Healthy NTU

Brooke Jones – BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance, Year One.

Although current situations at the minute focus primarily on physical health, and rightfully so, just a little reminder that it is JUST as important to remember to look out for your mental health at such a time too! 

Being stuck inside can feel a little suffocating, luckily, I am a professional at staying inside, and so hopefully I can give a few little tips/ideas to help look after yourselves through this time. Of course, situations may be different for everyone.

Have a BIG cleanout and deep clean. You will most likely have more than enough time to go through all of your belongings. Tackle them in sections, for example; Books one day, Clothes another day, Academic supplies (stationary or old work that you no longer need) another day etc. You could sort all of these into piles of Keep, Sell, Giveaway (family and friends) and Donate – Although keep in mind that with the situation through the Country/World at the moment Charity shops may not be taking donations at this time for obvious reasons! A CLEAN ENVRIONMENT IS A CLEAN MIND – I really find this is the case, especially when I’m trying to revise! When Self-Isolation is over you will feel much better knowing your environment is clean and organised and you have been productive and can get back to normal day to day activities!

Change environments and make a routine/schedule. It can be quite difficult working and sleeping in the same place and so try and change environments. Try not to work from your bed and associate it with sleeping, maybe you could set a little workspace in an area of the house that isn’t your bedroom? It also can be difficult to fall out of the routine that you’ve set whilst been at Uni, and so making a new routine for this time can help to make you feel more organised and less ‘stuck’. Supposedly all successful businessmen and women make sure to make their bed as soon as they wake up so that their mind is set positively for the day as they have already completed one task!

Get creative. Gather important and meaningful belongings and make a memory box that you can add to and look back on when you’ve aged a little, create a scrapbook of meaningful pictures or a photo album so they’re all in one place! Try learning a language or cooking some new food! Do something creative and productive.

Catch up on missed/uncompleted work. As much as we may be trying to ignore this, exams are still happening, with the format depending on Uni’s decisions! Take this time to catch-up on any work you may have missed, watch lectures back, re-do notes, make revision cards etc! Organise your folders to be effective so when you do come to revise, you know where all of your work is! 

ONLINE TEACHING. There aren’t really any excuses to miss lectures now seen as we can practically ‘attend’ from our homes, so, linking to the previous idea, try keep on top of the teaching – (If you can’t access a laptop make sure to contact Uni!)

Exercise. Exercise releases endorphins AKA. Happy Chemicals – (so does chocolate) – and although gyms are now closed, going for a walk around your local area, obviously sensibly so not in large groups, is a good way to look after your body both physically and mentally.

Communicate and care. Call friends and family, check-in on them, I know much physical interaction isn’t really possible at this time, but it is still EXTREMELY important to talk to those who care about you regularly.

Relax. This time is a stressful time for everyone, so take time to relax and do the things you enjoy, or at least what you can? Start a new series or finish one you have been meaning to, catch-up on the latest movies (some cinema movies may be release on Amazon Prime etc. seen as cinemas have closed), play video games, board games, read? Make the most of what you have and can do within your home environment!

Stay clean. I know this one is kind of obvious but letting yourself fall into a rut of staying in your bed for 2 weeks watching Netflix and not moving won’t be good for you mind!

I know some of these ideas may not be possible for International Students who are unable to travel home, but hopefully some are!

Of course, these are only some ideas and I’m very aware that everyone has their own things going on that may mean they aren’t able to do some of the tips.

There are also a few articles online that have been published that could help those who may struggle for numerous reasons!

Situations at the moment make a stressful time for everyone so I hope that some of the ideas or tips can help a little. Self-Care is extremely important. Look after yourselves and the people you love! 

Don’t forget that Student Support Services are still here to support you and we are regularly posting through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well as over on the Virtual Global Lounge Team and the new Stamp out Stress Team

For help and advice whilst studying at NTU, take a look at the following for sources of support.
Support from NTU
Silvercloud: SilverCloud is our online system designed to help with a range of mental health issues.
Depression advice
Counselling
Wellness in Mind: Advice and support for anyone in Nottingham experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing
Struggling at Uni? Go to Student Minds
10 Keys to happiness