Health and Wellness

Law school, like the practice of law, is often demanding and stressful. Law students and lawyers alike experience high stress levels, which may result in depression, alcohol, or drug problems. A new “work-in-progress,” the Wellness Initiative will help Valpo Law students combat the strain of law school in healthy, productive ways.

Wellness is a dynamic process of becoming aware of and making conscious choices toward a more balanced and healthy lifestyle. It includes learning new coping and communication skills that address both the positive and negative aspects of human existence. The concept of wellness includes seven dimensions, which we will endeavor to address in turn this year.

  • Social wellness – creating and maintaining healthy relationships.
  • Physical wellness – having a flexible, aerobically fit body.
  • Emotional wellness – creating and maintaining a positive realistic self concept and enthusiasm about life.
  • Career wellness – making choices that are meaningful and contribute to your personal growth as well as work.
  • Intellectual wellness – using your mind to create a greater understanding of yourself and the universe.
  • Environmental wellness – making choices to create sustainable human and ecological communities, improving qualities in air, water, land and space.
  • Spiritual wellness – process of “experiencing life” while seeking meaning and purpose in human existence. Spirituality allows one to have consistency between values and behaviors.

© University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point School of Health Promotion and Human Development

Created by R.A. Abbott, Ph.D. and J. Jones Ph.D. for increasing awareness and use as an educational tool.

Campus Resources

Community resources – get out of the library once in a while and see what the community has to offer.

Going outside?

Staying inside?

Fitness Centers

Dance

Yoga

Karate/Kickboxing

Massage

Nutrition

Local Movies

Need to get out of town for a bit?

Other Interesting Bits

Law Spouses: a blog community for those who love a law student.

The Contemplative Lawyer Stephanie West Allen’s blog on mindfulness and the law.

Thriving in Law School The organizing questions of this blog are: (1) Are law students and lawyers thriving on a personal and professional level, and (2) if not, why not, and what can be done about?

Lawyers Turn to Meditation to fight stress and improve performance.

The National Association of Law Students with Disabilities

Please note that the listing of these resources is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement from Valparaiso University or the Valparaiso University Law School.