Mason's Voices of Well-being featuring...
Annabelle Eastman
Undergraduate Kinesiology student with minors in Health Communication and Well-being
"My name is Annabelle Eastman. I am a senior studying a B.S in Kinesiology with minors in Health Communication and Wellbeing. Through my Kinesiology internship requirements, I saw Mason Recreation as a valuable source for my own professional development towards a career in health and fitness. Throughout my time working as a Mason Rec intern, I have gained valuable insight into the ways in which the Mason community can engage in well-being opportunities, as well as challenge my own habitual understanding of well-being beyond physical activity."
"I have been a competitive athlete for most of my life, and have been a student-athlete for Mason Track & Field and Cross Country the past 4 years. We engage in year-round competition which ultimately requires an immense balancing act as we are constantly reminded to uphold our responsibilities as “students before athletes.” Running is a huge contributor to my wellbeing; it provides me with physical challenges, social support, motivation in working towards a goal as well as opportunities to travel around the country and even the world for competition. My dedication to a training regime that involves running daily and accumulating 60-70 miles per week has only been attainable through other wellbeing outlets I use to establish balance."
"I find cooking to be one of the more significant outlets that replenishes my stores of mental, emotional, social and physical energy that are often drained after a long day of work, training and academics. I prioritize cooking a wholesome and delicious meal as a way to take care of myself, not only am I ensuring that my body is receiving all the nutrients and energy it needs to power me through my daily tasks, but it also allows me to tap into some creativity and I ultimately find it to be extremely therapeutic. This wellbeing practice is usually an everyday occurrence for me, aside from the occasional 1-2 times per week where I may share a meal with friends from a favorite restaurant!"
"My tips for others to infuse a reliable wellbeing practice is to learn about the idea of flow; “the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity.” I strongly encourage familiarization with this concept to find your own outlets that restore your well-being. It truly can transform your perspective and provide a reliable attribute to help you through life’s ups and downs."
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Credits:
Created with images by Marina Andrejchenko - "Woman is cooking in home kitchen. Female hands cut salami, vegetables, greens, tomatoes on table on wooden boards. Ingredients for preparing italian or french food. Lifestyle moment." • VICUSCHKA - "Various organic vegetables ingredients around empty aged cooking pot with wooden spoon on old kitchen table, top view"