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Students stand on the shore of Lake Ontario. (left to right) Stacia Demott, early childhood education, 2028 Jaylen Cameron, marketing, 2025 Joshua Rivera Charles Friedman, accounting, 2025; MBA, 2026 Tatienna Samuels, public relations, 2027

Healthy Habits Appointments

Let us help you build Healthy Habits that fit your life

Schedule your Healthy Habits appointment on the Patient Portal

Giveaway Time! 
Every time students go to a Healthy Habits appointment, they will get an entry to win a RingConn or a weighted blanket! Winners will be emailed in November.

A Personalized Wellness Check-In

Healthy Habits appointments are one hour one-on-one wellness appointments for SUNY Oswego students. During the appointment, students meet with one of the Health Services staff to talk about the six pillars of lifestyle medicine and find ways to improve their health over time.

Together, you'll:

  • Talk about your goals and priorities
  • Create a personalized plan for you to be successful
  • Develop specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals
  • Discuss follow up plans and resources on and off campus

Why focus on Healthy Habits in college?

First time managing your health

Many college students have had help from adults when making health decisions before coming to college. 

Now that you are here, you may need to make more of these choices on your own, which may be new to you. We are here to help with that.

Small changes add up

Many students think they need to make big changes for them to matter, like exercise only counting if you go for a run or go to the gym for an hour. 

In reality, making small changes matter too. Taking the stairs, parking farther away, or even doing a quick 10 minute workout can add up over time. 

Figuring out the small, manageable steps can help you build healthy habits and reach your goals in a more sustainable way.

Support makes change easier

Making changes is easier when you have support to help you stay on track. 

We can check in on your goals and help you stay motivated if things get hard. 

Friends, classmates, professors and Health Services can all support you as you work towards Healthier Habits.

What are the 6 pillars of Lifestyle Medicine?

SUNY Oswego student at the Lakeside Dining Center salad bar

1: Nutrition

Healthy food choices are a way to prevent and treat some chronic conditions. 

Lifestyle Medicine focuses mostly on whole foods (not processed or minimally processed), like vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, legumes, and seeds.

Annual Color Oswego 1.5 mile color run/walk around SUNY Oswego's west side of campus.

2: Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is important to support your health. 

It is recommended to get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic and muscle strength activities per week. Moderate activity means you can talk but not sing during this activity.

Dorm room in Scales Hall

3: Restorative Sleep

Sleep helps your brain heal and stay healthy. Not getting enough sleep can hurt your memory and may lead to serious health problems over time, like heart disease and dementia. 

Most people should get 7–9 hours of good-quality sleep each night so their body and brain can rest and repair.

Harmony room meditation space located in Dr. May Walker Health Center

4: Stress Management

Long term stress can make health problems worse, like heart disease, depression, and insulin resistance.

Managing stress is important for staying healthy.

A group of 6 SUNY Oswego students outside on a sunny day posing for a group photo

5: Social connection

Meaningful connections are important for happiness. 

Having strong connections and a sense of purpose can improve your physical, mental, and emotional health. They can also help lower the risk of depression and other long-term diseases.

 
 
Six SUNY Oswego students smiling together at Oz Fest while holding food samples from local food trucks. Showing a fun and healthy way to celebrate the end of the year.

6: Avoiding Risky Substances

Choosing to limit or avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs supports better mental and physical health and is one part of a healthy lifestyle.

Three students walk outdoors away from Rich Hall, smiling and interacting with one another.

These appointments are great for students who:

  • Are looking to make lifestyle changes
  • Want to improve their health through holistic approaches
  • Are looking to become more physically active
  • Are looking to incorporate more whole foods into their diet
  • Are looking to reduce stress
  • Feel health and success at college is important to them

Start building healthier habits today!

Take 1 hour to check in on your health and learn simple ways to support your well-being.

Schedule an appointment on the Patient Portal

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Health Services

Dr. Mary Walker Health Center 
40 Rudolph Rd. 
Oswego, NY 13126

Contact

Phone: 315-312-4100
Fax: 855-587-7419 or 315-312-5409
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @ozhealthservices

Hours

Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri- 8:30am-4:30pm
Wed-9:30am-4:30pm 
Summer and Winter session: Monday-Friday: 9am - 3pm, by appointment only

Closed for lunch: 12pm-1pm