One of the things that makes the Midwestern State University campus feel like home is the number of resources it has to offer students — many of them for free. From being away from home to balancing finances, to simply not being informed, there’s no shortage of reasons students might need a little extra help or guidance.

One valuable campus resource that students take advantage of is free use of the Wellness Center. While many students visit the facility for the considerable number of machines, weights, and other exercise resources it has available, there are many other wellness resources that students may not be aware of. “Wellness Wednesdays,” courses are led by Wellness Center staff members passionate about improving student health, and take place each Wednesday through February.

While the first two opportunities have passed, there are two more Wellness Wednesdays planned for February 18 and February 25, both of which will be held from 4-5 p.m. at the Wellness Center. The February 18 event will focus on how to manage stress, and the February 25 event will explore available health care options.   

Angie Reay, the Executive Director of the Wellness Center, believes these courses are important because “healthy habits formed in college can carry on throughout life.” She noted how catering to all areas of health — emotional, mental, and physical — contributes to lifelong health. She also mentioned that healthy habits generally contribute to better classroom performance through better focus, higher energy levels, and improved sleep quality.  

“I have practiced healthy habits my entire life. I was a student-athlete at MSU, and had to take care of my health through exercise, proper nutrition, stress management, sleep habits, and academic success. I had to prioritize my health to ensure that I was staying healthy for my classes and playing basketball,” Reay said.  

Reay said one of the most common habits that she frequently sees and negatively impacts student health is poor sleep habits. She emphasized the importance of not staying up too late to study or scroll because the lack of sleep inevitably leads to poor time management, shorter memory capacity, moodiness, and poorer immune health. 

“We offer a variety of programs and services for students,” Reay said. “We want students to come and utilize the programs to support healthy habits.”  

Reay mentioned several other resources the University supplies, such as the Mustangs Pantry and the Canan Food Security Program. She also mentioned various resources available through the Wellness Center, such as Timely Care, Disability Support Services, the MSU Counseling Center, and Recreational Sports. The more students utilize these resources, the more likely they are to continue being offered and help many more students.