In this article, we will discuss all things student wellbeing including its importance, how to stay on top of it and draw on research to provide you with helpful tips on how to improve your wellbeing as a student and how young people still in education can stay mentally healthy.
Why Is Your Wellbeing as a Student Important ?Being a student is a pivotal moment in a young adult’s life, therefore, student wellbeing is extremely important. Being a student requires a lot: managing the sheer workload, completing readings, attending lectures, making new friends, adjusting to a new city or commute, all while juggling a part-time or full-time job!
With such a busy few years, it’s easy to forget about the thing that’s holding you that up through all this – your wellbeing. It’s no surprise that being a student can be some of the greatest years of your life, but they can also be stressful.
If the students’ mental health isn’t looked after, how can they be expected to hand in assignments on time and bring the focus and attention that is required in order to achieve the appropriate grades? According to research , students mental health plays a key role in their ability to be creative, face challenges, stay motivated and be more innovative, all in which are required to excel in university.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Being a Student DO prioritise tasks keeping on top of your to-do list will always benefit you and reduce those late night “I have an assignment due tomorrow!”, we recommend writing all your daily tasks down on a notepad and prioritise these from top down and highlighting the most important 3 – these 3 should be the main focus of the day, completing more than that is a bonus!
LEARN MORE: How to Journal for Mental Health – A Complete Guide
DO get outdoors where you can Assignments made up of thousands of words require some serious time in front of a screen. It is easy to get lost in your laptop and sit in a dark room for hours. Take breaks and get out for fresh air, you might find that the quality of work you produce increases rather than doing everything in one lump and becoming fatigued.
Do set goals Setting goals is key for student wellbeing, as well as helping you to get your assignments in on time, it can help to give you small, frequent wins. We recommend always having small, achievable goals set daily, weekly, and monthly – having these goals can help to separate big tasks and puts them into easily digestible chunks that can be a huge boost in wellbeing and morale when you hit them!
LEARN MORE: Unlocking Your Potential: The Power of Goal Setting for Self-Improvement
DO use the time as a student to step out of your comfort zone Becoming a student is a scary experience – new people, new places, hours of hard work. It can be easy to shy away from these uncomfortable situations, after all, staying in our comfort zone is what we as humans do best! Taking yourself out of your comfort zone at university is crucial to your own development – particularly for your confidence!
Go out and meet new people. Join a club or sport at the university. Plan a coffee date with your new classmates during your free time. Participate in class and give that intimidating presentation.
Even though these things may seem scary, they will greatly boost your confidence and become easier the more you do them.
DO monitor your alcohol consumption Life as a student can be exciting – the new bars and clubs, new friends, being able to show up to a lecture 15 minutes late (or not at all in my case as a student some days!). But, having such a high at nighttime, followed by a poor-quality sleep over and over again is a recipe for disaster.
As alcohol is a depressant – it has huge effects on the brain such as the disruption of chemical messengers and altering the way you think, feel and behave. The feelings of reduced anxiety and an increase in mood will only come back worse after the effects of the alcohol wears off.
DO get help if necessary As much as we can try and do our own things to look after our mental health – sometimes some professional help might be necessary. Never be afraid to get mental health support and access mental health services if you think your mental health might need some attention. Check with your college or university for mental health services and support for students’ wellbeing.
DO remember the reason that you’re there Moving to university can be difficult, especially when away from family, friends, or your hometown. It’s important to keep the end goal in mind – consider writing down your goals and referring to them when things get tough and remember the reasoning behind what you are doing. Did you know that writing down your goals can increase your chances of achieving them by 42%? This was discovered by Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University in California.
LEARN MORE: The Power of Perseverance: Why You Shouldn’t Give Up on Your Goals
DON’T eat food with practically 0 nutritional value Eating noodles and crisps as a student is not good for your physical and mental health. It may seem tempting and common, but it is not beneficial. Mixed in with lower energy levels, poor sleep quality and weight gain, being low in vitamins such as B12, b9 (folate) and zinc can actually cause symptoms of depression .
In fact, there are hundreds of studies out there that show that the things you eat have a direct impact on your mental health. Pay attention to what you eat – avoid processed junk and choose nutrient-rich whole foods. Here are some examples taken from Healthline .
· Berries
· Nuts
· Avocados
· Fish
· Meat
· Eggs
DON’T ignore your sleep quantity and quality Sleep quality is something that usually goes under the radar, but for student well-being is extremely important. Here are some short-term impacts of poor sleep :
· Poor attention span
· Reduced emotional capacity
· Impaired judgement
· Excessive sleepiness
Think about the impact when bad eating, no physical activity, and lots of alcohol are all combined! People aged 18 to 60 require 7 or more hours of quality sleep per night according to the CDC . To improve your sleep, there are a few things you can do.
First, try to avoid consuming sugar or using screens right before bed. Additionally, make sure the lighting in your room is suitable for sleeping. Finally, it’s important to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, even if you’re a student. By following these tips, you can establish a healthy sleep routine.
How Can Our Products Help With Student Wellbeing?
Cards Beyond Comfort – Our Flagship Self-Improvement Card Game:
Cards Beyond Comfort is a mental health tool used in universities, schools, and colleges across the UK. It helps you manage your mental health and gets you out of your comfort zone to become the best possible version of you.
Do something every day proven to help with confidence, anxiety, mental health and so much more with 52 challenges consisting of goal setting, meditating, and taking cold showers and everything wellbeing. With each card outlining the physical and mental benefits, you’ll be setting yourself up for a little win every single day. For the price of a few cups of coffee, click here for the link to the product.
LEARN MORE: Cards Beyond Comfort – Our Flagship Self-Improvement Card Game
The Self-Improvement Journal:
Prioritising tasks, setting goals, and reflecting on your day can be difficult with a large to-do list. The Self-Improvement Journal contains 60 daily check-ins, so you never miss a task again. No more forgetting what needs doing, getting flustered under the heavy workload, or being at an emotional loss and not knowing why you feel a certain way.
Track your emotions, set goals and priorities, complete the checklist for a winning day or try one of the many exercises in the journal focusing on mental health, mindset and more, either hardback or digitally! Click here for the link to the product.
LEARN MORE: The Self-Improvement Journal
Thank you for reading our article on student wellbeing.
The Improvement Artist
