With SOU’s Student Recreation Center closed and many students at home settling into a term of online classes, Campus Recreation has provided a list of 41 virtual resources to maintain physical and mental well-being.

The list – split into 6 sections – makes it easy for students to maintain routines and build new ones during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The variety of links come from Campus Recreation’s 8-dimensional view of wellness, funneled into three categories: occupational, intellectual and financial wellness.

“We wanted to make sure to include resources for those areas alongside physical wellness,” said Heather Brock, the business and marketing coordinator for Campus Recreation. “Another guideline we set was to keep the majority of the resources and apps free and/or choose ones that had an extended free trial period.”

Keeping non-traditional students, faculty and staff in mind, the Campus Recreation team also included sites with activities for children and parents.

The guiding philosophy was that now more than ever, it is important for students and others to maintain their health. Mental and physical well-being are a major part of stress management and many students are looking for ways to prioritize their health while having to stay home. Students whose daily routines have been disrupted are relying on technology for classes, fitness, social activities and more.

“Luckily, with technology and this new explosion of online resources, there are ways that students can maintain those routines while also following stay-at-home guidelines,” Brock said.

Along with the list of resources, Campus Recreation is hosting a 4-week Virtual Rec Challenge on Instagram that began April 13 and will continue through May 8. Each week of the challenge – which is open to SOU students and employees – focuses on a new theme of wellness.

A winner is randomly selected each week to receive a Campus Recreation swag bag (with prizes held for pickup at the SRC). NOTE: Make sure you’re following all current personal and public safety guidelines outlined by the CDC, state and local authorities. Posts that are obviously breaking those guidelines will be disqualified.

“What’s pretty neat about this list is that these resources won’t just become irrelevant when the pandemic is over.” Brock said. “Online students and long-distance commuters who might not be able to visit the SRC as much as on-campus students will likely find these resources helpful, regardless.”

Story by Kennedy Cartwright, SOU Marketing and Communications student writer