Well-Being

Nature Rx – How Nature Can Make You a Healthier, Happier You!

Tree in the ross courtyard in winter

Nervous for Winter? We all live in Michigan and as we all know, Michigan winters can be cold and long! With less sunlight and less green, we miss the freedom of summer and warmer weather. But did you know that nature, something we see everyday as we commute to campus, can help you through these winter months? Research done here … Read More

Wolverines on Wheels Bike Quiz!

A diverse group of students stands with a bike

Welcome (back) to campus, Wolverines! A new semester makes it a great time to try new habits that are healthy for both you and the planet! Biking is a perfect place to start and a wonderful way to explore low-emission recreation and transportation. The University of Michigan and Ann Arbor community is home to many new bike lanes, resources, and … Read More

Changing the World Starts with Changing My Life: Lessons from Salmon, Black Walnut, and Song Sparrow

CLC Fellows looking at the fish pass in Traverse City

This writing departs from my usual approach. Typically, I focus on the technical aspects of my professional experiences and the broader implications. I think about changing the world and transforming disadvantaged communities. I consider how impressive my resume looks and what it means for my career—all the potential BIG things. However, in doing so, I realized I was overlooking the … Read More

What is Climate Resilience?

Climate Resiliency in its simplest form is adapting to climate change. This is such a vague definition, though, that I think bringing this term closer to home helps me, at least, think about what climate resilience can look like. Michigan, a place that a lot of us Wolverines call home and know well, specializes in variable temperatures and weather conditions. … Read More

My Vision for a Sustainable Outdoor Study Space at U-M

AI generated image of a green clover field with solar panels and trees.

With the weather getting warmer recently, I have been seeing our green spaces across campus such as the Arb and the Diag fill up with students enjoying the outdoors. In addition to playing Spikeball and tossing a frisbee, many students are even opting to study outside. Both the Diag and the Arb are beautiful green spaces, but I think it … Read More

Fighting “Grind Culture”: Prioritizing Wellness this Finals Season

Student bites pencil while nervously studying on her computer.

Coming into college, I was shocked at how my classmates talked about studying like it was the most important thing in the universe. It was normal to hear about people studying instead of sleeping or studying through meals—just studying, studying, studying. With finals season rapidly approaching, it can be easy to get swept up in that chaos—crafting the perfect study … Read More

New Year, New Me: Taking Care of Your Mental Health in 2023

I have been thinking a lot about self-improvement recently. I have been doing yoga some mornings, trying to read a little before bed each night, and going for walks after dinner. However, these are not established habits yet and a lot of the time these new activities are short-lived. They are not sustainable, and the cycle of wanting to do … Read More

The Arb and Other Urban Green Spaces

When I was in high school, I was terrified of driving on the freeway and absolutely dreaded taking my driver’s test. The day I finally passed that test, I celebrated by driving the hour from Detroit to the Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor. I spent that afternoon sitting along the Huron River, eating fruit on a picnic blanket, and watching … Read More