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wellbeing

Posts Tagged "wellbeing"

How to Survive Freshers Flu and Stay Healthy

Starting university is an incredible time of life, filled with new experiences and opportunities. However, with so much to see and do, all while rubbing shoulders with countless people, it’s easy to become ill or run down. To help you stay fresh during freshers, we’ve popped together some top wellbeing tips.

Please drink responsibly

You’ll have heard this on every alcohol advert ever and it really is excellent advice. We totally understand that you’ve left home and suddenly have access to tons of social events, but drinking too much and too often will take its toll in more ways than one. Aside from the obvious hangovers, excessive alcohol consumption has an effect on your organs, concentration levels, mood and even your skin, so try not to go overboard.

Another good recommendation is to have a half pint of water between each alcoholic drink and have some painkillers ready for the morning. A refreshing and detoxifying smoothie for breakfast will also go a long way to aiding a swift recovery.

Keep active

Universities have lots of sports clubs and societies to choose from, so consider joining one or two in order to get regular exercise. Other simple habits that you can incorporate into your daily routine are walking to the campus and back, taking the stairs instead of the lift, and going to the gym with friends to a schedule that fits around your studies.

Eat well

Ahh, uni life – you’re allowed to eat pizza and sweets whenever you like! Still, whilst comfort food is great, it can play havoc with your health even at a young age, leading to sluggishness and lack of focus. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t enjoy a takeaway with friends and some naughty snacks when you fancy them, but try to always buy fruit and veg when you do your shopping.

Many supermarkets have great offers on healthy ingredients too, so make time for some homemade meals as often as possible. Cooking with your housemates can also be a great way to get to know each other, plus it can be loads of fun. If in doubt, the StudentBeans website has some mouth-watering recipes that certainly won’t break the bank. Another tip is to buy frozen veg, as this will last for ages.

Factor in regular me time

Socialising is awesome and an important part of university, yet you also need to put aside time just for you. Whether it’s having a cheeky Netflix binge or, even better, reading for pleasure then popping out for some fresh air, the art of switching off and enjoying the moment will really help you to stay relaxed and mentally in control.

Make sure your body is fully stocked

The human body needs a balance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to function efficiently. A vitamin tablet washed down with a pint of water first thing in the morning is an excellent start, plus getting plenty of fibre and other natural goodness through a balanced diet will keep you full of energy. Other supplements can also help, but make sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Sleep is so important

Whoever said that sleep is for the weak must have bags under their eyes the size of the big blue ones you get from Ikea. A good night’s slumber enables your body and mind to recharge and fix any small problems that may have arisen, such as aches, stiffness, lethargy and low mood. Ensuring that you always get the right amount of sleep is imperative to a healthy first year – too little will leave you shattered, and too much can cause you to feel a bit lifeless.

The amount of sleep that the average student requires is between eight and nine hours a night. This won’t always be possible due to assignments, revision and partying, but the more often you get your full quota of zeds, the better you’ll feel throughout the semester.

Get in touch

We specialise in marketing and design for the education sector. To find out more about how we can help, get in touch at hello@bigpinkfish.com or call us on 0161 507 3365.

Mental Health Tips for Students

Whilst it’s an accepted fact that students at secondary school, college and university will succumb to periods of stress, there are plenty of techniques and practices for staying on top of not just studies, but also mental wellbeing.

Take things one step at a time

This may sound like obvious advice, yet it’s amazing how many students go through times of intense anxiety simply because they’re thinking about everything all at once. Whether it’s a good old-fashioned handwritten timetable complete with colour coordinated areas, all the way to clever digital tools that make it easy for them to picture their day, week or semester clearly, encouraging students to plan their time will pay off no end.

Work together

When students discuss subjects in groups or do homework and assignments with friends, so much more can be achieved when they have a study partner. This can be applied to almost every area of learning, including the memorisation of facts and figures, the analysing of difficult topics, giving feedback on each other’s essays, or simply having someone to ask questions when a subject is proving to be difficult territory.

Make time for life

No one ever got anywhere by working constantly. Reading a book for pleasure, getting a little exercise, grabbing a glass of water and a bite to eat, catching up with friends and family – all of these small activities help to refresh the mind and body, which can mean the difference between burning out and doing a fantastic job.

Set realistic goals

You can’t excel at everything immediately and all in one go. A student needs to decide what they want to achieve within a certain amount of time, be it an afternoon or an entire academic year. The key is to aim high but not to the point where they’ve set themselves up to fail. If goals are achieved, always make new ones; if not, focus on new ways of tackling problematic areas.  

Take mental breaks

Even if a student takes regular breathers to eat, watch TV or go outside, chances are they’re still thinking about their studies, at least a little bit. The path to achieving the best results is to allocate times when you simply don’t think about them at all. This could range from meditation, mindfulness techniques, prayer, relaxation exercises, or taking a stroll through a green space and living in the moment. If they do this on a regular basis, they’ll find that their brain works a lot more efficiently.

Learn how to deal with stress

Even when following all of the above tips, stress can still rear its ugly head. When this happens, it can be incapacitating and ruin an otherwise productive study session. As soon as a student starts to feel stressed, they should turn away from the books or computer monitor, take a deep breath and think about something that makes them happy. This might sound a bit corny, but it can be extremely effective and sometimes causes serotonin to be released by the brain, which can have a speedy calming effect.

Get in touch

Whilst we’re here to help educators with their design and marketing, we’re also experts at developing strategies, methodologies and company cultures that help teachers and students to get the most out of education. We’ll help you to take the stress out of education through powerful planning and clever implementation. Get in touch at hello@bigpinkfish.com or call us on 0161 507 3365.