Healthy Living Tips

Anyone make a resolution to eat/be healthier in 2011 and on?

Here's a quick tip sheet made by the Engineering team that will help keep you in line with living healthy.

Living off campus/Cooking

For those who are living off campus next year (or at least have access to a kitchen), you'll most likely face the daunting task of cooking.



Don't worry though, it's not as bad as you think it is! If you were thinking of asking your parental units to stock your freezer with pre-cooked meals...well that's good for the first month or two, but even as much as your parents love you, they'll undoubtedly start to get frustrated. And believe it or not, cooking/baking is a great stress reliever.

The most difficult part about cooking is probably trying to come up with something to make, so here's a list of sites that you'll want to bookmark. Everything from apps to blogs that will help you navigate around the culinary world.



Foodgawker is an excellent resource for cooking ideas. It pretty much acts like a database of recipes. An added bonus is that it gets updated pretty much every day. Most blogs have step by step photo instructions too. A word of caution though, you'll start to feel hungry after the second page.

Allrecipes.com: classic site, plenty of recipes and reviews from people who have tried them. And if you don't know what to make, try Allrecipes.com's app, Dinner Spinner. You can input the ingredients that you have and what not, very helpful.

Other sites to check out:

• Epicurious.com: Similar to Allrecipes.
  
• Food Network: note the 'Quick and Easy' tab at the top. Very important for students.
  

I Wish I'd Known Sooner #4 - Speaker series are actually helpful

I remember I'd always get e-mails in my UWO account from 'Backpack 2 Briefcase' about networking events and speakers coming to Western. Quite honestly, I'd glance over them with my finger hovering above the delete button.

Let me tell you something...it wasn't until my last year (this year) that I decided to attend one of those speaker events and honestly, they're more enlightening than you'd think.

Monday was the first day of Career Week at Western and it was kicked off with the topic of passion-- which was great. We often think that once we enter the 'real world' (aka: work), we lose the opportunity to pursue our passions. Listening to Melissa speak on Monday though, reassured me that you don't have to sacrifice everything just to make a living. And as someone who fears that the job life would become incredibly mundane and define who you are, I ended up getting a lot out of the event.

So before you delete that e-mail, give it a chance. Take advantage of all the resources and support systems that Western offers. It's great, seriously. Sure, you learn a lot in your lectures (let's hope), but UWO offers these other learning (enlightening?) outlets that many students I think, glaze over.

There's still two more days left in Career Week, see what else is happening.

I Wish I'd Known Sooner #3 - Weldon is Overrated: Alternative Places to Study

Ah yes, nothing says holidays are approaching than trying to find a place to study for your winter exams.

Think finding a parking spot on Christmas Eve is impossible? Try finding a cubicle in Weldon at 2pm, weekday or weekend once the last week of classes hit. In fact, if you think that getting to Weldon after lunch on a Sunday will guarantee you a spot, think again. That spot with the electrical plug? Prime real estate.

Holidays are supposed to be a time of sharing, right? Wrong. At least, not when it comes to study spaces; one student will spread their notes across a big table in Weldon's basement, and no, they aren't exactly saving a spot for their study buddy.


So here is the last bit of advice for you before the holidays, because contrary to popular belief, Weldon is not the only library (or study space) on campus. Use it well.

1. Faculty Libraries
Those science kids are intense when it comes to studying at Taylor Library, and it's not just during exam time. I've seen people line up outside the library 15 minutes before it opens during exams, I'm not kidding. If you want peace and quiet, head to the bottom floors where you can set up shop in a cubicle. The Stacks are also a good quiet place to study, but you'll hear footsteps from the floor above you. The Music Library in Talbot College is small, with only a couple tables, but it's also another option. Check out the full list of libraries!

The affiliate colleges (King's, Brescia and Huron) also have libraries that usually aren't too busy. I hear the one at Brescia is really nice and very Harry Potter-esque.

2. Classroom buildings
If you're lucky, sometimes you'll find a free classroom to study in- imagine, all that open space! Social Sci is a good building to start with, otherwise, public spaces (such as Centre Spot in UCC, Lucy's in Somerville House) are also good options if you study well with background noise.


3. Western Rec Centre
Perfect for the student who needs some background noise and movement while they study. Busy location, but I mean, everyone there is plugged into their iPods, intent on their workout and won't bother you.

4. Rez Study rooms
Sometimes, trying to study in your Rez room can be really distracting. Luckily, there are study rooms available. Super handy, an added bonus is that you don't have to leave your Rez!

I Wish I'd Known Sooner #2 - Essay Help

It's about that time when those final papers are due, if they haven't been due already.

Take advantage of UWO's services, and avoid ending up like this guy.

"I guess I should start my paper..."
Haven't gotten started on that research paper for History and have no clue where to start? The friendly staff at Weldon's Research Help desk would be more than happy to get you started. If Weldon isn't your scene, the site has a handy chat function where you can get the assistance of the knowledgeable staff from the comfort of your Rez.

"Can you look over my essay?"
Personally? No. But good thing the Student Development Centre offers a Writing Support Centre! Their sharp eyes will catch spelling errors, grammar hiccups and such. Check out their drop-in sessions, located in the afternoons at Weldon. It's a busy time for the folks at the Writing Support Centre, so I suggest going early. Alternatively, you could book an hour-long appointment which might be a safer bet.

It's also a good idea to talk to your TA/Prof if you need someone to bounce your ideas off of. After all, they'll (and when I say they, it most likely will be your TA) be the one marking your paper and will know what to look for/what direction you should take your paper in.

I Wish I'd Known Sooner #1 - Forwarding UWO Mail

Welcome to the multiple part series of "I Wish I'd Known Sooner", simple tips and tricks that we've picked up along the years that well...we wish we'd known sooner. Hopefully you'll find that they'll make your life at Western a little easier!

#1 Forwarding UWO Mail

It's Wednesday evening and you think 'Hey, I haven't checked my Western mail in a while, maybe I should do that'. You log onto your account and not only are there 20 unread messages (yikes!) but one of your profs for a class tomorrow morning sent you an e-mail Monday morning with a link to the reading that you couldn't find.

Do you often forget to check your UWO mail? Rather use Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo or some other account? Well thanks to Mail Forwarding, you'll never miss an e-mail sent to your UWO account!

Here's how:

1. Log onto your UWO account and locate the Options tab on the left-hand side panel
2. Go into Mail > Local Account > Forwarding
3. Enter in the e-mail account you prefer to get your UWO mail sent to. You can also decide to keep a copy in your UWO Mail just in case.
   
4. Save your changes!

As handy as this trick is, we recommend replying/sending any e-mails to profs directly from your UWO account since some profs have a filter on their e-mail.

Bonus! Did you know that you can also forward WebCT mail messages as well? Sometimes your prof will send the class a message via WebCT, so if you don't check WebCT that often, it's a good idea to use the mail forwarding option.

1. Hit 'My Settings' at the top of the page once you've logged in
2. Edit the e-mail in 'My Profile' with your e-mail
3. Go under 'My Tool Options' and scroll down to Mail to change your settings

Explore all the resources UWO has to offer

Student Development Services @ new Western Student Services Building behind the UCC! (519) 661-3031 – http://www.sdc.uwo.ca

This place is basically your one-stop shop for all student-related needs. It is designed with your needs in mind, so make sure you drop by when you feel like you need a helping hand. Below are some of the more hidden services of this place that will ease a whole lot of stress off you. Most of these services are on a first-come-first-serve or appointment basis, so make sure you drop by/call the office before going there to seek for help!

Effective Writing Clinic: Worried about your upcoming essays? Not sure if they make sense or not? Make an appointment with one of the Writing Mentors and have them look over your essays! Each appointment is one-hour long, so make sure you have questions prepared for these mentors before your appointment. They will help you with structuring your essay and develop your argumentation skills. Each essay is eligible for 3 review sessions, so if you have time, go see one of these lifesavers!

Study Skills Workshops: These workshops will prepare you for your first exams and essays, and teach you specific skills that you need for effective studying, writing multiple choice and long answer exams, completing your first essay and what profs look for in first year students, etc. An incentive for you to attend is that you will be rewarded with a Certificate of Academic Engagement upon participation in 5 workshops!

Career Centre: This is a drop-in centre that will not only help you with your resumes and cover letters, but also help you discover your passions and suitable career paths. There are also interview prep sessions for MCATs, summer jobs, etc. There are lots of resources to prepare you for the job market, so drop by and consult one of the career leaders for help. For Western’s job postings, visit career.uwo.ca to access Career Central!

Support for Students with Disabilities: This is where you need to go if you require alternate exam accommodations and permissions. The friendly staff there will also help you if you need help with bursaries for students with disabilities and technology grants to ease the learning experience. Transitioning services such as readers may also be available.

Psychological Services : Stressing about school and life? These certified psychologists are determined to help you alleviate your stress so you can focus on studying. Worry not, all information passed to these professions are strictly confidential, so if you feel like you need someone to talk to, go make an appointment with one of them today.

Indigenous Services: This unit offers transitioning services to indigenous students, as well as resources specifically for these students.

The Student Success Centre @ UCC 210 (519) 661-3898– http://success.uwo.ca/

The Centre for New Students provides opportunities to network with upper year students and to get involved with the Western Community. Get started early to maximize your Western student experience!

Leadership and Mentoring Program (LAMP) | http://www.lamp.uwo.ca
Study groups, networking events, stress relievers, we’re here for you! The LAMP Team to is dedicated to make your first year a blast at Western. Come talk to the team, or your respective Peer Mentor, when you need some advice on how to get through the first year.

Western Scholars and Scholars Electives | http://www.scholarselective.uwo.ca
For all you high-achievers out there, here’s a group dedicated to academic excellence. The Western Scholars distinction is awarded to students who are part of the program and have been admitted into the University with a minimum 90% average and have maintained a 80% rolling average over the course of their degree. Scholars’ Electives is a special program that provides students with an opportunity to research into a cause of their choice. For registration details, please speak with your academic counsellor.

Leadership Education Program (LEP) | http://www.lep.uwo.ca
This is a leadership training program consisting of various modules that will help you develop your leadership skills to get you involved in the Western Community. Ranging from personal management, goal setting, conflict management, and team management, these 2-hour workshops are taught by student leaders and faculty. There are 3 tiers to the LEP, 2 of which consist of elementary and advanced workshops, and the last which consists of service learning opportunities for students. Students will be awarded with a certificate of completion at the end of the program. To sign up, check out the website.

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) | http://www.asb.uwo.ca
This popular spring break program provides students with the opportunity to volunteer for a cause either domestically or internationally during your Reading Week. Popular destinations include Louisiana for Habitat for Humanity, Dominican Republic for Orphanage Outreach, and Costa Rica for International Service Learning.

Western Serves | http://westernserves.uwo.ca
Keep your eye out for the opportunity to get involved with Western Serves! It is a campus-wide service learning event where each team will be assigned to a non-for-profit organization and will help them fundraise/canvass for the day. It’s a great opportunity to meet people and to volunteer for a cause that you believe in. To sign up, visit Career Central at career.uwo.ca and log in to your student account, then look for Western Serves as the employer.