Chill Out * Warm Up: Connecting with Community During a Busy December
On Tuesday, December 2, CUIMC students filled the 50 Haven lounge for Chill Out * Warm Up, a signature study break hosted by Student Health on Haven, designed to create space for connection, creativity, and rest during a busy, oftentimes stressful part of the year.
Launched in late 2021 to support students in rebuilding community as they transitioned to on-site instruction amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Chill Out * Warm Up has grown into a signature event many students mark on their calendars. Throughout the evening, students took a much-needed breather from exams, papers, and clinical demands by decorating cookies, making cards, and lingering over warm cups of cocoa, apple cider, and ginger tea, thanks in part to event partner, the Office of Housing Services.
For many attendees, the best part was simply having permission to pause. “As health sciences students navigate intense academic and clinical schedules, they deserve spaces that remind them they are whole people, in addition to being learners,” said Jane Bogart, EdD, MCHES, executive director of Well-Being and Health Promotion. “Chill Out * Warm Up is one way we co-create a campus culture where rest, connection, and joy are seen as essential to being a successful health professional.”
Students agreed. “This event was a much-needed reminder to breathe,” noted Yuwei Ma, a Mailman School of Public Health student. “It was wonderful to have a space dedicated to resting and reconnecting with peers.” Additional University partners, including the Office of University Life and the International Students and Scholars Office, helped bring the event to life and emphasized a shared commitment to a campus that promotes student well-being.
As finals continue, Student Health on Haven encourages students to prioritize sleep, movement, connection, and ask for support as often as they can. Student Health on Haven recently partnered with Columbia Health to share four self-care tips for finals and beyond. In addition to events like Chill Out * Warm Up, CUIMC students have year-round access to primary care, counseling services, and health promotion programming.