Student and Staff Wellbeing
- cookingwithbooks19
- Jul 6, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 9, 2019
Coming to university for the first time is an exciting yet daunting experience. Settling into university life, meeting new people and making new friends are the priorities of the majority of fresher’s during their first couple of weeks at university. It is easy to find yourself caught in the whirlwind of this new adventure and forget to simply look after yourself. When I first moved to university, I never anticipated how different life would actually be. I was so caught up with the realisation I finally had my own independence. I could do what I wanted when I wanted! However, I never thought that actually taking care of my wellbeing was something I had to think about – I just assumed I would be fine.
Students often forget to make their mental and physical wellbeing a priority in their lives. Eating and drinking habits have more of an impact on our minds than we actually realise. The food we consume on a daily basis is important to help our mind and body function correctly. As a student, it is easy to fall into the trap of unhealthy eating. Junk food, takeaways, pot noodles and beans on toast may seem like easy options to avoid the hassle of cooking. Studies have shown the impact unhealthy eating has on our mind. Healthline conducted a study that concluded 7 types of food and drink that impact the brain, mind and memory – read it here. In this study, Healthline include sugary food/drinks and alcohol in their list of the worst things to consume. Whilst the consumption of food and drink high in sugar impacts weight, it has also been found that large consumptions of it can cause memory problems. This is also the case with alcohol consumption – too much of it can result in future memory problems. It also has associations with behavioural problems and sleep disruption. However, if consumption of unhealthy food and drink are managed correctly, it will be easier to avoid such problems. Healthline also conducted a study of the best foods to boost mind and memory – read it here.
Alcohol consumption and looking after yourself
In your first few weeks of university you might feel pressured into drinking more than you usually do. You might feel like you have to drink because that is what everyone else is doing. You might try to keep up with your friends. It is important to remember to look after yourself when you consume alcohol. Also, remember if you are a non-drinker, that is absolutely fine. There is nothing wrong with not drinking and you can still enjoy the experience of university life.
Top 5 Tips for Staying Safe at Freshers:
1. Never put your drink down.
2. Always be careful when someone else buys you a drink. Don’t accept drinks off people you don’t know - always make sure you know where it is coming from.
3. If you feel yourself getting tipsy drink water.
4. Limit how much you drink
5. Buddy up with friends and always let someone know when you’re going home and get home.
Also, remember, university culture is not just about getting drunk at freshers. There will be many more opportunities throughout university to enjoy yourself and many of these won’t even include alcohol. At LJMU, the Student Opportunities time run a range of events and provide access to events for students at lower costs or free.
Looking after yourself at university is important throughout the whole year not just throughout freshers. If you find yourself struggling with your wellbeing, that is OK. It is naturally and will happen to most of us. What is important is that you know that you are not alone and there are a wide range of places to turn to at LJMU. If you find yourself struggling with any aspect of your wellbeing whether it is with your physical or mental health, financial problems or issues in accommodation, Student Advice and Wellbeing Services are willing to help. To get in touch for any of these issues, or issues not listed email SAW (Student Advice and Wellbeing) @studentengagement@ljmu.ac.uk or call them on 0151 231 3664 and they will point you in the right direction for advice. Alternatively, if you don’t want to speak to someone about your problems but still seek help, LJMU offer a variety of online resources to aid in the wellbeing of students.
All LJMU students can freely access Blackbullion which aids in money management. Students can sign up to a variety of different online modules that offer advice on budgeting and spending money. Similarly, all LJMU students can access the online resource Silver Cloud. This is also free to sign up to and allows students to access online resources that help with anxiety, depression and body image. There are short videos that take you through activities that help to manage your wellbeing. For example, there is a short video that teaches you to mindfully eat.
Staff Wellbeing
Being a member of university staff is overwhelming and this is something students often overlook. The pressure of marking students work, lecturing, providing seminar material and conducting seminars that are interesting can be extremely stressful. Managing all of this alongside home life and work outside home can be difficult. Similarly to students, trying to balance work and home can lead to problems with anxiety and stress. Staff Wellbeing is not spoken about enough in universities. Most of the focus is placed on student wellbeing and ensuring students have the correct resources to get the help they need. Whilst at LJMU there are a variety of sources for students that require extra support, there are also measures in place to ensure Staff have access to support. Throughout the university year, LJMU run a Wellbeing Week for Students and Staff. There are a range of activities that are for Staff only to enjoy such as yoga, resilience training, a guided walk and many more.
If you feel overwhelmed with the pressure of university, trying to maintain a social life and possibly working too – I know how difficult this actually is. It is natural to struggle but it is so important to know there are people that care and are willing to help you. Help is more than available for you!
By Keisha Callaghan
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