November 6-10 is the Brock University Student Union’s (BUSU) Wellness Week, and we were happy to plan some wellness activities to coincide with the week. Coordinating with campus units is such a great way to expand the reach of events and create a richer experience for students.
This year, we (myself, and colleagues Evelyn & Amanda) offered two library yoga sessions (me) and – for the first time – a “Mindful Folding” origami workshop(Evelyn & Amanda)! Evelyn and Amanda also had colouring sheets, bookmarks, and pencil crayons, and extra origami supplies available at the Ask Desk on the main floor. These offerings were relatively easy to plan and deliver, with minimal cost beyond printing and time.
Why Library Wellness Activities Matter
To me, two big reasons – accessibility and the library as the heart of campus.
One of the benefits of library wellness offerings, especially during a campus wellness week, is that it makes activities like yoga and crafting available to students who may not have the time, expertise, or extra finances to participate. Wellness can often be a have/have not type of experience, with either a high financial or time cost to join.
The idea of the library being the heart of campus is well worn, but still fits in our digital age. Students will often make the library their home during times of stress and adding wellness activities is a way to meet them where they are.
Dig Deeper into the Research behind Wellness Activities:
Colouring
- a 2020 study in Journal of American College Health found that colouring decreased students’ test anxiety
- a study of women in 2017 found that 7 days of colouring reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Origami
- Origami is a form of art therapy that has not been as well-researched in relation to college students, but has been shown to have positive effects in educational settings and occupational therapy interventions (Edwards 2018)
Yoga
- a recent (2021) study in the Journal of American College Health found that yoga was beneficial in reducing student stress (more than other fitness activities)
References
Carsley, Dana, and Nancy L. Heath. “Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Coloring for University Students’ Test Anxiety.” Journal of American College Health, vol. 68, no. 5, July 2020, pp. 518–27.
Flett, Jayde A. M., et al. “Sharpen Your Pencils: Preliminary Evidence That Adult Coloring Reduces Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety.” Creativity Research Journal, vol. 29, no. 4, Oct. 2017, pp. 409–16
ong, Jiajin, et al. “The Immediate and Durable Effects of Yoga and Physical Fitness Exercises on Stress.” Journal of American College Health, vol. 69, no. 6, Aug. 2021, pp. 675–83.
Edwards, Claire, and Sarah Hegerty. “Where It’s Cool to Be Kitty: An Art Therapy Group for Young People with Mental Health Issues Using Origami and Mindfulness.” Social Work with Groups (New York. 1978), vol. 41, no. 1–2, 2018, pp. 151–64
Barre with Justine 
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