Photograph: Students in a classroom.

Self-Care and Wellness

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5 Secrets To Mental Toughness

How to be resilient:

  • Positive self-talk: When you talk to you make sure you are nice to you.
  • Physical fitness: Stress your body a little bit every day and it will handle the big stresses to come that much better.
  • Make it a game: Obstacles in life make us wanna quit. Meanwhile games drive us to keep playing until we win. So make life a game.
  • Humor: If a laugh a day got Joe Asher through Ranger School, it’ll get you through quarantine.
  • Embracing Meaning: Via community and helping others.

Read the full article.


Ways To Make Your Life Awesome

Start a pandemic of positivity:

  • Spread Connection: Just let people know you’re thinking of them and they are meaningful to you.
  • Spread Help: Offer help where you can and ask for it if you need it.
  • Spread Gratitude: Say thanks. And really feel it.
  • Spread Optimism: If the cost of being wrong is low, let yourself believe things will turn out right.

Read the full article.


Sleep and Improve Your Grades

The worst, and most common, thing that law students can do is cut back on their sleep to improve their grades. Some students even feel proud about how little sleep they are getting, seeing it as evidence of their dedication to the law. But study after study has proven that short-changing sleep is an ineffective strategy for true productivity and a disaster as a way of life. It substantially contributes to depression, anxiety, addictions, and poor judgment. It does NOT improve grades or improve effectiveness as a lawyer. "Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day—Mother Nature's best effort yet at contra-death." This is a quotation from Matthew Walker, Head of Berkley's Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab, in his book "Why We Sleep" (check Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library). I highly encourage students to listen to this book in audio form, available free from libraries, as they are getting ready to sleep. The author jokes that his discussion of the proven science of sleep's vital importance may put readers to sleep and that nothing could delight him more. But the book will also convince you with hard data that what your mom always told you is true: nothing helps more than a good night's sleep.


7 Self-Compassion Practices That'll Help You *Actually* Give Yourself a Break

  • Give yourself a gentle ‘pass’ when it comes to overall productivity.
  • Flip your mind-set to 'the cold side of the pillow.'
  • Honor your emotions.
  • When you’re feeling helpless, help someone else.
  • Find moments for self care when you can.
  • Put your critical voice on mute.
  • Begin the mindfulness habit of collecting 'golden nuggets.'

Read the full article.


Changes to One's Legal Name or Using a Nonlegal/Preferred Name


Finding Child Care in Topeka

  • University Child Development (UCD) is a parent cooperative that operates a childcare center for the children of students at Washburn University. The facility is located very close to campus in the University United Methodist Church, 1621 College Avenue, Topeka (map). UCD is unique in that children may come and go frequently during the day according to the class schedule of their parents. Call (785) 232-0263 or email ucdpreschool@sbcglobal.net.
  • Little Learners Child Care Center primarily provides child care services for students of Washburn University and Washburn Tech. They are located at the Washburn Tech campus, 5724 SW Huntoon Street, Topeka (map). Students can choose a full day or a morning-only program. For more information, call (785) 670-3312 or email tammy.schrickel@washburn.edu. See the Washburn Tech Little Learners website for more information.
  • Other resources for finding child care:
  • The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Division of Public Health provides online access to licensed child care facility inspection results.

Note: Inclusion of a resource in this listing does not constitute recommendation by Washburn Law or its employees.

Short URL for this page:
https://washburnlaw.edu/wellness

Emergency Student Loans (including Bar Exam)
Food Pantry

The Food Pantry is located in Kuehne Hall Room 101. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Bring your iCard. You can get assistance not only for you, but for your family members as well.

Appointments for access to the pantry outside normal hours can be made by contacting the LinC Office (Benton Hall 208) or (785) 670-1950.

Student Health Services

Student Health Services is currently open by appointment from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in Morgan Hall Room 140.

Call (785) 670-1470 to schedule an appointment OR (785) 670-1471 for medication refill requests.

Telehealth appointments are also available; call (785) 670-1470 to schedule an appointment.

Counseling Services

Counseling Services is available for appointments 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday: call (785) 670-3100 and choose Option 1.

Phone counseling services are available 24/7 (with translation services available in over 200 languages): call (785) 670-3100 and choose Option 2.

Please do not hesitate to call – it can be extremely helpful to just "talk things through."

Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program

KALAP is another good source for law students dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, grief, addictions, and more. You can get assistance by phone at (785) 368-8275.

Grief Counseling

Washburn University Counseling Services offers free counseling (see above), of course, but if you are looking for something more, Midland Hospice hosts free grief support groups.

Valeo Behavioral Healthcare

Valeo is a centralized agency that can assist in connecting you to resources related to housing and homelessness, mental health treatment via therapy and medication, crisis intervention including overnight crisis care, and coordination of hospitalization.

  • 24 Hour Crisis Line: 785-234-3300
  • Office Phone: 785-233-1730
  • Address for Intake and Crisis:
    400 SW Oakley Avenue
    Topeka, KS 66606
    (map)
    (just north of the soccer field at Hummer Sports Park)
Other Assistance

If you have any other self-care or wellness-related concerns please reach out to Dean Dempsey-Swopes at danielle.dempsey-swopes@washburn.edu.