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CAPS Presents: Help Others and Yourself

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Many people enjoy helping others.

Aside from altruistic feelings, helping in the form of random acts of kindness, volunteering or civic service can keep you feeling engaged and connected with people in the community.

In many ways, helping others can lead to helping oneself in that it provides an opportunity to shift focus outward rather than dwelling inward on negative or self-critical thoughts.

Things like community service or volunteering can
also help build your resume and network.

Afterall, you never know who might have a connection that can help you out professionally or even personally.

Helping others can be as simple as offering to help a fellow student study.

It can also involve a larger commitment, such as regular volunteering commitments or donations.

Any way that you help, large or small, can have rippling effects on the community and on yourself.

This week consider ways in which you can reach out to help others.

Make time for a simple phone call or message to a peer who seems down.

Stop to hold the door open for a stranger.

Donate items to those in need.

Or, give your time and skills to a larger cause, such as mentoring or other forms of service.

You can also find new ways to get involved through visiting the Office of Civic Engagement’s website: www. fit.edu/civic-engagement.

Helping others also involves acknowledging and accepting help ourselves.

If you are in need of support, reach out to friends, family or others within the community, such as an instructor, advisor, supervisor and/or clergy.

Consider seeking professional help as well.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) can help students learn how to work through life’s challenges, heal emotional pain and develop the necessary skills to lead healthy and balanced lives … and help you get back to helping those around you.

For more information regarding CAPS’ services and support, drop by our center, call us or visit our website.

CAPS Presents: Health and You

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Nowadays, many people talk about self-care.

But what does “taking care of yourself” actually mean? Taking medicine when you feel sick? Eating ice cream because you are sad? Making your own doctor appointments?

Maintaining good health and caring for yourself includes many moving parts.

At times it can feel overwhelming to know where to start, or even whether you need to do anything to maintain your health.

After all, if you feel more or less okay, that means you are fine, right? Not necessarily.

Generally, it is good for everyone to see their primary care doctor once per year for a check-up to screen for and prevent illness.

Dental cleanings are generally recommended every six months to prevent gum disease and cavities.

Regular exercise coupled with healthy, balanced eating habits can help to prevent heart disease, type II diabetes and obesity.

And if you are aware that you have a chronic illness, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism or bipolar disorder, it is good to keep your regularly scheduled appointments with your provider.

Sometimes managing your health can be stressful and overwhelming, especially if this is your first time dealing with a condition without significant help from relatives.

The first step is to talk to someone who might be able to help you better understand your body and mind so that you can reach your personal, academic and career goals here at Florida Tech. After all, knowledge is power.

Holzer Health Center – provides a variety of health and wellness services. Website: www.fit.edu/health
Phone #:321-674-8078
Location: beside CAPS (at the corner of Country Club Road and University Boulevard)

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) – provides a variety of mental health and wellness services.
Website: www.fit.edu/ counseling-and-psychological-services
Phone#: (321) 674-8050
Location: beside the Holzer Health Center (at the corner of Country Club Road and University Boulevard)

Want more information and resources about how you can maintain your own health?

Come to the Florida Tech Health & Fitness Expo on Wednesday, Sept. 11 from 10:00-2:00 at the Clemente Center! There will be raffles, prizes and samples as well as several tables with plenty of information on health, fitness and wellness.

Be sure to also stop by the Holzer Health Center and CAPS tables for helpful resources and information about maintaining a healthy mind and body!

CAPS – The Panther’s First Semester

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Whether this is the first semester of your freshman year of college or your final “first” semester of graduate school, the start of a new academic year can come with so many new and different things.

Some might be exciting, like meeting new roommates; while others might be challenging, like repairing a suffering GPA.

Regardless of what experiences come your way, it is important to find a balance between school, work and your social and personal life.

A great way to start the new academic year is to establish a daily routine.

While classes naturally create a routine, there are many other areas of your life that could benefit from some structure.

Setting aside certain days or times for things, like hanging out with friends or catching up with family, can be just as important as scheduling time for studying.

Having an exercise routine can also be helpful and more than just managing weight.

Regular exercise can help manage stress, anxiety and depression.

Eating regular, well-balanced meals at around the same time each day can further help with overall physical and mental health.

Additionally, taking time to relax can help balance out the stress of studying, working or dealing with social/ extra-curricular demands.

Give yourself the gift of setting limits on where and how you spend your time.

It might seem like extra work now, but it will pay off when October hits and you find yourself not wondering where all your time went.

If you find yourself having difficulties that cannot be resolved with setting routines and engaging in self-care, reach out to someone for support.

You can also visit Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), where a variety of mental health and wellness services are available to assist students so they can successfully reach their own personal, academic and career goals.

We also offer weekly counseling groups, including Mood Matters on Mondays, a group on managing depression and anxiety; Let’s Talk on Tuesdays, which explores ways to improve relationship skills; Proud To Be Me on Wednesdays, which provides support for LGBTQ+ concerns; Understanding Self & Others on Thursdays, which explores personal identity and interpersonal success; and Emotional Flexibility on Fridays, which provides a variety of stress management techniques.

More information regarding CAPS’ services and support can be found by visiting: www.fit.edu/counseling-and-psychological-services/

We are here to help you achieve your goals and be the happiest and healthiest Panther you can be.