A Few Ideas To Help Relieve Some Pressure

No doubt about it, being a student can be really stressful!

Are you busy juggling exams and assignments, maybe seeking out a part-time or summer job, worrying about a future career? No doubt about it, being a student can be really stressful!!

Here are a few tips from Western’s Success Centre that you might find helpful.

• Maintain a healthy body and mind
• Have a positive outlook and proactive approach
• Be assertive (take care of your own needs first)
• Manage your time effectively
• Deal with issues before they become insurmountable

Connecting with others during stressful periods is key. Develop supportive peer networks, join mentoring programs like LAMP (Leadership and Mentoring Program) or the Society of Off Campus Students (SOCS), connect with your residence advisor or don. Even though you may want to isolate yourself when feeling stressed, this isn’t the most helpful solution. Western offers a number of therapy dog visits on campus and in the residences for students missing home and their furry companions.

Helping Others

Adjusting to university life often involves many changes and stressors. Students often appreciate your support and acknowledgement of their successes. If you are concerned about a friend or family member consider the following suggestions:

• Observe for Potential Signs of Concern
• Communicate
• Avoid Being Judgmental
• Give plenty of reassurance
• Offer to Help
• Talk About What They Find Helpful

Check out the following link to learn about our extensive health-related services: http://www.health.uwo.ca/mental_health/resources.html

Five Ways to Well-Being

Connect: With the people around you. Building connections will support and enrich you every day.

Be Active: Exercising makes you feel good.

Take Notice: Be curious. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

Keep Learning: Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

Give: Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people. (New Economics Foundation)

For a look at a wide range of Western’s services designed to support students to reach and maintain their full potential, just click on the link below.

http://wss.uwo.ca/Student%20Services%20Organizational%20Units/Student%20Experience/Student%20Development%20Centre/index.html