With midterm exams, cold weather and flu season fast approaching, students might feel more depressed and fall into unhealthier habits than at other times of the year.

In October, the combined load of academic and social tasks starts to interfere with quality of sleep, eating and leisure activities. The absence of a close getaway makes it even worse; more than six weeks separates us from Thanksgiving break, and Fall break is too short to take a breather.

Because the university cares about the well-being of its students throughout the semester, Wellness Week comes in the nick of time as a reminder for students that healthy habits can be enjoyable and compatible with a college student’s schedule.

Monday through Friday, ACU promotes the 2008 Wellness Week’s theme “Come to the Well and Thirst No More” to inform and interest students about perspectives of accessible spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. In other words, students may learn that having a healthy lifestyle can be fun and not time-consuming.

Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the mall area in front of Moody Coliseum, students have the opportunity to relax and have fun at several stations such as a dunking tank, rock wall, bouncing boxing, bungee run, Velcro wall, obstacle course and other activities. Earlier this week, they also could learn about practical ways to improve their eating and exercise and how to avoid stress.

When this operation of sensitization is over, students will remain the masters of their daily health-related choices. Students already know procrastination leads to sleep deprivation and extra stress, eating what’s at hand may become harmful in the big picture and a lack of exercise upsets energy levels; however, only few make necessary changes.

Knowledge and resources help only if you use them; ultimately, the responsibility falls on each person’s motivation. People often make changes only when the danger is imminent. Who’s to blame them – us? We live in a society that promotes immediate comfort and pain-avoidance.

Given these conditions, it takes discipline and determination to stick to an assignment schedule, a workout plan and a healthy diet; it takes much more to face the possible life threatening consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Wellness Week provides great tools and inspiration; whether to use it or not relies on personal commitment.