Wow – we are charging through September! Meaning all you university students are swapping woodland festivals for steady lecturers, free-spirited travels for assignment hand-ins, and bedrooms at your parents for cupboards stocked with marmite, tea bags and dried pasta.
Once Fresher’s Week is over and you’ve familiarised yourselves with course notes and laptop logins, spare 5 minutes to read my ultimate guide to brain and body wellness for students. It’ll help keep your stress levels low and motivation high throughout the academic year ahead.
Where The Magic Happens – Your Workspace
Set up an organised, calming and productive workspace. Include colour, texture, plants to clean the air, flowers for a lovely scent, inspo board for unmotivated moments, goldfish for company. And for workspace envy amongst friends – a designer candle. We’ve all got a relative who loves to treat us. Diptyque candle, please!
You’ll need a back supporting chair, your laptop angled correctly and a cosy blanket (student living is chilly).
Eliminate distractions – you can keep your phone on the other side of the room can’t you? Remember to take eye breaks every 20 minutes. That bit’s easy you just look away from the screen at something in the distance and blink a few times.
Listen To Your Body
If your body is telling you it’s tired, rest it don’t push it. Sleep makes you feel better and is a key part of a healthy lifestyle; it boosts energy, memory, concentration and creativity. Sleep benefits mental health too, it reduces stress, depression and anxiety.
Get In The Zone
Meditation apps like Headspace may help you get in to the study zone. Try adding meditation into your daily routine.
Eat The Rainbow
Create colourful meals three times a day with nutrient and vitamin packed ingredients. Decorate your plate with fruit, veg, protein and grains. Sprinkle seeds and herbs over anything to make it look prettier! You’ll feel good making and eating photo worthy meals.
Oh, remember to keep hydrated throughout the day, too. Keep your water bottle topped up.
Talk About It
If you’re overwhelmed by projects, pressure, assignments and deadlines – talk about it with family, friends, lecturers or university staff. They may feel or have felt the exact same way and could offer helpful coping mechanisms for you to try. Support your fellow students, too. Regularly check how they’re feeling.
Positivity Is As Important As Your Pencil Case
Place a motivational quote next to your bed, or have an inspirational quote as your screensaver. Replace self-doubt with a mantra along the lines of ‘I can and I will do this!’
Make Time For You
Who said a timetable has to be boring? Being a student is not all work and no play. Take time to down tools and have time for you. It’s important to reward yourself along the way. You may be a baker, bather, music fan or film fiend – whatever floats your boat, keep doing it. Respite for me during my university days came from trips to the local seaside for a walk on the beach.
I want to say, being a student is a unique time of your life and I encourage you to thrive off it and cherish it for all it represents; the life changing experiences, the people, and the challenges. For all student life throws at you, smash it!
How do you keep brain and body in tiptop form whilst you’re studying?
Written by Flora Firth
Instagram: @feelgoodflora
Twitter: @feelgoodflora
Facebook: @feelgoodflora
About The Author
Flora Firth
Flora is on her wellness journey and hopes to encourage you to join her. She’s proud to be voicing the importance of mind health in a world where we’re striving for unrealistic perfection.