It's been a stressful week. Take time to prioritize self-care today and throughout the week.
There isn’t a single definition of self-care, as self-care is different for everyone, but it generally refers to how we maintain, improve, and protect our health and well-being. Self-care boils down to doing things that preserve or improve your mental or physical health.
The GW Resiliency and Well-Being Center has great self-care resources focused on types of self-care, self-care strategies, and resources. Types of self-care listed here include breathing exercises, massage therapy, nutrition, meditation, exercise, journaling, yoga therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and gratitude practice.
Self-care is also about the little things, like making sure you've eaten, drank some water, and gotten some sleep. If you're feeling up for it, physical activity can be great for self-care. Just going for a short walk and getting some fresh air can help ease anxiety and clear your head. Self-care can be taking time to rest, taking a break from social media or the news, and acknowledging and sitting with whatever feelings you are experiencing.
Doing little things that you enjoy can be a big boost to your self-care. Make time for your hobbies that bring you joy and satisfaction. Do things that help you feel refreshed and recharged. And make time to connect with friends, family, or loved ones. Feeling connected to other people can be a great way to promote your self-care and that of those around you. It's more important than ever to support one another, so please be kind and respectful to each other and yourself.
Eckington Flea Date: Saturdays, Now - May 24, 2025. Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Location: Eckington Hall, 1160 Eckington Pl., NE Cost: Free
Eckington Flea is a marketplace featuring an eclectic roster of vendors selling vintage clothing, household products (soaps, candles), books, art, collectibles, and more. It will also feature artisanal foods like honey, and baked items along with fresh produce. Vendors present will represent makers from Washington, D.C., along with the entirety of MD and VA.
UnFinished Objects (UFO) Craft Circle Date: Saturdays, Now- December 28, 2024 Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Location: DAR Museum, 176 D St., NW Washington DC 20006 Cost: Free
Join us for the UnFinished Objects (UFO) Craft Circle at the DAR Museum! Bring your half-done projects, abandoned crafts, and unfinished masterpieces, and spend a cozy afternoon with fellow craft enthusiasts. Whether it's knitting, crocheting, painting, or any other craft, this event is a perfect opportunity to get inspired, share ideas, and finally complete those lingering projects. The UFO Craft Circle is an in-person event, so come prepared with your supplies and a positive attitude.
Let's turn those unfinished objects into beautiful creations together!
From the Art Collections of Margo Thomas, Yonette Thomas, and Deborah Smith Curator: Zoma Wallace
This fall, the Mansion Galleries will feature art, artifacts, and ephemera of the African Diaspora. The work comes from the collections of Dr. Yonette Thomas, Dr. Margo Thomas, and Dr. Deborah Smith. Calling themselves the Three Sisters, the three collectors have been professionally and personally connected for almost 25 years.
With Zoma Wallace as curator, they have chosen works from their individual collections, which represent their personal interests. These works will be juxtaposed throughout the exhibition with music, dance, and other artistic expressions.
Mvskoke Etvlwv: The Muscogee People Festival Date: November 2nd Time: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm Location: National Museum of the American Indian, 4th St SW, Washington, DC 20560 Cost: Free
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation celebrates its tribal history, heritage, and culture with music, performances, a fashion show, and other cultural demonstrations. The festival includes Stomp dancing, veterans’ presentations, and hands-on activities for children and families, along with a showcase of jewelry, traditional recipes, and more.
Meditation with a Monk Date: November 8th, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Date: November 19th, 6:30 am - 8:00 am Location: Lerner Health & Wellness Center 2301 G Street, NW, Washington, DC Cost: Sessions are free to students and Lerner Health and Wellness Center members)
2024 Zoo Lights Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 – January 4, 2025 Time: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays) 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Sundays) Cost: $6 (Each attendee, including children over the age of 2, will need a ticket.)
The Smithsonian's National Zoo is transforming into an enchanting winter wonderland with ZooLights this holiday season!
Now in its 16th year, this annual holiday light spectacular welcomes visitors to walk down festive pathways and explore immersive displays throughout the Zoo. Marvel at glowing lantern animals in their dazzling habitats, watch live nightly musical performances, take a spin on the Conservation Carousel, sample sweet and savory seasonal treats, and check gifts off your holiday shopping lists at our Asia Trail, Panda Plaza, and Great Cats stores.
ZooLights tickets are $6 per person.
Notes: If you plan to drive and park at the Zoo, you must purchase a ZooLights - Parking Pass online before your visit. Passes are available for purchase immediately on the following page. Spaces are extremely limited.
Madison McFerrin Date: Saturday, November 15 Time: 6:00 pm Location: Kennedy Center, Millenium Stage, 2700F St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20566 Cost: Free
Madison McFerrin’s distinct vocal and meticulously layered stylings of a capella and self-harmonizing culminate in work that blends the genres of R&B, pop, soul, and jazz, all with a sense of softness. Her genre-bending work has led to Questlove dubbing her early sound “soul-appella,” AdHoc to describe her work as “an oasis of serenity,” and The FADER noting how Madison’s “warm harmonies feel effortless.”
2024 Downtown DC Holiday Market Date: November 22, 2024 – December 23, 2024 Time: Daily, 12:00noon – 8:00 pm (Closed Thanksgiving Day) Location: F Street NW, (Between 7th and 9th Streets NW) Cost: Free
It’s that time again to experience the joys of holidays. The Downtown DC Holiday Market is an experience in tastes, sounds, colors, and textures. So come and grab a hot drink and snack while strolling through the many colorful stalls and shop until you drop.
Thanksgivingon the Vern Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 Location: GW MVC Post Hall, Mt. Vernon Campus Cost: Free
Staying on campus during Thanksgiving break? Come out to Thanksgiving on the Vern on Tuesday, November 21 from 12:00-3:00pm for delicious food and fun! Enjoy turkey, pie, and more. Plus, take some to-go for later. RSVP is required by November 17!
Enjoy a Thanksgiving feast and fellowship on the Vern!
[Note: at points throughout the article, I’ve used the first person singular, rather than the objective outside perspective of most Rotation articles, because throughout I share my own experiences].
According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 29% of people in the US (close to 1 in 3) report battling depression in their lifetime, and 18% ( close to 1 in 5) report current treatment for depression (Witters, 2023). Anecdotally, the number may be much higher. But despite the commonality of depression, those suffering it can often feel uniquely alone. October’s Depression Awareness Month – designated by the National Institute of Mental Health in 1994 – is an opportunity to learn about the illness, share your story to reduce stigma, or a chance to reach out to someone you know or suspect is suffering.
Depression is always a subjective, personal experience – in part because pain isolates us (we feel our own pain immediately and others remotely), in part because pain shrinks horizons until we cannot see anything else. For this reason, the deeply personal accounts in The Noonday Demon go farther, education wise, than the anodyne, clinical tone of a psychiatric journal. For sufferers of depression, Solomon’s work – which includes his own experience and many interviews with others – can broaden our perspective and maybe even ease our sense of being alone. For relatives, friends, or coworkers of someone with depression, The Noonday Demon yields a rich and harrowing insight into the chasms of pain that can exist in a normal human lifespan.
Fortunately, while The Noonday Demon is a book of 500+ pages, Andrew Solomon has made excerpts, including the 1998 New Yorker article that started the book, freely available.
Another way to honor Depression Awareness Month is to share your story (to whatever degree you feel comfortable with, most likely with a trusted friend). Discussing mental health can reduce the stigma around it and maybe give better expression to something very difficult to express. Talking can also reveal a two-way communication of tips and insights that might not otherwise have happened.
For example, some things that have worked for me:
Running: an umbrella review published in British Journal of Sports Medicine analyzed 100 meta-reviews of controlled trials comparing exercise to medicine or talk therapy and concluded that exercise was 1.5x effective as either (Singh et al., 2023). Anecdotally speaking, running (in particular) greatly ameliorated my mental state, both by giving me a tangible goal to work towards but also in relief from stress. I lived for a couple years in Germany, for example, and training for a half marathon gave me consistency and dignity amidst the uncertainty and unfamiliarity.
Health Maintenance: just like the earth is an ecosystem with the surface affecting the atmosphere and vice versa, our bodies affect our minds, and our minds affect our bodies. I find it easy to overly philosophize depression, but often, the solution might be as simple as hydrating, sleeping enough, and exercising. If I’m not addressing these bodily concerns, then I personally don’t want to assume too much beyond what I’m feeling.
Addressing Stressors: similarly, while severe depression may persist despite the circumstances, anxiety and depression can often be triggered by stress events. In some cases, anxiety and depression might be the alarm-bells for the problem, not the problem itself. Sitting with a never-ending alarm might ruin someone’s sanity, but if the alarm is responding to a problem, then the alarm is actually useful.
Artistic expression: much of art comes from pain; pain can be the roots that cause us to dig deeper for nutrients. Art can help transfigure directionlessness or pain. Personally, I write fiction and poetry. One of my poems, Circles Around My Circles (published in Ghost City Review), is an example of this transfiguration.
Rest and Meditation: I often find that I’m not truly resting; I organize my free time into personal tasks that need accomplishing, or I’ll succumb to mindless scrolling. But we need mental rest. Sports can be healing because they provide socialization, exercise, and an absorbing task. Meditation can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and refresh us for our tasks at hand. I particularly find time in nature refreshing, like when I kayak.
Reach Out:
Lastly, there’s no better way to observe Depression Awareness Month than by reaching out to someone struggling, not necessarily to talk about mental health but just to connect. We are social beings. Left alone, we all go insane. Reaching out might do more good than you’d ever know.
Singh B, Olds T, Curtis R, et al. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023; 57: 1203-1209. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/18/1203
Autumn weather is here and we’re starting to see hints of fall foliage! In the coming weeks, spend some time outdoors to enjoy the weather and colors, and to capture those amazing photos.
Enter your best photo with a chance to win a PRIZE. All digital photos submitted will be showcased in the online 2024 Himmelfarb Fall Colors Photo Gallery, and prints will be displayed in Himmelfarb Library.
Photo submission dates: Monday, October 14, 2024 – Friday, November 8, 2024.
Who may enter: GW students, faculty and staff affiliated with the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, and School of Nursing.
Contest photo must be original and taken by the submitter in 2024.
Submitted photos will be displayed in online and print galleries with the photographer's name and photo title.
By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the contest.
Judging:
Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and overall artistic impact. One winner will be chosen by a prior contest winner and members of the Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb Committee.
*Himmelfarb Library reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify rules at its discretion. Himmelfarb Library reserves the right to reject any entrant whose entry appears off-topic or violates the rules.
Paint n' Sip - Camp Wellbeing Date: Tues, October 1, 2024 6pm – 8pm Location: “The Vern” at GW’s Mount Vernon campus Cost: Free for GW students
Come join us on at the Vern to sip a house mocktails while painting with all your besties. Come decompress! Just bring yourself, all supplies will be provided for free. This event is part of Camp Wellbeing.
Irresistible: The Global Patterns of Ikat Date: Tues-Saturday, 10am to 5pm through December 21 Location: The George Washington Museum and the Textile Museum, 701 21st St. NW, Washington, DC 20052 Cost: Free
Prized worldwide for producing vivid patterns and colors, the ancient resist-dyeing technique of ikat developed independently in communities across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. This exhibition explores the global phenomenon of ikat textiles through examples from countries as diverse as Chile, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan.
The Book of Everything (Play) Date: October 3-5 7:30 pm + October 5-2 p.m. Location: Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, 800 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052 Cost: Students $10, Non-Students $20
Who sees tropical fish thriving in the Amsterdam canals, trumpeting sparrows and even a hailstorm of frogs? Thomas! But he also has negative visions: the unhappiness of his family, the violence in his father, and the damage that lingers long after the war is over. And he writes it all down, ugly and beautiful in his powerful Book of Everything. Play by Richard Tulloch, and based on the book by Guus Kuije.
A Speakeasy Evening Date: October 10, 7:00pm to 10:30pm Location: National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001 United States Cost: Free
Inspired by the speakeasy clubs of the Harlem Renaissance, which were welcoming and inclusive places for all, the Museum invites you into a space that welcomes LGBTQIA community, African Americans (and allies) of all gender identities and orientations.
Now in year six, this program will examine the role of discos as a safe space for everyone to dance together and be their authentic selves. The evening will feature a panel discussion about disco, art making, a musical performance, dancing and light fare.
The Peace Trail on the National Mall Date: Any day with walking weather Location: Start at United States Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20037 Cost: Free
The Northwest corner of the National Mall could be considered the "War and Peace Corner" of our nation's capital. It is home to this country's most famous veterans memorials, which draw tens of millions of visitors each year. In 2017, the U.S. Institute of Peace launched the Peace Trail on the National Mall to further enhance the experience of visiting our nation's capital. Anchored at USIP and tracing a path to a dozen other key sites in the vicinity, the reference guide highlights peace themes, elevating examples of key figures, institutions and moments in history that demonstrate America's enduring commitment to peace. Download Peace Trail Reference Guide, Activity Book, or Mobile App from the website.
Sessa Date: Saturday, October 19-6 p.m. Location: Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage Cost: Free (Online advance reservations for a given performance date will open on a rolling basis, opening every Wednesday two weeks out from the date.)
Sessa, the São Paulo musician known for his enchanting 2019 debut album Grandeza, returns with an expansive collection of songs built with reverence for the deep historical traditions of Brazilian music.
This exhibition, drawn primarily from the Corcoran Collection, presents some 25 portraits Parks made between 1941 and 1970. Explore Parks's innovations in portraiture through some of his best-known photographs. Learn how his portraits speak to larger stories of the civil rights movement, the African American experience, and American culture.
Día de los Muertos Family Day Date: Saturday, October 26 11:30am - 3:00 pm Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G St. NW, Washington, DC 20004 Cost: Free
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Smithsonian American Art Museum! Bring the whole family to see exciting live performances, including traditional Mexican folk dance by Corazon Folklorico, a mariachi performance by Mariachi Aguila DC, and a showcase of different Latin American music genres and dances with Sol y Rumba.
September is Suicide Prevention Month - making it a good opportunity to raise awareness about suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, immediate help is available. Call, text, or chat 988 to speak to a trained crisis counselor.
Just like other mental health conditions, suicidal thoughts can impact anyone. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 49,000 people died by suicide in 2022, equating to one death every eleven minutes (CDC, 2024a). Between 2000 and 2018, suicide rates increased by 37%, and returned to their peak in 2022 following a brief decline between 2018 to 2020 (CDC, 2024a).
Knowing the risk factors of suicidal ideation and behavior is important for everyone. According to a 2016 review published in The Lancet, “approximately 45% of individuals who die by suicide consult a primary care physician within one month of death, yet there is rarely documentation of physician inquiry or patient disclosure” of suicidal ideation or behavior (Turecki, & Brent, 2016).
While many individuals with suicidal ideation do not attempt suicide (Dlonsky, et al., 2016), recognizing the risk factors can help you identify someone in need of help and help you find the help they need. According to the CDC, factors that contribute to suicide risk range from individual, relationship, community, and societal factors and can include, but are not limited to the following:
Individual Risk Factors:
Previous suicide attempt
History of depression and other mental illness
Serious illness
Job or financial problems
Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
Sense of hopelessness
Relationship Risk Factors:
Bullying
Family or loved one’s history of suicide
Loss of relationships
Social isolation
High-conflict or violent relationships
Community Risk Factors:
Lack of access to healthcare
Community violence
Historical trauma
Discrimination
Societal Risk Factors:
Stigma associated with seeking help and mental illness
Easy access to lethal means of suicide
Unsafe media portrayals of suicide
(CDC, 2024b)
Some factors can protect people from experiencing suicidal ideation and behavior. These include, but are not limited to the following:
Effective coping and problem-solving skills
Strong sense of cultural identity
Support from loved ones
Feeling connected to others
Feeling connected to school, community, and social institutions
Availability of high-quality physical and behavioral healthcare
If you are interested in learning more about suicide prevention, Himmelfarb Library has a Suicide and Suicidology Collection that includes numerous books on this topic. Notable books from this collection include:
National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Annual Labor Day Concert Date: Sunday, September 1, 2024. 8:00 PM. Public security screening sites open at 3:00 PM. Location: West Lawn of the US Capitol Cost: FREE! No tickets required. Seating first come, first served.
The National Symphony Orchestra’s FREE annual Labor Day weekend concert returns to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol! This year, the NSO performs classics by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, John Philip Sousa, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and more led by charismatic conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez and featuring Grammy–nominated rapper/beatboxer Christylez Bacon. Don’t miss this must-see celebration!
The White House Historical Association is bringing a new cutting-edge education experience, “The People’s House: A White House Experience,” one block away from the White House. The experience will tell the story of the Executive Mansion, its inhabitants, and the people who have dedicated their careers to its functions. The 33,000-square-foot three-floor site will feature exhibits and galleries bringing the White House and its storied history to life. Visitors will interact with a large-scale White House model, re-creation of the Rose Garden, White House moments, a full-scale replica of the Oval Office, and dimensional galleries combining immersive media and inventive scenic representations.
DC State Fair Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Location: Franklin Park. 1332 I Street, NW. Cost: FREE!
The 15th Annual DC State Fair will include contests, local vendors, and a celebration of the District’s agricultural, culinary, and creative talents and all things homegrown. Inspired by time-honored state fair traditions—growing and gardening, contests, and deep-fried foods—the DC State Fair honors the things that make the District of Columbia unique. There will be competitions to find the tastiest mumbo sauce, best honey, and the top photographers with a creative eye. The fair will include 50+ exhibitors including local makers, community organizations, food vendors, government agencies, and universities, live performances, children’s activities, arts, demonstrations, and blue-ribbon presentations for 30+ contests.
Adams Morgan Day Date: Sunday, September 8, 2024 Location: Varies by event Cost: FREE!
Adams Morgan Day Events:
For 46 years, Adams Morgan Day has been a family-friendly celebration with music, art, and activities for all ages. Adams Morgan Day is Washington, DC’s longest-running neighborhood festival. Residents and visitors are welcome to meet their neighborhood businesses, artists, and service organizations.
Dance Plaza at Moonlight DC. Time: 11:50 AM - 7:00 PM. Location: 2327 18th St NW.
Sit back, relax, and let hostess, Cheryl “Cee-Cee” Hardy take you on an international journey of dance, fashion, and culture. This interactive platform is where you will experience an explosive lineup of dance groups that will perform and teach basic dance moves, allowing the audience to join along.
Melodies at Kalorama. Time: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Location: 2327 18th St NW.
Live music will resound from the stage at Moonlight DC in “Melodies at Kalorama” hosted by DJ Qhill. Sit back, relax, and take in the smooth tunes by some of our local performers. There will also be a Soulful House Session hosted by DJ Divine with a special tribute to DJ Sam “The Man” Burns, who was instrumental in incorporating House music in the Adams Morgan area.
Community History on Belmont. Time: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Location: 18th & Belmont St NW.
American University’s Humanities Truck will highlight stories and photographs from Adams Morgan history, including a display about the New Thing Art and Architecture Center and Adams Morgan photo exhibit by past and present local photographers.
National Dance Day Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024. 10:00 AM Location: Kennedy Center REACH Campus Cost: FREE! Signup to get event email
Find joy in the communities created through dance! Join the Kennedy Center for another exciting National Dance Day celebration with FREE classes, performances, and parties. Recognizing the power and importance of showing up for each other, this year’s event explores how dance builds and strengthens community well-being. National Dance Day coincides with the fifth anniversary of the REACH opening, so get ready for arts activities and performances all weekend long.
H Street Festival Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024 Location: H Street NE between 3rd Street and Florida Ave. Cost: FREE!
H Street Festival is one of the most anticipated and highly attended single-day festivals in Washington DC. The festival is 12 blocks long and has 15 staging areas that are diversely themed and programmed to target different segments of audiences. The staging areas feature music of different genres, dance, youth-based performances, fashion, heritage arts, poetry, and many more. Art has been a principal motivator of the festival and has proven to be a valuable agent in impacting local economic growth. The festival also has a direct impact on reducing commercial building vacancy rate on H Street Corridor from 75% to under 5%. H Street Festival has successfully utilized arts as an engine for the growth of the historic neighborhood.
August is Immunization Awareness Month. We are all aware of the importance of vaccines, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is easy to lose track of which vaccines we have had, and which may need updating. Because there is no single, centralized national source for individual vaccine records in the United States, here are some tips from the CDC for locating your vaccination records:
Begin with your doctor or public health clinic. Keep in mind that vaccination records are maintained at doctor’s offices for a limited number of years.
Ask for any existing childhood vaccine records that your parents, caregivers or guardians may have for you, and look through baby books or other childhood documents that were saved.
Check with your high school or college health service for dates of any vaccines administered there. (This information is only kept for 1-2 years after a student leaves the system, however.) Check with any previous employers, including the military, which may have required immunizations.
Contact your state’s health department. Some states have vaccine registries (Immunization Information Systems) which will include adult vaccines. In the DMV, the Virginia Department of Health has an online portal for requesting a copy of your immunization record. Maryland currently participates in the online vaccine registry platform MyIRMobile, which DC will also be joining soon (DC’s current immunization portal can be accessed here). Other states currently using MyIRMobile are: Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia. MyIRMobile also allows parents or guardians to link to vaccine information for their minor children.
An MyIRMobile vaccine record will receive data from various sources, including chain drugstores. The display looks like this:
Screenshot from a MyIRMobile account
Once you have established as complete a vaccine record as you can using the sources listed above, how do you find out which vaccines you may be missing? Here again, the CDC is your friend. On the CDC website, you can access a continually updated schedule of vaccine recommendations, both for Adults and for children, from Birth to 18 Years. To stay up to date with the latest developments in vaccines, you can follow the AMA’s updates here.
How to keep track of your vaccines if you don’t have access to a centralized system like MyIRMobile? There is an app for mobile devices called The Vaccine App, which is available for both Apple and Android devices. (Reviews of the app are quite mixed, however.) For a more DIY solution, consider creating a cloud-based document, such as a spreadsheet where you record your vaccine dates, both past and present.
Finally, what might happen if, due to incorrect records, you receive an extra dose of a given vaccine? A 2019 study done in the United States and published in the journal Vaccine examined instances of adverse events (AEs) most commonly reported following the administration of excess doses of vaccine in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Moro et al, 2020). The authors of the study state there are several scenarios in which an excess dose of a vaccine might be administered, including when there is a vaccination error arising from documentation or patient recall errors, or where an individual’s vaccination history is uncertain (as may be the case for refugees). The CDC provides continuously updated best practice guidelines for immunizations which cover the administration of excess doses of vaccine, particularly as regards combination vaccines. In examining 366,815 reports submitted to VAERS between the years 2007 and 2017, 1.4% of these reports pertained to an excess dose of vaccine administered. The most frequent type of vaccine included within excess vaccine dose reports was inactivated influenza vaccine. It is interesting to note that manufacturers are by far the most frequent reporters to the VAERS. The most frequent types of adverse events reported were systemic, like fevers, or reactions at the injection site. Of the 158 serious adverse events reported during the period studied, 64 events were found to involve excess vaccine dose. In their discussion, the authors conclude that their findings are generally reassuring since 75% of reports of excess vaccine dose did not report adverse health events, and where those were present, systemic reactions (fevers) and injection site reactions were the most frequent. The authors concluded that there were no new or unexpected safety issues connected with excess doses of vaccine.
Clearly, it is important to spend some time assembling an accurate vaccine record, using as many data sources as are available to you. If your state provides access to a vaccine registry, great! If not, consider putting together a vaccine record for yourself on a cloud-based storage site, making sure to review it periodically to make sure you are up to date with all of them.
References
Moro, P. L., Arana, J., Marquez, P. L., Ng, C., Barash, F., Hibbs, B. F., & Cano, M. (2019). Is there any harm in administering extra-doses of vaccine to a person? Excess doses of vaccine reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), 2007-2017. Vaccine, 37(28), 3730–3734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.04.088
Thank you to Rebecca Kyser for research assistance.
Free Community Days at the National Museum of Women in the Arts Location: 1250 New York Ave. NW. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Cost: Free Admission Days: First Sunday & Second Wednesday of every month; Regular Admission: Adult $16. DC Residents $13
The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. With its collections, exhibitions, programs, and online content, the museum seeks to inspire dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a vital center for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change. The museum addresses the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while promoting great women artists working today.
DC Improv Stand-Up Showcase Date: Friday-Sunday, August 9-11 & August 16-18, 2024. Shows 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM (Times vary) Location: 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW Cost: General Admission $22
Enjoy great stand-up comedy in downtown DC. The showcase lineups feature top talent from DC, Maryland, Virginia, and beyond, performing on one of the country's most famous stages. You'll see a variety of styles and get up close with some of the stars of tomorrow. Support local talent and local businesses while having lots of fun. Showcases generally last around 90 minutes.
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week Date: Monday, August 12 - Sunday, August 18, 2024. Location: Participating Restaurants throughout the DMV. Cost: $25 for lunch/brunch and $40/$55/$65 dinner options
Summer Restaurant Week is back! This is the perfect time to try a new restaurant or revisit an old favorite. With many offering discount menus throughout the region, this is a great time to visit and support celebrated local restaurants.
It’s time to kickoff the new school year with your favorite GW tradition. First Night is a carnival and celebration welcoming new students, and welcoming back returning students. There will be major attractions, tons of carnival games, and lots of fun and food!
2024 National Book Festival Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024. 9:00 AM-8:00 PM Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place, NW Cost: FREE!
The 2024 National Book Festival will be held in the nation’s capital. The event is free and open to the public. The festival’s theme this year, “Books Build Us Up,” explores how reading can help connect us and inform our lives. It’s through books that readers can develop strong bonds with writers and their ideas - relationships that open the entire world, real or imagined, to us all. A selection of programs will be livestreamed online and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the festival.
WOW Indonesia! Festival Date: Sunday, August 25, 2024. 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM Location: Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between 3rd & 7th street Cost: FREE! Advanced registration is required through Eventbrite.
Experience Indonesia in a day at the very heart of Washington, DC. This event is held in commemoration of 75 years of Indonesia - United States bilateral relations! There will be food, performances, fashion, arts & crafts, hands-on activities, games, prizes and much more!
20th Annual DC JazzFest at The Wharf Date: Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 – Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Daily 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM Location: District Pier, 760 Maine Ave. SW Cost: Per day tickets - Standing: $25 + fees
The 20th Annual DC JazzFest will feature 20+ concerts, interviews, and exclusive events featuring international superstars and homegrown talent. This blockbuster weekend features two outdoor stages at The Wharf, the popular waterfront destination with restaurants, shops, and stunning views of our Nation's Capital.
July 24th is International Self-Care Day! There isn’t a single definition of self-care, as self-care is different for everyone, but it generally refers to how we maintain, improve, and protect our health and well-being. At its core, self-care boils down to doing things that preserve or improve your mental or physical health.
The GW Resiliency and Well-Being Center has a great Self-Care webpage with resources on types of self-care, self-care strategies, and self-care resources. Types of self-care listed here include breathing exercises, massage therapy, nutrition, meditation, exercise, journaling, yoga therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and gratitude practice. While these all sound fantastic, it can be tough to fit self-care into a busy schedule. Figuring out how to fit self-care into your daily routine can boost your overall well-being.
One first step in better self-care is making sleep a priority. Aside from just feeling tired, not getting enough sleep can impact how you feel emotionally and cause health issues. Going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time each morning can help regulate your body’s natural sleep cycle and improve your overall sleep quality. Avoid work emails before bed to help lower your stress levels. Avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime to help you fall asleep. Put down your phone before bed to help your eyes avoid the blue light that keeps your body awake. Check out the GW Resiliency and Well-Being Center’s page on restorative sleep for more healthy sleep habits you can incorporate into your routine!
Physical activity also plays a role in self-care. Physical activity, whether it’s going for a walk, getting in a yoga session, going for a swim, lifting weights, going for a run or jog, or going for a hike, can be a great way to boost your mood and manage stress or anxiety. In addition to how good getting in some physical activity can make you feel, physical activity can help decrease your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Getting in more physical activity can also help you get better sleep!
Doing little things that you enjoy can be a big boost to your self-care. If you enjoy reading, carve out some time on a Saturday or Sunday morning to find a comfy spot and read with a nice cup of coffee or tea. Make time for hobbies that bring you joy and satisfaction. Do things that help you feel refreshed and recharged. And finally, make time to connect with friends, family, or loved ones. Invest in your relationships with those you care about and develop, nurture, and maintain a support system around you. Feeling connected to other people can be a great way to promote your self-care and that of those around you!
