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NEWS WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 21
MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE 2022
Workshop teaches financial security Budgeting allows students to take control of their finances. CAYLA LUNA Staff Writer
Tuffy’s Basic Needs hosted a workshop on March 16, Financial Literacy: Budgeting 101, to help participants understand the importance of budgeting and achieving financial peace of mind. Presenter Jose Gutierrez, the center’s programming graduate assistant, shared several tips on how to remain financially secure during and past their time in college. “Budgeting allows you to take control of your finances. It gives you a better chance of reaching your financial goals and it
just gives you a peace of mind by making sure that you have money for the things you need,” Gutierrez said. Gutierrez said that the goal of the workshop was to help participants understand the benefits and four main elements of budgeting — personal income, expenses, savings and financial goals. For students, income may include financial aid, paychecks and family support through allowances or other help. Gutierrez said that many people don’t understand that there are two types of expenses: fixed — things that don’t tend to change, such as rent — and variable expenses, which may not be of high priority, such as clothing. Considering 60% of US households experienced
financial shock within the past year, savings are an important defense that can help mitigate financial stress, said Gutierrez. An important first step is to set a financial goal. “The first thing you want to do is you want to set a goal. You want to create a plan on what you want to achieve. Then, you’ll calculate how long it’ll take to reach your goals and then you want to find a system of contribution that’s consistent for you,” Gutierrez said. He also suggested monitoring your progress as a way to provide encouragement when it comes to working towards financial goals. Gutierrez suggested using the acronym SMART — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound — to work towards financial goals.
Gutierrez also emphasized flexibility and how it relates to budgeting. “You want to be flexible. Budgets change from month to month and they will require revisions and adjustments,”Gutierrez said. Expenses related to a return to in-person instruction, as well as heightened gas and food prices can make it harder to save, Gutierrez said. Finding a method that specifically fits you can help navigate through unexpected pressures. Gutierrez suggested methods for saving as simple as putting aside cash in an envelope to save. He said that it was okay to mix methods as long as money is being saved. Using programs like Excel or budgeting apps that connect to your bank account
like Mint, are a couple of ways to track expenses. Financial Literacy: Budgeting 101 is one of many workshops offered by Tuffy’s Basic Needs services this spring. Other workshops include the Healthy Eating Series, which helps participants make the most of trips to the grocery store, plan healthy meals, and how to get CalFresh benefits. Gutierrez also suggested a multi-platform budgeting platform called, You Need a Budget, but said that the free version of the software was very limited in its abilities. The center has additional financial literacy workshops scheduled for both online and in-person. The next workshop will take place remotely on April 5.
LIFESTYLE WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 21
MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE 2022
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Five spring activities to help you relax
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AUDREY PARAYNO Staff Writer
When it comes to spring break, it’s important to realize that taking a break from the stress of school can greatly benefit a person’s mental health. People spend months going to class, doing homework and studying, so a week-long break in the spring is the perfect time to take care of one’s overall well-being. Here are some events and activities that one can do to destress and really spring into a better state of mind.
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Laguna Beach Live! People enjoy listening to music, and it can actually have beneficial effects on a person’s overall psychological health. From March 28 to April 3, the 20th annual Laguna Beach Music Festival will take place. The festival is put on by Laguna Beach Live! and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and features intimate concerts, community outreach, and different activities. Taking some time to listen to live music by the beach may be the one thing that someone needs to do to really take care of themselves.
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Reading Escaping into a good book is another way a person can boost their overall well-being and exercise their mental health. The Friends of Fullerton Library are hosting a book sale at the Fullerton Public Library on March 25 and 26. People can visit from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to find a good book at affordable prices to kickstart spring break.
Shopping Retail therapy is another way that people tend to lift their spirits, and it can actually have beneficial effects on a person’s overall mood. Luckily, the Flying Miz Daisy Outdoor Vintage Market is going to take place on April 2 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. The event will feature different antique and vintage item vendors from around the world. It’s free admission and will offer live music, food and beverages for people to enjoy while they do some shopping.
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Enjoy the outdoors! As sunny and warm weather returns, one of the best things a person can do for their mental health is to be in nature. When one spends time in nature, it allows for a reduction in stress and anxiety, as well as lowers the risk of depression. Orange County is home to beautiful pockets of nature, from regional parks to sandy beaches. Many of the parks and beaches are homes to some of the best hiking trails. Getting out and being active allows for so many benefits on not only a person’s physical health but also their mental health. Springtime is the best time to get out and enjoy the outside world. It’s nice to immerse oneself in nature, whether it’s just getting that change in scenery, getting fresh air, being active or even taking the time to enjoy the beauty of it all. Spring break is a time for people to have just that, a break. Life gets stressful and busy, but having that week off of class is one less thing students have to worry about. Taking the time to find things to boost one’s overall morale is a great way to really take a break and benefit mental health. This list just scratches the top of what people can do in the local area. So as spring break approaches, don’t forget to actually take a break and be kind to yourself.
(TIRANJINI PILLAI / DAILY TITAN)
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LIFESTYLE WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 21
MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE 2022
Declutter your workspace for a clear mind Start spring cleaning at your desk with these five tips. HEATHER EYRE Asst. Editor
You’ve made it through midterms, but does your workspace look like a cyclone hit it? Here are five reasons to carve out some time to reset your physical space and boost your mental health. Reduce stress Where we get our work done can have a big impact, not just on the way that we work but also on our mental health. Cluttered spaces can negatively affect our stress and anxiety levels, hinder our ability to focus, and influence our eating choices, according to the Harvard Business Review. Even if we think it doesn’t bother us, all the things that collect in and around our living and working spaces can make us feel overwhelmed, anxious and depressed. According to a study by UCLA in 2012, researchers found a direct link between clutter and increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Another study conducted by Harvard found that people sitting at messy desks are generally more frustrated and tired. Calming the chaos around your workspace can be surprisingly effective at also calming your stress level. Improve concentration Princeton University Neuroscience Institute has shown through MRI scans that our brains actually like order. By living with daily visual clutter, we’re repeatedly reminded of disorder, which drains
our cognitive resources and abilities. When participants in the study cleared their areas of unnecessary items and disorder, they were more focused and could process information better. Removing distractions also means less chance of wandering down a rabbit hole or becoming preoccupied with those pesky intrusive thoughts that can disrupt your current state of flow. Get more done Without bothersome
distractions, you can get a lot more done. The impact of a mess can be measured and working amid clutter can drain your ability to be persistent in getting work done. In an Harvard study, researchers exposed 100 undergraduates to one of two spaces, one neat and tidy, the other strewn with papers, folders, cups and boxes. Even after being moved to a separate space to complete a challenging task, those who had been in the tidy space lasted more than 1.5 times longer
than those who spent time in the messy one. To the brain, a mess can pose a type of threat to one’s personal control. The researchers theorized that dealing with that threat depletes the energy and resources the brain needs to self-regulate the ability to persevere. By turning down the volume on visual noise, you can improve your productivity. Increase confidence When your workspace reflects how you approach your
(GABRIELA MENDOZA-LEGORRETA / DAILY TITAN)
work, how you feel while working there can be impacted. Returning to a clean and organized workspace can increase your confidence in your ability to complete assignments. Being able to locate essential physical materials and not having to go digging under piles of debris means you can attend classes feeling more prepared. The same goes for digital files. Having a system that works for you means you’re less likely to miss deadlines, improving your overall academic performance and well-being. Lift the spirits With over 600 muscles and 206 bones, the human body was meant to move. After sitting for long hours at a desk, the act of tidying does more than combat disorder. Taking a break to get up and move around can boost metabolism and mood. According to Lifehack, decluttering doesn’t have to be a massive attack on your workspace. It’s actually better when treated like an ongoing project. Incorporating these habits regularly can be a form of self-care and reinforce the idea of working in an orderly space. So follow these steps for a tidy space: — Purge everything out of date or unnecessary. — Collect, sort, and redistribute everything in its own home. — Keep only essential tools on your desktop, stash the rest in a drawer or out of sight. — Scan and reassess your space frequently to make adjustments that work. — Tidy up for a fresh start when you return.
WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 21
MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE 2022
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OPINION WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 21
MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE 2022
Decolonizing wellness protects cultures Western holistic practices silences ethnic groups’ customs. NOLLYANNE DELACRUZ Deputy Editor
MATTHEW KEYSER Editor
While history may prefer to teach colonialism and imperialism as justifiable actions that improved the state of the world, its effects are more perennial and ingrained in marginalized communities, such as people of color, indigenous people, women and LGBTQ people. According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness is the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health. In pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, the wellness practices of people of color become affected by colonialism, which imbues Western values and methods with superiority in contrast to the perspectives and experiences of marginalized communities. Through colonization, racial minorities’ wellness practices became commercialized and appropriated, which contributes to the dilution of its meaning and the ostracization of the people who actually practice it. However, decolonizing these wellness practices by relearning the context of these practices within their respective cultures is integral for maintaining the health of every community, marginalized or not. The appropriation of cultural practices has created a stigma that exploits holistic practices for financial gain in Western culture. The most notable is the colonization of yoga into the United States. When yoga was first introduced in the U.S. by Swami Vivekananda at the World’s
(MARIAN CHIN / DAILY TITAN)
Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, it was received with mixed opinions. Vivekanada spoke about yoga as a philosophy, psychology and form of self-improvement. It wasn’t until the early 20th century when Hatha yoga — which merged with Western forms of physical culture — saw an increase in American popularity. Indian immigrants who had lost their citizenship remade themselves into mystic authorities, traveling the country and giving private classes. By the 1930s, asanas — the physical postures practiced in yoga — became relevant in American fitness. Yoga has become extremely commercialized, focusing on the fitness aspect of the practice while watering down its heritage and philosophy to fit the mainstream media. Mainstream yoga became associated with thin, able-bodied, white women in brand-named yoga
pants, going to a studio to work out. According to a 2019 study from the International Journal of Yoga, more than 60 million images were tagged with #yoga on Instagram highlighting its use as a trend for fitness and well-being. While there is nothing wrong with using yoga for personal fitness and wellness practices, it’s important that we acknowledge its cultural roots by reconnecting with its history and appreciating its spiritual significance. The cultural appropriation of wellness techniques have endured a history of whitewashing and rebranding in other Asian practices, too. Traditional Chinese medicines, such as acupuncture, cupping and gua sha, have been exported from Asia to the West and relabeled as alternative or new age medicines. The problem with this is that they are not new age; they’re actually traditional
medicines commonly used in other countries. The issue with borrowing or implementing wellness practices from other cultures is that Western cultures have a tendency to disregard the practices’ roots in the process of assimilation. Susan Shimazu, a parttime faculty member in psychology at Cal State Fullerton, explained the appropriation of these practices. “I think, when you look at cultural appropriation, you’re basically decontextualizing that one thing outside of the entire community and the meaning within that community,” Shimazu said. The term alternative medicine marginalizes these practices as insignificant and separate from the Westernized version of treating ailments. Shimazu described how colonialism affects the view of medical treatment. “I think that’s probably one of the biggest impacts of
colonization: what is just assumed as medicine versus when you look at alternative approaches,” Shimazu said. “There almost has to be a justification for that to be included in a possible treatment.” A similar process occurs when planning a healthy diet. Cultural foods, like bok choy, bitter melon and plantains seem to be overlooked in favor of spinach, butternut squash and bananas. This “one size fits all” approach perpetuates the misconception that cultural foods are not healthy and erases the people behind these foreign foods. It tells them that there is no place for their food, their culture or themselves. Self-correction is the tip of the iceberg when decolonizing these wellness practices. It is crucial to unlearn misinformation and prejudices then to relearn the truth from the people who practice them. To achieve wellness in marginalized communities, especially in the Asian American Pacific Islander and Desi American communities, part of being well means decolonizing the idea of the self. “To get to that place sometimes involves facing the pain of those messages, like really calling out those messages for what they are, which is untruths that are being placed on me as an individual,” Shimazu said. Additionally, decolonized wellness should create communities that support and accept all people. Shimazu said that some people may experience depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts because of exclusion. Decolonizing wellness is more than returning the context and control of these healthy practices to the cultures they stem from; it means learning to exist and relate without colonial or imperialistic motives.
OPINION WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 21
MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE 2022
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Column: I do not live to satisfy my parents Unattainable parental expectations harm children’s identity. GENESIS PAVIA Asst. Editor
It is mind-blowingly ironic when your parents say they want what’s best for you, but as long as you succumb to cultural and societal pressures. The constant pestering to be a flawless Mexican American daughter has likely been a struggle for many. Generally, the Mexican household dynamic is rooted in a patriarchal culture where the women tend to the men of the house. The ultimate paradox is that Mexican daughters are expected to find fulfillment in being homemakers while striving for a greater goal. However, many young adults need to remind themselves that it is OK to not live up to their parents’ expectations. These double standards exemplified by my parents affected me. While my brothers were allowed to pursue their interests in sports and music, I was told to stay at home with my mom and wait for their arrival. If I objected, I would be scolded because, as a woman, I was taught not to argue with anyone. My voice didn’t matter. The pressures of fulfilling my parents’ desires were pinned on me as their sole daughter. Their expectations failed to recognize me as an ambitious daughter, rather than a self-denying domestic role. However, the burdens I carried as a Mexican American daughter didn’t start and end with my parents. Since the double standards of gender roles are deeply
rooted in Mexican culture, their ideals lingered from past generations. The traditional roles of gender in Mexico are dictated by spatial distinctions where a man has more leeway of his whereabouts because of his breadwinner role. On the contrary, women’s freedom is limited as they prioritize their family’s well-being before their own. My mom always told me that when her time was up, I would be the one to tend to not only my dad, but also my brothers. Ever since I was a child, it struck me to hear how ignorant that sounded. It wasn’t because I didn’t wish to care for my family, but because the role would fall on me as a woman. I spent a good duration of my childhood attempting to please my parents, but the insistence to be a good daughter and student made me lose my sense of identity, sending me into a downward spiral of depression. When it became apparent that I would never live up to my parents’ standards, something inside me died. I had to fight years to regain my sense of self. I battled with the oppressive feelings of guilt and fear for not becoming the obedient and prosperous daughter that my parents imagined when immigrating to a new country. It’s not to say that it’s bad for your parents to think highly of you and set their expectations. It may even be encouraging for some people, and that’s okay. However, these were standards set up for me as the daughter of immigrant parents. More than anything, it was difficult to assess what they truly desired for me. I became
lost in the idea that my parents traveled to another country only to ask me to live a life where I wasn’t happy. Unlearning the values and beliefs your parents taught you as a child is not a process that happens overnight. First, I had to understand that although your parents may nag all day long about what is best for you, it doesn’t always mean that they are right. At times, you can acknowledge that the only person capable of knowing is yourself. Despite not having
emotional support from my parents, I had to learn to let go of any resentment I held. Although my parents played a part in my self-erasure, I knew it wasn’t their responsibility to rebuild my confidence and self-identity, nor would I allow them to continue dictating my life. The slow process of recreating my identity and finding the desire to re-enter reality made me realize I needed to fight for myself. This meant learning that I would no longer satisfy their opinions. For some
people, this may not be easy given their situation. However, there has to be a crucial step implemented — creating a healthy boundary where you can respect each others’ differences. It could take multiple dissections and understanding to comprehend where your parents’ standards are coming from. You don’t have to always agree with them or meet them in the middle to please them. The only expectations anyone should set for themselves are the ones that belong to you.
(GABRIELA MENDOZA-LEGORRETA / DAILY TITAN)
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WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 21
MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE 2022