UM-Flint's Week of Wellness, Feb. 12-18, brings focus to student mental, physical well-being

If you need to focus on your mental, physical or emotional well-being, the University of Michigan-Flint's Week of Wellness may just be what you're looking for.

Taking place Feb. 12-18, the week of events from departments and student organizations across campus will offer many ways for students to relax, rewind and recharge.

"The Week of Wellness provides opportunities for students to enhance their overall well-being and also reinforces UM-Flint's commitment to student health and wellness," said Lisa Sancrat, senior director of student health and wellness. "We hope students benefit from focusing on their well-being and taking advantage of the events to enhance their overall well-being while connecting with the campus community and learning more about the programs and resources available at the university."

UM-Flint has offered such events in the past, but this year staff collaborated across the university and the community to improve the collective support for students. The events highlight the University of Michigan's eight dimensions of well-being: physical, emotional/mental, environmental, financial, occupational, social, intellectual and spiritual.

Planet Blue Ambassadors will offer a workshop on self-care and sustainability, which includes connecting with nature and making seed bombs, at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 12. At 4 p.m., Feb. 12, Shuntai Allen Bey, a licensed professional counselor and sex therapist, will offer an informal discussion on relationships, sex, pleasure and body autonomy.

Counseling and Psychological Services will host at 1:45 p.m., Feb. 13, Resilience Remix: Redefining Strength, a workshop on understanding resilience and why it's important as students face academic, social and personal demands that can affect well-being and success. Students can make their own plush friend at the ever-popular Stuff A Plush – Valentine's Day edition – from Campus Activities Board at 3 p.m., Feb. 13. At Sonic Connections, 7 p.m., Feb. 13, students can explore how music and art can be tools to help them through challenges.

Get moving at a special Valentine's Day Zumba, 7 p.m., Feb. 14, at the Recreation Center. Zumba combines Latin dance moves with muscle conditioning, balance, flexibility and both high and low intensity cardio. The class is limited to the first 30 participants who arrive.

Students can work on financial well-being at the University of Michigan Credit Union's Financial Literacy Workshop, 12:30 p.m., Feb. 15. The workshop will take students through the basics of budgeting to common financial mistakes to avoid along the way.

UM-Flint will host the Fourth Annual Iqbal Symposium on Islamic Thought & Civilization, 5:30 p.m., Feb. 15, in the Northbank Center Ballroom. The symposium was conceived by members of the Muslim community to nurture a deeper understanding of the rich history and living tradition of Islamic thought and civilization and its impact on the world. This year's keynote speaker is Anne Rasmussen, professor of music and ethnomusicology and Bickers Professor of Middle Eastern studies at the College of William & Mary.

Throughout the entire week, students can participate in the 5-for-5 Connection Challenge and take a small action each day for five days to express gratitude, offer support or ask for help.

Events are in-person, virtual and hybrid. For every event students attend, they will earn a raffle ticket entry to win one of three prizes: a mood light, a $100 Spafinder wellness gift card, or Sony Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones.

"We hope that all students find something that speaks to them," Sancrant said.

Find all Week of Wellness events on CampusConnections.