Physical Wellness is the ability to apply your knowledge, motivation, commitment, behavior, self management, attitude, and skills toward achieving your personal fitness and health goals. Physical wellness is more than just the absence of disease. The physical dimension of wellness is concerned with building a healthy, strong, and resilient body. Such a body receives proper nutrition, sleep, and activity while being protected from disease and injury. As a result, you are more physically fit and energetic, have a strong immune system, and are primed for longevity. Physical wellness is protective against the stress and demands encountered in graduate and professional school.

Below are some UMB, local, and national physical wellness resources.

UMB

URecFit 

UMB’s state-of-the-art recreation and fitness facility is located on the top three floors of the SMC Campus Center at 621 W. Lombard St. URecFit includes a large fitness center, strength and conditioning room, intramural sports, elevated track, exercise studios for fitness and yoga classes, cycling studio, gymnasium with two basketball courts, volleyball, badminton, two racquetball/squash courts, five-lane infinity pool, and locker rooms. Free for UMB students.

Student Health Services   

All students registered at UMB (except those in the evening law program) pay a student health fee as part of tuition. They are therefore eligible to access the UMaryland Immediate Care practice for all of their student health needs. Care is provided by medical providers from the Department of Family & Community Medicine of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Located at UMaryland Immediate Care, 408 W. Lombard St., between Eutaw and Paca streets. To make an appointment, call 667-214-1899
 

Local

November Project

Every Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. at Rash Field in front of Federal Hill, "a community is waiting for you, waiting to hug you, sweat with you, run you into the ground and send you to work longing for next week. Just show up and learn why our city is great, why our people are second to none, and why a Fed Hill sunrise can’t be beat." Free fitness activity.

Downtown Sailing Center

Downtown Sailing Center programs are available to the entire community. For adults, they offer adult education, recreational sailing open sails, Thursday Night Racing, and cruising education. For youth, they offer junior’s camp, outreach programming that includes STEM curriculum, literacy education, and sailing instructor certification. For persons with disabilities, the center offers accessible Saturdays, racing education, and group outings.

Canton Kayak Club

Kayaking provides opportunities for exercise, exploring the harbor, making new friends, and networking. Members pay a small annual fee that entitles them to free training, unlimited use of the 80 club kayaks, paddles and life jackets, group kayaking opportunities, happy hours, and more. There are six waterfront locations in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Members can paddle as often as they like, at any location, without making reservations, and with no per-use charge.

National

Food and Nutrition

Comprehensive website on food and nutrition, including a blog, articles, trends, recipes, kitchen tools, books, and movies. It also features gluten-free tips and recipes and an ongoing review of healthy lifestyle aps. 

Eat Right 

From the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this site features tips and articles on nutrition, fitness, and health. There also are special sections for kids, parents, women, men, and seniors.

LiveStrong 

This website features workouts, progress tracking sheets for weight loss and exercise, recipes, and hot topics in fitness.

Go Ask Alice 

Go Ask Alice! is the health question and answer Internet resource produced by Alice! Health Promotion at Columbia University, a division of Columbia Health.

National Institutes of Health: Science-Based Health and Wellness Resources

A hub of information on a wide range of health and wellness topics: nutrition, healthy recipes, how to quit smoking, moderate drinking, heart health, signs of a stroke, talking with your doctor, and much more.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health 

Provides an explanation of complementary and integrative health, how to be an informed consumer of these wellness modalities, and a number of articles on specific health conditions and effective treatments (asthma, insomnia, pain, PMS, allergies, etc.)

Spiritual wellness is the process of looking within and nurturing your spiritual core. This process is unique for each individual. To enjoy spiritual and ethical wellness is to possess a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that give meaning and purpose to one’s life. The spiritually well person focuses on the positive aspects of life and finds spirituality to be an antidote for negative feelings such as cynicism, anger, and pessimism. Participation in a community of faith, ethical conduct, compassionate service, and concern for societal needs often flow from spiritual wellness. Organized religions help many people develop spiritual health. Religion, however, is not the only source or form of spiritual wellness. Many people find meaning and purpose in their lives on their own — through nature, art, meditation, or good works — or with their loved ones. Spiritual and ethical wellness also encompasses a respect and appreciation for differing values and beliefs.

Below are some UMB resources for Spiritual Wellness.

Sacred Spaces at UMB

There are sacred spaces available to you on campus for prayer, meditation, and reflection. These spaces are located in several different places across campus to make access most convenient for you.

MSTF Prayer Room

School of Medicine - Medical School Teaching Facility (MSTF) – 685 W. Baltimore Street, PED level Room A (West side / MLK Boulevard side of the Building). The door has a vacant/occupied door lock. Available on a first come, first serve basis.

UMMC Chapel of Comfort

The Chapel of Comfort is available 24-7 for personal prayer/meditation. There is a Prayer Journal available for written prayers and concerns.

VA Baltimore VA Medical Center, Room 2A-10710 Greene St.Chapel

The All Faiths Chapel is located on the 2nd floor of the medical center and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Religious services are conducted in the All Faiths Chapel on a daily basis.  For a schedule of religious services or for more information about Chaplain Service, please call
410-605-7070.

Social Wellness is having positive, civil interactions and genuinely enjoying being with others. It is acknowledging the value of another person and recognizing that differences, even disagreements among thoughtful people, are enriching. Social wellness includes showing respect for others; developing close friendships and intimacy; practicing civility, empathy, and effective listening; caring for others and for the common good; and allowing others to care for you. In a highly stressful academic environment, social wellness also refers to our ability to budget time for leisure and recreation with other people. Social connections serve as a source of encouragement and reinforcement for practicing healthy behaviors.

Below are some UMB, local, and national social wellness resources.

UMB

UMB Student Organizations 

Lists more than 100 UMB student-led organizations. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, there are instructions on how to start your own group.

UMBrella

UMB offers a parent group through UMBrella.  Please view the UMBrella Page for family- friendly resources.  

Local

Meetup.com 

An excellent site to find activities you love with people who share your interests. Simply type in what activity interests you (hiking, dancing, meeting people in their 30s, etc.) and your location. Meetup will display the groups related to this activity within the geographical distance you specify. A great way to meet new people and try new things.

Baltimore Social Sports and Entertainment

A Baltimore social and sports club with various sports leagues (bocce ball, volleyball, softball, flag football, kickball, yoga, sailing, etc.). It focuses on creating a community that is fun, welcoming, and stress-free. No experience needed!

National

Relationship Resources

Articles designed to help you better understand yourself and your relationships (friends, family, romantic), as well as advice on how to build relationships that are healthy, happy, and satisfying.

The Raising of America: Early Childhood and the Future of our Nation

Five-episode documentary that demonstrates the importance of the early development years and how social policies impact parents and children, thereby shaping early childhood health and development and life course outcomes. The series won Best Science Film/Radio/TV program of 2009 by the National Academies, a duPont–Columbia Award (considered the Pulitzers of broadcast journalism), and other prestigious honors. Watch online.

American Public Health Association  

The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and communities. It strengthens the profession of public health; fosters understanding, engagement, and support for key public health issues; and directly influences public policy to improve global health.

Emotional Wellness is an ability to meet emotional needs constructively. It is maintaining good mental health, a positive attitude, high self-esteem, and a strong self-image. It is the ability to respond resiliently to emotional states and the flow of life every day. It is dealing with a variety of situations realistically and learning more about yourself and how things you do affect your feelings. It is taking responsibility for your own behavior and responding to challenges as opportunities. Emotional wellness implies an ability to cope with the stressors of graduate and professional school effectively and in a healthy way.

Below are some UMB, local, and national emotional wellness resources.

UMB

Student Counseling Center 

The Student Counseling Center provides professional counseling and psychiatric services for currently enrolled full- and part-time University of Maryland students. The Counseling Center offers individual and group counseling, medication, and workshops. It also has a large collection of books, workbooks, DVDs, and CDs that students can borrow. It is located in the Health Sciences and Human Services Library, 691 W. Lombard St., Suite 449. To make an appointment, call 410-328-8404. To reach help after hours and on weekends, call the Student Health Center at 667-214-1800.

URecFit and Wellness

URecFit and Wellness provides opportunities for students to explore academic/life balance through interprofessional workshops and lectures, academic coaching, and family support resources. Wellness programming also includes spiritual wellness workshops and events, such as the Kindness Initiative, designed to provide students with opportunities to serve others on and off campus. 

Local

Substance Use Wellness 

The Kolmac Clinic provides outpatient rehabilitation and treatment programs for adults with alcohol, drug, and other substance abuse problems. Because Kolmac is an outpatient treatment center, patients can receive rehab help without taking leave from work or family responsibilities. Kolmac has six facilities serving Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meeting Schedule in Baltimore 

To find an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting near you, use the search form on this webpage. The site also has information on AA, addiction, and local events.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Meetings

A nonprofit fellowship society where men and women congregate to support each other in their journey toward sobriety. 

Find a Therapist

Lists therapists in the Baltimore area offering a variety of approaches to psychotherapy. 

National

7 Cups: Need Someone to Talk to?

7 Cups is a free, anonymous, and confidential online text chat with trained listeners, online therapists, and counselors.

Making Stress Your Friend TED Talk

While stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.

Women's Wellness 

This website provides a range of current information, including discussion of new research findings in women’s mental health and how such investigations inform day-to-day clinical practice. Information is available on psychiatric disorders during pregnancy, breastfeeding and psychiatric medicine, postpartum psychiatric disorders, fertility, and menopause.

All About Meditating

Describes the practice of meditation, the science supporting the health benefits of meditating, and tips for starting your own practice. For more information on meditating, see Spiritual Wellness.

Five Habits that will Improve your Emotional Wellness

Clinical psychologist Guy Winch advocates that we need to do regular psychological maintenance to keep ourselves emotionally healthy. He provides five ways we can protect and improve our emotional wellness.

On Being Happy

A collection of articles on the art of happiness and how we can bring more meaning and satisfaction to our lives.

Taming Your Gremlin: A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way

A classic book by Rick Carson on how to increase self-awareness, reduce your inner critic, and gain freedom from self-defeating behaviors and beliefs.

Cultural Wellness is being aware of one's own cultural background, as well as the diversity and richness present in other cultural backgrounds. It is striving to recognize, understand, and accept differences among people. Cultural wellness implies advocacy for and affirmation of cultural diversity including sexual orientation, religion, gender, racial and ethnic backgrounds, age groups, and disabilities, and appreciating the uniqueness of each culture. It is the integration of all of the cultures in your life including micro-cultures such as family, academics, work, and other affiliations. Traits of a culturally well individual include understanding the uniqueness and legitimacy of every culture, ability to effectively communicate to members of different cultures, and a willingness to learn about, interact with, and coexist with other cultures.

Below are some UMB, local, and national cultural wellness resources.

UMB

Office of International Services

Assists individual international students, scholars, and their families by advising on federal immigration regulations and providing advice and support on personal, academic, and cultural matters.

The Student Center for Global Education Initiatives

Provides campus leadership for global health initiatives for faculty and students. This center works to build UMB's national reputation in global health interprofessional education by partnering across campus to grow interprofessional global programs and assists students interested in global experiential learning by facilitating global opportunities and providing guidance on travel planning, cultural preparation, safety and security, funding resources, and additional support.

Interprofessional Student Learning and Service Initiatives

Coordinates campuswide activities, programs, and services that foster students' academic, personal, and professional development. Programs include diversity training, the President’s initiative, and poverty simulation.

Local

Visit Baltimore – Arts and Culture

An excellent site to pursue to find interesting and entertaining things to do in Baltimore, such as visiting the Inner Harbor, one of the  many museums, exhibitions, fairs and festivals, outdoor monuments, sporting events, parks, live music, and outdoor events.

Death Café 

A Death Café is a group of people who gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss death. The objective is "to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives." The discussion about death is group-directed with no agenda, objectives, or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session. On the website, you can locate a local death café or host your own.

National

USA Culture and Ethnic Groups

Information about U.S. culture (e.g., the U.S. flag, holidays, folklore, social and cultural history) and African-American, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American history and culture. Also provides a guide for new immigrants in 14 different languages.

Intellectual Wellness is having a curiosity and strong desire to learn. The intellectual dimension of wellness encourages creative and stimulating mental activities. An intellectually well person uses the resources available to expand his/her knowledge in improved skills along with expanding potential for sharing with others. An intellectually well person uses the intellectual and cultural activities in the classroom and beyond the classroom combined with the human resources and learning resources available within the University community and the larger community.

Below are some UMB, local, and national intellectual wellness resources.

UMB

Educational Support and Disability Services

Coordinates services to assist students with disabilities in obtaining reasonable accommodations through an interactive process involving the student and the school. Offers individual consultation, workshops, support groups, and note-taking services. To make an appointment, email Deborah Levi, MA, MSW, Director of Educational Support and Disability Services. Located at the SMC Campus Center, 621 W. Lombard St., Suite 302.

Writing Center

Committed to helping registered UMB students become skilled, successful, and self-sufficient writers through one-on-one consultations, online writing resources, and a variety of workshops and events.

The Elm and Campus Life Weekly

Sign up to receive The Elm and Campus Life Weekly by email. Each publication lists upcoming presentations, events, and intellectually stimulating opportunities at UMB.

President's student leadership Institute (PSLI)

A co-curricular certificate program designed to expose students to contemporary issues in leadership and professional development in order to prepare participants for professional leadership in a diverse workplace. PSLI is an interprofessional program that creates opportunities for students in different fields to interact and learn from one another.

Seven Scholars Bookstore

The UMB bookstore sells textbooks, UMB apparel, gifts, accessories, supplies, electronics, and snacks. Located on the first floor of the SMC Campus Center.

Local

Libraries in Baltimore and Baltimore County

Enoch Pratt Public Library is located close to UMB on Cathedral Street. In addition, the Baltimore County Public Library system has numerous branches located around the area. http://catalog.bcpl.lib.md.us/polaris/

Best Independent Bookstores in Baltimore

Want to support a local business? There are many independent bookstores in Baltimore. Some focus on specific genres, while others offer new and used books.

Volunteer with Baltimore County Public Schools

You can volunteer in one of Baltimore’s County public schools as a classroom assistant, tutor, or student mentor. Or you might speak about career opportunities or help with afterschool, music, or sports programs.

National

Coursera

Coursera is an education platform that partners with top universities and organizations worldwide to offer courses online for anyone to take for free.

Ted Talks

TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) is a global set of conferences that address a wide range of topics within the research and practice of science and culture. The speakers are given a maximum of 18 minutes to present their ideas in the most innovative and engaging ways they can. TED’s mission statement begins like this: “We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.” The talks are available for free online.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants and Funding

One of the largest federal funding agencies in the United States. The NIH also provides clinical research resources and training.

Financial Wellness includes the process of discovering and maintaining a balance between personal, social, and vocational goals in your life. It is having an understanding of your financial situation and taking care of it in such a way that you are prepared for financial changes. Maintaining that balance consists of being comfortable with where your money comes from and where it is going. It involves taking advantage of opportunities to learn money management skills that will enhance satisfaction and enjoyment in your life. It is the awareness of your own strengths and skills, in addition to the time and financial commitment necessary to pursue the lifestyle of your choice.

Below are some UMB, local, and national financial wellness resources.

UMB

Student Financial Aid and Education 

This office provides assistance to any UMB student who needs help obtaining funding to finance their education. The programs are specifically directed at helping those students who would not be able to complete their education without support.  Approximately 80% of UMB students receive assistance through this office. It also provides students with the education and guidance needed to make informed financial decisions, offering individual consultations, online financial education, useful links, and school-specific resources.

Local

Banks in Maryland

Moving to Baltimore? See in which cities in Maryland your bank is located.

Financial Incentives to Live in Baltimore

Baltimore City offers a variety of incentive programs to homebuyers, homeowners, and renters. This website lists the specific qualifications for each program, managed by different city departments or nonprofits.

National

Online Budget for Students

Online budget calculator designed for students. This site also provides information for students on how to manage money and debts, understanding and building credit scores, and strategies for applying for and repaying student loans.

The Simple Dollar

This website provides blogs and articles on practical financial matters as they relate to daily life, investing, insurance, education, small business, credit, and debt. Written by the author of The Simple Dollar: How One Man Wiped Out His Debts and Achieved the Life of His Dreams.

7 Financial Tips Every Student Should Know

College Finances 101 article with seven helpful financial tips for students.

Environmental Wellness includes trying to live in harmony with the earth by understanding the impact of your interaction with nature and your personal environment, and taking action to protect the world around you. It also involves protecting yourself from environmental hazards such as air pollution, ultraviolet radiation in the sunlight, chemicals, noise, water pollution, and second-hand smoke. Environmental wellness also includes taking time to enjoy and appreciate the natural world.

Below are some UMB, local, and national environmental wellness resources.

UMB

UMB Office of Sustainability

The Office of Sustainability was formed in 2021 to solidify UMB’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The office manages and partners on projects throughout campus focused on energy reduction, waste minimization, sustainable design, green procurement, sustainable transportation, and education and engagement, among other areas.

UMB Environment Health and Safety 

Provides education and service, in-class training sessions, hazardous material removal, injury reporting, and programming on environmental health and safety.

Environmental Working Group 

A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a mission to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through its reports, online databases, mobile apps, and communications campaigns, EWG is educating and empowering consumers to make safer and more informed decisions about the products they buy and the companies they support. In response to consumer pressure, companies are giving up potentially dangerous chemical ingredients in their products and improving their practices.

Local

Baltimore’s Farmers Markets

A list of farmers markets across Baltimore, available from spring to late fall, selling fresh, locally sourced produce, locally made cheeses, and unusual culinary dishes, as well as flowers, crafts, and gifts.

Baltimore Office of Sustainability

The Office of Sustainability develops and advocates for programs, policies, and actions by government, citizens, businesses, and institutions that improve the long-term environmental, social, and economic viability of Baltimore. Opportunities for getting involved through education and promoting awareness are available, as are sustainability resources.

Baltimore Green Works 

A volunteer-driven organization designed to increase awareness about how residents can make the Baltimore region cleaner and environmentally safer for all who live and work here.

Environment Maryland 

A statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization that believes Maryland is full of special places worth protecting and preserving for future generations. It researches the challenges confronting Maryland's environment, raises awareness of environmental issues, and promotes sensible solutions.

National

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Provides a wealth of information on important issues and the research findings for these issues. Issues include air quality, climate change, water, green living, pesticides, waste, ecosystems, emergencies, and sustainable living. Also lists laws and regulations.

Natural Resources Defense Council 

The NRDC works on a broad range of issues with a mission to safeguard the earth — its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. Priority issues and information on curbing global warming, creating clean energy, reviving the world’s oceans, defending endangered wildlife, preventing pollution, ensuring sufficient water, and fostering sustainable communities.