Written by Paul Dodsley, Student Health Development Officer at NTU and Alumni
I wanted to tap away and write something about how some people struggle through the Christmas break. One thing I realised is that you are not alone. There is such a big build up to Christmas. As soon as Halloween was over, I saw Christmas tree’s popping up in people’s homes and stores changing their displays to start the big Christmas sell.
It’s nice that it brings families and friends together but for some Christmas can be a lonely time. If there is no family around and friends are spending their time with loved ones we can feel like we are in limbo. Last year I had no plans and lots of time off. Christmas gave me an empty feeling. I felt sorry for myself that I was not in a better position. Even though you may be alone there is lots of things we can do to embrace the Christmas period. Here is some of my top tips and things I will be doing this year.
Make a plan – It’s a good idea to plan out your days so you have something to look forward to. Why not use our Self Care Planner Take a look at what is going on in Nottingham and NTU during the festive period:
Embrace nature – I love the outdoors, being out in nature and the fresh air is so good for you. You can jump on a train and be in the Peak District in no time or visit some of the local parks like Wollaton Park
Treat yourself to something nice – get the ingredients for your favourite meal, buy some popcorn and watch your favourite movie. Invite a friend round and make a night/day of it. I’ll be going with chips, egg and beans and Stranger Things series 5 or Elf. The City Global Lounge will be showing Elf on December 30 1-3pm. Open to all NTU students and staff.
Be kind to yourself – do some exercise and run a nice bath, buy a bath bomb or add some bubbles and pick up a good book. This is a great way to get some headspace. How about reading from a café. My favourite place is Dispatch coffee shop. They do lovely cakes too. Check out our self-care resources too, the Student Minds blog also has some great top tips.
Remember, support is never far away. Reaching out to friends can help. There are also great services like:
I really hope this helps for someone that struggles during this time of year, remember to find time to be kind to yourself and enjoy the break.
For help, advice and resources 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.
HealthyNTU: Advice, tools and activities for your wellbeing
NTSU Information and Advice service
Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies: Support for your Mental Health in Nottingham
Student Minds 10 Keys to happiness
Mind
Papyrus
healthyntu.blog 