Healthy NTU

By Hannah Willcocks, a Well-being and Mental health MSc NTU Student

Let’s be honest, January can be a tough moment for a lot of us! Finances can get tight, the weather is dark and gloomy, cold and flu season is in full swing, and we’re trying to recover from a busy holiday season whilst managing deadlines, New Years resolutions and work commitments. This can cause a lot of pressure around this time of year, and with January being such a busy month, many of us fall victim to putting our well-being on the back burner. However, you don’t have to face the January blues alone with many other students facing the same worries, feelings, and stress that’s common at this time of year. I know, personally being in my fourth year at Trent, that this reminder that a lot of students feel the exact same really helps me feel less alone, in a month so cold, nobody wants to brave a night out! That’s why I’ve created this blog post to share my top tips to beat the January blues!

Tip One: Managing deadlines.

With the start of second term, many of us are facing deadlines and exams. This can all get pretty overwhelming so it’s important you work out how to balance it all, because let’s be honest, no one wants to spend days stuck in the library rushing a deadline! My top tip for this is really to find what works for you… some people, like me, like to plan ahead and break it down into small to-do lists, or some people prefer to devote a day and finish their work in one go. However you work though, it’s important to give yourself breaks, be realistic in what is manageable for you and make sure you’re not burning yourself out. Another tip is to not compare yourselves to others with how you work. Some people may need eight hours to do reading, some many only need one, and some may need breaks every twenty minutes (I know I do) and some may not. That doesn’t mean you should feel guilty, and it definitely doesn’t mean you’re not working hard enough, you’re just working differently to others! My final tip to avoid burnout is, no matter how you work, to always give yourself breaks. Personally, I like to use the Pomodoro technique where I work 25 minutes and then, take a five-minute break. Whilst this may not suit everyone, it makes sure that I’m getting away from my desk, able to grab snacks or drinks or get outside for a little while. I find these short breaks really do improve my focus and make sure I’m taking care of myself, even when I have a lot of work.

Tip Two: staying active and getting outside in winter.

As well as getting outside for short breaks, I also find it really beneficial to my well-being to make sure I’m getting outside for longer periods every day. I know it can be difficult this time of year because, honestly, standing out in the cold doesn’t sound fun! But, as we all probably know, the UK gets very little sun, meaning a lot of us struggle to get vitamin D. So, it’s important to get outside whenever you can and soak up all the benefits, even when the sun is out a little. There are a range of ways you can get outside, whether it’s a run, a walk around campus, or just sitting in the garden… all of these release what we call ‘happy chemicals’ that improve your mental health. It’s also important to stay active this time of year to help you recover quicker from colds and flus and relieve stress. NTU is lucky to have many sports clubs, most of which are currently running taster sessions for term two, so there’s loads to try out! On top of this, NTU Sport have a range of deals on right now for both gym and club memberships to help you get involved and save costs. If you want to look into this more, head over to the NTU Sport page for further details.

Tip Three: dealing with homesickness.

Now whether you’re thirty minutes or thousands of miles from home, moving back to university can cause a lot of us to feel homesick. It’s important to know firstly that this is completely natural, and many students also feel the same way! But there are a few simple things that can help this. Firstly, we’re lucky to live in an age with humongous amounts of technology, allowing us to reach others constantly. I definitely take advantage of this and spend my commute to uni on the phone to family, or on Facetime whilst I cook or wash the pots. I’m a big believer that this connection is important, and it fills the gap when I don’t always get time to visit. Another thing is my flat is full of reminders of home and my family, wherever that’s pictures everywhere or the cuddly toy that looks like my dog, it all brings me comfort and helps me feel less isolated. Most of all though, it’s important to remember that university is a great time to branch out and reach new people! I love to go out with friends, wherever that’s for coffee in lunch breaks or making the most of those student discounts at the cinema or Nottingham Bowl, all of it helps reduce feelings of loneliness and makes me realise that coming to university, whilst difficult to be away from family, has given me such a huge opportunity to try new things, meet new people and grow my confidence!

Tip Four: getting involved in activities.

Similar to the last point, uni is such a good opportunity to explore new places, seize new opportunities, and learn a whole lot about yourself and what you love! Obviously, the main reason you came to NTU was to study something you loved and start to build your life and professional skills, however, its just as important to commit time to hobbies that you love! Nottingham is a city full of little adventures, with so many places to explore like Nottingham Castle, museums, bars, restaurants, shops, and my personal favourite, escape rooms! So, there are so many fun social activities for you to try, a lot of which can be done on a budget! On top of that, NTU is lucky to have many societies from gaming to sports to Taylor Swift so there’s bound to be something for everyone, and you can even create your own society if it’s not already there! The start of term is a great time to get involved with these with many societies offering free events and taster sessions so you can try out however much you heart desires. Personally, I’ve loved how much is on offer at Trent and have tried so many different societies over the years I think I’ve lost count! Getting involved is also great for your well-being as it builds relationships, lets you try out new hobbies and learn new things, and helps you find a safe space to relax outside of the hustle and bustle of studying. Studies actually show that relaxation has just as many health benefits as eating healthy and exercising, so its crucial you make the space and time in your schedule to get stuck in with the things you love and make the most of your time at NTU!

So, there are my top tips for beating the January blues! If you want to look at any of these further, check out NTU Sport, societies’ social medias and the Healthy NTU blog for more advice on how to take care of yourself at university. I hope you make the most you can out of this term, and it brings you success, new experiences, new friendships, and joy 😊

For help, advice and resources whilst studying at NTU, take a look at the following for sources of support.
Support from NTU
Self-Care books in NTU’s libraries
Silvercloud: SilverCloud is our online system designed to help with a range of mental health issues.
Health and Wellbeing resources
NTSU Information and Advice service
Wellness in Mind: Advice and support for anyone in Nottingham experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing
Student Minds or Student Space
10 Keys to happiness
Mind
Papyrus
CALM