Well-being and Relaxation

Achieving balance in one\u27s lifestyle and health is essential to maximizing human potential and flourishing. This sort of ‘equilibrium’ is the focus of ongoing debates regarding general health and wellbeing. However, it is generally understood that this balance is a state of complete physical, psychological, and social well-being (Straub, 2022). The research on intuitive health developed throughout the years indicates that one of the key components affecting well-being is relaxation (Keiber, 2000). There are many theorized methods to promote relaxation; among them, meditation is a common technique that has shown to decrease stress and physiological arousal (Rausch, 2006). Unfortunately, despite its effectiveness in promoting relaxation, finding the time to decompress and meditate is something many people find challenging; this inability to slow down can be a consequence of a wide range of everyday variables, such as work hours, general life stressors, social media usage, caffeine intake and exercise. In light of the importance of this underutilized practice, the present study examined the various components of well-being and their respective relationships to relaxation through a short meditation. The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between wellbeing and relaxation in college students. In addition, this study investigated the impact of stress, caffeine, social media usage, work, exercise, and sleep on wellbeing and relaxation. It is hypothesized that individuals with self-reported high levels of wellbeing will demonstrate the highest levels of calmness as measured by a MUSE headset. Fifty undergraduate students from Belmont University were recruited from general psychology classes and volunteered for the study. All participants completed a wellbeing assessment and an 11 minute meditation session. The results are currently being processed

An analysis of Tennessee’s take on the “Don\u27t Say Gay” bill: SB 1216 and HB 800

The United States has a history of homophobia on multiple levels, including the societal and the legislative. From bills being passed that restrict the lives of queer individuals to fear of judgment and rejection for who they are, being gay in the United States is not always easy. Many children who identify as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community have and will continue to suffer from these injustices. Senator Frank S. Nicely and Representative Bruce Griffey could extend this suffering with their companion bills Senate Bill 1216 and House Bill 800. These pieces of legislation seek to ban - within public schools - the use of textbooks and any instructional materials that cover content related to the LGBTQIA+ community. Not only is this discriminatory, but it also goes against the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics as well as our core values. This paper seeks to introduce the bill and outline why it is discriminatory, discuss the LGBTQIA+ community, discuss the implications and limitations of the bill, and how social workers might change the bill in furtherance of Social Work values