The days have become longer, the weather has become cooler, and every ounce of motivation we have as students has seemed to dwindle. The parking lots have emptied each day, and the campus seems empty, with tired students sleeping in rather than attending class. To give students a day off to focus on mental health, K-State has implemented Friday, Oct. 11 as Wildcat Pause Day.
These first eight weeks of class have been gruesome. With classwork and exams, it can be easy to let your mental health slip to the back burner. This day provided by the university is to ensure you are taking the time to check in with yourself and your friends and actively taking steps to ensure your mental health is a priority.
According to the K-State website, “Whether you’re managing academic pressures or balancing professional and personal commitments, Wildcat Pause Day offers the opportunity to prioritize your physical, emotional and mental well-being. Whatever way works for you, take a break and recharge before the second half of the semester.”
Pause Day also aligns next to World Mental Health Day, which is Oct. 10.
According to the World Mental Health Day 2024 website, “The campaign is dedicated to advocating for mental health within the workplace. We aim to highlight the essential role of mental health in professional environments, advocating for workplaces where mental health is prioritized, protected and promoted.”
For this upcoming pause day, K-State has issued a statement from Human Resources outlining different ways students can utilize this day, including “practicing mindfulness and reconnecting with nature.” It also has a student-based guide with tips to help K-State students prioritize their physical and mental health on the designated day.
The university also scheduled events such as free Rec Center access for students and faculty, a Campus Well-being walk and a free screening of “Inside Out 2.”
Having Wildcat Pause Day on a Friday is convenient. The day is intended for sleeping in, taking a break from your studies and doing a healthy hobby. Considering the day is on a Friday, other activities can get in the way of this, and it is key to remember why this day was created so we can have this opportunity again in the future.
I will spend the day driving back home and connecting with my friends and family in my hometown. I’ll also fit in a nap and coffee date with a friend before heading to work for the evening.
Some of my professors have also canceled classes on Thursday, so my Wildcat Pause Day starts a little earlier than everyone else’s. Because of these efforts, I will spend my Thursday afternoon browsing the newly-opened Spirit Halloween and doing laundry.
Remember, Wildcat Pause Day will be as beneficial and valuable as you make it. With this day designed to check in on your mental health, why not do just that? Pick your favorite activity that gives your mind a sense of peace and ask yourself the difficult questions about how you can recognize signs of stress and depression moving into the latter half of the semester.
Love, Libby
