, I need to manage my time well so that I eat at least three meals a day, I exercise, sleep well, and get all my work done without stressing a lot.

This wellness course has made me understand how the mind and the body work together and how your everyday life affects them. In order for your mind and body to function to their full potential, one needs to make decisions accordingly. This course has really given me good insight on how to lead a healthy life.


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