Penn State recently announced plans for a host of activities for its second spring semester second “wellness day: on Thursday, March 11. The programming for intellectual and spiritual wellness will include a mixture of in-person events, prerecorded workshops, and self-paced activities.

Dan Murphy, the programming committee co-lead and director for Student Orientation and Transition Programs, said that focusing on intellectual and spiritual wellness is key to maintaining one’s overall wellness.

“Intellectual wellness is about stimulating our minds, whether it’s by learning new skills, participating in challenging conversations, or reading enjoyable books,” Murphy said. “Spiritual wellness is about accessing peace and a sense of meaning through religion, mindfulness, nature, or whatever path feels right to us. Both are essential to being healthy, happy, whole human beings. We want to encourage Penn Staters to pause on March 11 and consider how they can nurture their minds and spirits.”

While social and emotional wellness remains at the core of wellness day activities, Thursday’s activities will provide students with the opportunity to interact in intellectual and spiritual-centered activities. According to Penn State’s official wellness day website, the activities are as follows:

• “Fuel for Thought Meal” — Penn State Campus Dining locations across the commonwealth and featuring delicious “brain-boosting” foods. In-person events will follow COVID-19 safety measures, including masking and physical distancing.
• “The Anxiety Project” — The project by Dr. William Doan invites Penn Staters to contribute to community artboards as an opportunity for reflection and expression. The project will be on view from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in the HUB Gallery and online through March 14.
• “Confronting White Feminism” — This recorded virtual keynote by Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin of Unladylike will discuss how feminism and white womanhood have pushed up against racial equity in past and present social justice movements.

Penn State’s libraries are also providing resources for forming a book club that’s focused on intellectual and spiritual wellness and overcoming adversity. The libraries will provide the books to student organizations or groups, as well as discussion resources and fun extras to help you along the way.

Additional resources participants can explore at their leisure, including book recommendations, articles, podcasts, music, pre-recorded yoga and meditation classes, and more.

All of the recorded and virtual workshops and resources are available to Penn State students not just on wellness days, but throughout the semester. Students are encouraged to go back and revisit these programs at any time to continue to maintain their overall wellness.

Penn State’s next and final wellness day is scheduled for April 7. It will focus on physical and environmental wellness. Penn State’s first wellness day back in February centered on financial wellness.