Blog

Written by Tanner Hoffarth, Former Marketing Employee

Self-Care isn’t always easy and often can be something many put on the side burner. This list of 10 practical self-care ideas is a great way to get your foot in the door and begin to change course as we head into a busy season of the semester. Each idea listed below requires little time/effort but a lot of discipline. Let’s get started.
Sleep
The first of many, and possibly the most important is sleep. With all of our crazy lifestyles, it seems that we “don’t have time for sleep”. By sleeping we are able to reset our bodies, regain our energy, retain memories better, and reduces stress.
Gut Health
Focusing on your gut is your next task. This can be done in multiple ways, but one of the best ways is staying hydrated and drinking a lot more water than you are right now. Doing this will boost skin health and beauty, flush toxins more quickly, and help maintain body temperature and blood pressure.
Learning
Learning about self-care is just as important as participating in it. With a better understanding of what to do, why you do it, and how to do it will boost the benefits through the roof.
Nature Walk

Taking a nature walk/run has been my number one thing to do during the … Read More

Written by Carter Brackman, Hydaway Outdoor Center Manager

It seems like we are all pressed for time these days. We all need time where we get away from the normal schedule of each day and refresh. What is the best way to do this? How about taking a free Saturday and going on a nice day hike? With the fall weather setting in it is the perfect time to explore the outdoors! If this sounds like something you would be interested in then Virginia’s got you. This post recommends that you wake up early one day and explore two of Virginia’s most beautiful and underrated hikes.
First Things First
Hike with a Group
When exploring new places it is always a good idea to bring along some friends. There is something about being in nature that just brings people together. It also helps ensure your safety as you travel and hike. Also, make sure to tell someone outside of your group of your location and estimated hike time to just cover all your bases.
Comfort and Protection
You want the hiking experience to be as fun as possible. Comfort level is a large contributor to this. Some of the following items could be packed: snacks (trail mix, bananas, granola bars), sunscreen, mini first-aid kit, rain jacket, bug spray, water, and a backpack … Read More

Written by Hayley Swenski, Intramural Sports Outdoor Soccer Supervisor

When training for soccer, it is vital for players to build up their strength and endurance to not only excel on the field, but also to help prevent injury. Staying hydrated, eating smart foods and being well rested are also key factors in increasing performance on the field and aiding in recovery between workouts. Remember to always include a proper warm-up and cool-down in each of your workouts, and don’t be afraid to listen to your body. If you feel too sore, tired, or have a possible injury, it is okay to take time to let your body rest and recover before starting another workout. However, it is still important to push yourself while you are completing your workout. The only way to get better is to work hard and push your body past what you think you can do. Your fitness and skills will develop over time, so be consistent and you will see results faster than you may think!
When developing your training, be sure to include strength training, endurance training, and interval training for optimal results. Here are three different workouts that you can complete in a week to develop all around strength and conditioning to improve your soccer abilities.
Strength Training
Complete 4 rounds with a 1-minute … Read More

Written by Luke Whitmire, Hydaway Outdoor Center Manager

Camping is a wonderful way to spend an extended period of time in the outdoors. It provides a way to connect with nature by unplugging from our daily lives and intentionally spending time sacrificing the comfort of our homes in favor of being outside. One of the best ways to enjoy this time is to utilize a hammock tent setup rather than a traditional tent. The hammock tent provides several comforts and conveniences that set it far ahead of the traditional tent.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Hammock Tent
There are several advantages that hammock tents provide. First, the hammock provides a comfortable escape from the ground filled with rocks and roots. This allows for camping in many different locations or on hills that would be impossible for tent camping. Hammocks can provide a safe haven above waterlogged campsites and critters. Additionally, most hammock tents provide a lightweight alternative to tent camping. Although high-end minimalistic tents can provide a light shelter, the average hammock tent offers more comfort at a lower weight and often with a lower price point. The hammock eliminates the need for any sleeping pad, eliminating more gear and weight from your pack. The convenience of these advantages provides many reasons why hammock camping might be the right … Read More

Written by Victoria Dissmore, Marketing Employee

Getting a good night’s sleep is an integral part of your overall health and wellbeing, especially as a student. You need that sleep to be able to focus in class and do your homework well. If you’re having trouble sleeping or want to get better, deeper sleep, check out these five tips for improving your sleep quality.
Dim Your Lights
Having lights on around you at night will delay your melatonin production, telling your body that it’s not time to sleep and making it harder to fall asleep at bedtime. Instead of turning all your lights on at full brightness, dim them if they have a dimmer switch or unscrew a couple of lightbulbs if it’s a multi-bulb light. Also consider completely turning off overhead lights and switching on a lamp that’s not as bright.
You can also light a few candles or hang string lights to set the mood in the evening so by bedtime you’re ready to fall asleep.
One more thing to note is that darkness is crucial for a good night’s sleep, so try to shut out as much light as possible. Blackout curtains might be a good investment if it’s bright outside your bedroom windows and be sure to close your bedroom door if there’s light out in your living … Read More

Written by Nikki Kilian, Fitness Coordinator

During my sophomore year of college, I signed up for the advanced running class (Phys Ed 236). I had enjoyed running but wanted to learn how to be better at it. I was looking for a technical formula and concrete answer. What I gained was so much better. One of the many questions I had about how to improve my running was how to breathe. To unfold this idea, first you need to determine your goals: Are you doing interval training or distance running?
Interval Training
If you are conducting sprints, you will get out of breath. The key here is to get breathless, let yourself recover, and then sprint again. (Do not go breathless if your doctor advises you not to, if you have a medical condition, or if you are pregnant).
The benefit to doing sprints is that you will achieve maximum caloric burn in a short amount of time and doing high intensity interval training (HIIT) actually allows your body to continue burning calories throughout the day. This is because aerobic activity causes excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC).
Distance Running
When aiming for distance, a good rule of thumb is to run at a conversational pace, as advised by the legendary Dr. Horton. (if you don’t know him, take PhysEd 235 or 236—it’s … Read More

Written by Victoria Dissmore, Marketing Employee

It can be hard to take a whole day to rest when you have homework piling up, but the Sabbath is an important spiritual discipline that will keep you from burnout while strengthening your relationship with God.
Taking a Sabbath doesn’t have to mean sitting around doing nothing or watching Netflix all day. The Sabbath is meant to be an enjoyable, restful time with the Lord, which should make you want to prioritize getting your homework done at other times.
Whatever day you choose to Sabbath, these suggested activities will give you a fun break from work to help you enjoy God and delight in the life He’s given you.
Bake Cookies
I don’t know about you, but I feel like Fall is the perfect baking season. Find a friend who lives on East or off-campus and get a few more friends together for an afternoon in the kitchen. Baking or cooking something simple is a way to spend quality time together doing a shared activity and enjoying each other’s company. And then you can eat whatever it is you made together!
Watch a Movie at the Theatre
There’s something special about going out to see a movie as opposed to watching one at home. You get to leave your worries outside, sit in comfy seats for … Read More

Written by Bill Crawford, General Manager of Liberty Mountain Gun Club

The morning started off with a quiet calm and just a bit of low-lying fog. Rumors of “record-breaking weather” were murmured until the lead edge of the cold front started to blow in. Now everyone is conceding defeat, but not you. You suspected the front would bring crazy winds, and you were right.
You’re at the 1000-yard Benchrest Shooting National Championship and surprisingly find yourself as one of the favorites. Who would have thought just few years earlier you had wandered up to Liberty Mountain Gun Club with no experience and no expectations whatsoever? The Range Safety Officers and staff there immediately made you feel comfortable and encouraged you to learn.
Undiscovered Talent
You quickly found your passion in precision rifle shooting. When you found out there was an academic rifle shooting class, you were pleasantly surprised. Who would ever have thought you could get two credits learning to shoot? So you became a regular at the range and your skills grew rapidly.
While LMGC offers 100, 200, and 300-yard shooting ranges (which are good distances to learn precision and some wind reading), your tastes grew to longer ranges—600 yards, then 1000. From contacts you made while studying at Liberty, you even got an opportunity to engage steel targets at … Read More

Written by Victoria Dissmore, Marketing Employee

Do you ever have those mealtimes when you don’t feel like going to the Rot, or you just want a change? You can easily make meals in your dorm room microwave that are still healthy — well, relatively healthy. In this blog, you will learn the basics of microwave cooking so you can mix and match different foods to make your own custom meals. Note: For all of your microwave creations, be sure your mug or plate or bowl is microwavable!

Eggs
Eggs are super easy to cook in the microwave.

Crack a couple in a mug
Beat them with a fork until smooth
Microwave for 2-3 minutes

You can add veggies and cheese for an omelet or scramble them up with some fried rice.
Pasta
Who doesn’t love some good pasta?

Throw some macaroni in a mug
Add equal parts water (ex: 1/2 cup of water for 1/2 cup of macaroni)
Microwave for 2-3 minutes.

Add whatever toppings you want (mac and cheese, anyone?) and microwave for another 30 seconds for a heartwarming meal.
Potato
If you’re craving a loaded baked potato or sweet potato, here’s how to cook one in the microwave:

Poke holes all over potato with a fork (so the potato doesn’t explode)
Coat potato with oil and salt if desired
Wrap potato loosely with a damp paper towel to hold in the moisture
Microwave … Read More

Written by Lauren Shaw, Assistant Director of Operations

Over the last six months, you have probably become quite familiar with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, as well as the importance of social distancing, hand washing, and wearing a mask. You’ve probably heard the phrase “the new normal” and thought to yourself, “What does this mean to me?”. According to the writers of the Oxford English Dictionary, the phrase has been defined as “a previously unfamiliar or atypical situation that has become standard, usual, or expected.”
As we continue to navigate the Fall 2020 Semester at Liberty University, operations and policies at LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center and David’s Place look a little different than they have in the years past. Our “new normal” includes abiding by the state executive orders and the Virginia Department of Health’s coronavirus guidelines for all fitness and recreational facilities. In this post, you will find what we are currently doing as a facility to preserve the health and safety of our Liberty community — including students, faculty, staff, and guests. Current modifications for safety include limited capacity, spacing of participants and equipment, enhanced disinfection, navigational flow, and reduced recreational play.

Preventative Measures
Operations

LaHaye Rec & Fit and David’s Place are both operating at a limited capacity.
LaHaye’s busiest hours are between 4 – 6 P.M. — during … Read More