Today is University Mental Health Awareness Day and Student Minds, Enabling Services and Sport & Wellbeing are running a number of activities to help you keep active for your mental health.
There are lots of reasons why physical activity is good for your body – having a healthy heart and improving your joints and bones to name a few – but did you know that physical activity is also beneficial for your mental health and wellbeing?
Keeping active throughout the week helps to reduce stress, boost your mood, improve self-confidence and increase mental alertness. In fact, ‘Be Active’ is one of the 5 ways to Wellbeing, simple steps you can take to improve and maintain positive mental health. Even a short burst of ten minutes’ brisk walking can have a positive impact on your overall wellbeing.
In celebration of University Mental Health Day today (Thursday 2 March), Sport & Wellbeing have teamed up with Enabling Services to offer you the chance to move your mood.
Two of the most popular fitness classes will be offered for free for students and staff on a first come, first served basis:
- 13:00 – 13:30: Legs, Bums & Tums – Jubilee Sports Centre
- 17:15 – 18:00: Zumba – Jubilee Sports Centre
Can’t make it today? Sport and Wellbeing have an exciting new gym member offer this term, giving you the opportunity to try their facilities on your own schedule for 10 days for only £10. Please click here to find out more about the offer.
If you’re a student staying in halls, remember that Sport & Wellbeing continue to offer free Pilates classes at the following times on site:
- Mondays, 18:30 – 19:30 – Wessex SCR
- Tuesdays, 10:00 – 11:00 – Glen Eyre Study Room
It can be difficult to know where to start when introducing activity to your routine, but keep in mind that there are always lots of options and opportunities around you.
Make sure to start slowly, be practical, choose an activity that’s right for you and set goals to help keep yourself motivated. The Mental Health Foundation and the NHS have useful guides and resources below to help you keep active for positive mental health and wellbeing this spring.
Useful links:
- Mental Health Foundation – How to…look after your mental health using exercise
- NHS – Physical Activity Guidelines
- NHS – Get Active for your Mental Health
- NHS – Easy exercise ideas
- British Heart Foundation – Nine Ways to get more Active
