Hi, Tar Heel parents and families! UNC-CH’s next well-being days are coming up and I thought I’d give you a student’s perspective on the importance of these days, ideas for your Tar Heel to spend their well-being days, and ways that you can support your student during this busy time in the semester.
If I had a dollar for every time a parent or a student from another university expressed annoyance about UNC-CH having well-being days, my Alpine Bagel fund would be bursting. I don’t blame them for being confused about why we have these additional days off, especially for newer students or those who may not be familiar with the rigorous academic environment UNC-CH students are a part of. From a student’s perspective, well-being days are a necessary and widely appreciated piece of UNC-CH’s academic schedule that I think every university should adopt. It allows frequent breaks for students to regain their footing, rest their brains, and engage in personal and community care without being interrupted by class or homework. Sometimes, school can feel like you are trudging through thick mud, and you genuinely have no idea when that will end. By allowing us to take a couple of days off beyond our usual Spring or Fall break, students can take a break from that mud, clear their minds, and continue with the semester more refreshed and better prepared. School is supposed to be about learning, and while stress can often come along with that, it should not consume you, and by giving us well-being days, the University is recognizing that and aiding in our success.
Now, what do I do on my well-being days? As a second-semester senior, I have been able to enjoy several well-being days, all spent in different ways. Sometimes, I stay local to campus and enjoy the different things that Chapel Hill has to offer, like visiting my favorite restaurants off-campus (specifically, Breadman’s or Purple Bowl), taking long walks on the greenway or through campus, enjoying the scenery of the arboretum, or simply just sleeping in and watching my favorite shows… all day long. Sometimes a short road trip allows me to clear my mind. This could be visiting home to see my younger brother or my mom for a few days or visiting a friend’s hometown to enjoy their favorite hometown spots! UNC-CH is close (ish) to both the beach and the mountains, so you really have the best of both worlds. For those who are having a busy few weeks surrounding the well-being days, catching up with work can also alleviate some stress. While you should not feel pressured to do schoolwork on these days off, catching up on little tasks or smaller assignments can allow you to feel better prepared for the bigger things coming up. Everyone’s different, and the ways they practice self-care and well-being may be complete opposites; whatever your student chooses to do, make sure you are there to support them in those needs!
I can only speak from my own experience when it comes to parental support, but having my parents be listeners has been so essential to my mental well-being in college. Whenever I need to just talk something out or complain about a situation, having those unbiased listening ears always makes me feel better. Don’t feel like you always have to give the perfect bit of advice because sometimes advice is not always needed, but rather someone to just nod their head and say, “I hear you and I understand your feelings.” For more resources on how you can support your student, please visit here.
Thanks so much for reading! I hope your Tar Heel has a relaxing well-being weekend and know that it is very much deserved! Go Heels!
Ashleigh Martens
Class of 2024
