When you think of the term “wellness” what is the first image that pops into your mind? You may know be familiar with the common definitions of wellness*, but I’m more interested in reflecting on the connotations of the word wellness. For me, I envision beautiful yoga poses on a beach or a jewel-toned smoothie bowl; those are the images that resonate for me when I think wellness. It isn’t that I believe that’s what wellness IS, it’s just that I’ve been conditioned to associate the term with lovely pictures on Instagram.
Your mind may travel in another direction, with very different images; your images may be based on social media accounts, glossy cookbooks, or even what you have heard in the news about the wellness industry (e.g. Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop, which seems to always be in the news!).
In many ways, the wellness industry has shaped the connotations of the term wellness, even if we may disagree with what we are being told that wellness should be. Are yoga poses on a windswept beach beautiful? Absolutely! Is that what wellness looks like for me? Maybe once a year, although even that’s a stretch without the time, patience or camera set-up to make it happen!
It’s a highly stylized and aspirational version of a practice (yoga) that is supposed to take us deeper within (where the location and the depth of the pose matter less than breath and connection with ourselves). This is one example among many where the connotations of wellness can be far removed from accessible and practical steps we might take to improve our daily life.
When it comes to wellness initiatives in libraries, it may be wise for us to reflect on what wellness really means in a library setting. It may help us to consider:
- what aspects of wellness should a library focus on? (e.g. intellectual wellness?)
- are there ways that wellness can tie in with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy? (personally I feel there is a lot to unpack in terms of “authority” when it comes to wellness!)
- how does the campus define wellness? This may shape the library’s focus and approach.
- can libraries offer students the space and resources to determine their own definition of wellness? This might include developing a wellness collection that includes both mainstream wellness books (e.g. Goop Clean Beauty) along with works that are more critical of wellness claims (e.g. the works of Dr. Joe Schwarz or Timothy Caulfield)
Finally, I’d like to return to a point in my last post (on physical exercise and the academic library) to consider that the campus library is often seen as a safe space for many students. As Dr. Lenstra notes, students who may be intimidated at the campus gym might not feel the same trepidation at the library. (235)
I think it’s important to put ourselves in the mindset of students when we develop any type of wellness offering. While each university population is unique, many of our students are in a stressful new environment, at a tender age and coming out of the pandemic with more anxiety than before.
As libraries explore wellness, I believe it’s important to ensure that initiatives:
- are thoughtfully curated (not just because it’s trendy or to check the wellness box)
- encourage critical thinking and reflection
- rely less on the wellness industry’s version of wellness and more on the needs of our students
How can we discover what our students need? Fortunately, there are sources available that provide information about student wellness. Taking a few minutes each week to examine the issues and strategies associated with student wellness can be valuable when considering wellness initiative
- Journal of American College Health
- The Chronicle of Higher Education – Health & Wellness section
- Healthy Minds Network *their research and publications are of interest to anyone who wishes to better understand the mental health issues and coping strategies.
- The Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey *their publications and data applications are interesting to examine!
We can also discover what students need through formal/informal surveys and even through conversations during class or consultations. As librarians and staff we will often hear what students are struggling with or the support they wish they had; this information can help us better understand where we “fit” in campus wellness.
Now that I’ve shared my thoughts, I would love to hear yours!
How do you feel about the term wellness? Is there a better word? How should we best develop library initiatives to support students?
*The National Wellness Institute defines wellness as “an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.”
References
“Defining Wellness.” The Handbook of Wellness Medicine, 2020, pp. 1–12, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108650182.001.
Barre with Justine 
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