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What should all university students know about mental wellness?
R: The main aspect that university students should know about mental wellness is that it is as important as physical wellness. Even just taking a moment each day to practice your favourite form of self care can have a significant positive impact on your wellbeing. University is truly a marathon and not a sprint, so take the time to care for yourself, and know that there are many supports available to you, whenever you need them!
What are some simple things that students can do to practice good mental wellness?
R: The trick with mental wellness is finding things that help you feel better in your own way. There is no one tip that works for everyone, so it is so important to find what works best for you. That may look like taking some time to light a candle, meditating with crystals, taking some time to read for fun, drinking a warm beverage, or even watching some Netflix. Some days your self-care may consist of little accomplishments throughout the day, such as choosing an extra treat at dinner after a long day, or putting on a face mask after a stressful assignment. Mental wellness does not have to be sticking to a regimented routine, because everyone has both tough days and good days. Therefore, the key to mental wellness is really just doing something for yourself, something that your future self will thank you for. If taking a nap in the middle of the day helps you get through, then that is all the self-care you need. Sometimes making it through the day is the best thing you can do, and that is okay!
What are some stressors that students could face when they come to university, and what are some ways in which they could cope with these stressors?
R: University looks different for everyone when it comes to various stressors. You may find test taking and exams stressful, or assignments. Maybe moving away from home, or finding an apartment close enough to campus are causing you stress. Or even simply making sure you get to each class on time, and take notes fast enough are enough to cause high levels of stress. Really, the best way to be prepared going into university is identifying your support system, and what you can access on campus to help. Our university campus is very lucky to have many supports, such as AccessAbility services, Health Services, Counselling Services, and even peer support volunteer programs such as UW MATES who are stationed around campus to provide peer to peer support. Having the ability to identify when you need help and where to get this help is the most important part of thriving at university, as stress can come up at anytime. Remember that you have an abundance of support available, to help you do your best!
If you have any questions about the wellness resources and support available on our SJU campus, please contact our very own Wellness Coordinator, Lindsay Thompson (lindsay.thompson@uwaterloo.ca).
Please send any questions about the blog content, or anything else you’d like to know about SJU, to outreach@sju.ca.
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