For some, the end of the year can be a difficult time with upcoming deadlines, pressures of festive holidays and bad weather.
As the winter break approaches, we want to remind you of three ways to continue to maintain your wellbeing.
- Get involved with extra-curricular activities
Meeting deadlines and studying for exams can lead to spending a lot of time by yourself at your computer, but it’s important to remember to keep a balance with other activities too.
You can choose to get involved with one (or more!) of the hundreds of societies on offer through the Students’ Union, from the Swing Dance Society to the Watercolour Society. The Union’s societies are very welcoming and you can join at any point in the year. Find out more information to join a society today!
Giving to others is one of the five steps to mental wellbeing designed by the New Economics Foundation, so why not consider becoming a volunteer? Through making time to volunteer, you can make new friends and inter-community connections. Find local voluntary and community groups working in Southampton or visit Careers and Employability’s webpage for information about volunteering.
- Get self-care savvy
When you’re feeling low, it can be useful to know some self-care techniques. Maintaining simple healthy habits such as staying hydrated, taking screen breaks, and exercising regularly can make a great difference to your mental health.
On top of this, Enabling Services has a variety of self-help resources for you to try. Their online workshops cover low mood, exam stress, and sleeping difficulties, and their self-help guides contain information about a range of topics.
- Connect with someone
Student Life will continue to be available to all University of Southampton students 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the winter break, in person and by phone. The team will be visiting Halls and advertising their upcoming events, including those on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
The Student Support Drop-in sessions are an opportunity to meet one-to-one with a trained advisor to discuss support that is available. These drop-in sessions run on various days in a variety of locations, so you can choose to attend the one which is most convenient for you. Find out more about the sessions. Alternatively, take a look at the Mental Wellbeing Sharepoint page or Enabling Services’ “Want to talk to someone” page to find out who to get in touch with.
If you’re leaving Southampton for the winter break, remember to consider those friends who are staying in Southampton or not celebrating festivities. Just sending a simple message can make someone’s day!
