Hi PGs!
Regardless of whether you’re an international student or a home student - some of you have probably settled in and feel like you’ve got University figured out, whereas others might feel like you still don’t understand postgrad life. Well, don’t worry! The road to success, and life itself, is tough sometimes and it might take you a while to figure things out. So, I am writing this with the hope that it might serve as a guide to coping with some of the stresses associated with your respective degrees. So please do read on if you’d like some of my thoughts on managing stress!
First things first, let’s talk about stress
“Stress: In a medical or biological context is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure)." (Shiel, 2018)
A lot of us suffer from stress and oftentimes we may find it hard to detach ourselves from the things that cause us stress. So here’s a few tips for dealing with stress (especially when it comes to your studies) and some of the services available to help you cope with it.
Define your stress activator
The NHS (2020) advises that, in order for students to cope with stress they should work out their unique stress activators. Student life can bring stresses along the way, so once you’ve identified these, it’s important to know where you can go for support. E.g. if you’re worried about finance, your mental health or anything relating to academics and exams, we at your Students’ Union are here to help.
Guild Advice help with anything and everything relating to student finance, your overall wellbeing, housing, homesickness, exam worries and also offer international support. So if ever you need some help or advice, speak to Guild Advice. They offer drop-in sessions Monday - Friday 12-2pm or you can send them an email.
Live a healthy lifestyle
The NHS (2020) further promotes a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle when combatting stress. Now, this is definitely a personal decision, because at the end of the day, you are who you decide to be and choose what you eat - but this is definitely some ‘food for thought’. Apart from eating healthily, exercise is another great way of being pro-active and taking your mind off of anything that might be causing you stress. This could be anything from going outside for a wintery walk between lectures, to joining the University’s Sport and Fitness Centre, and booking some amazing classes like yoga or swimming, to give yourself some head space.
Don’t worry about the future
It definitely is easier said than done! I used to worry about the future all the time and this only ended up affecting me negatively because my stress levels increased significantly. But do you know how I changed that? I changed my lifestyle completely. I started to do the things that I love and started worrying less by simply doing more! I kept myself busy and made sure that I spoke with my family and best friend regularly about the things I was going through, and you know what? It really helped! So, please don’t go through the same stresses I did. Speak to your wellbeing tutor at your school or college, speak to your friends and family, or simply come to the Guild if you need someone to talk to.
I really don’t want you to worry about the future. However if you would like some information and advice on careers and employability, you can always access the University’s Careers Network service. Careers Network offer a range of opportunities, including: advice on personal development, work experience and ways to improve your CV.
Relax
Above all PGs, please try to relax and make the most of your course. Don’t stress and if you ever need anyone to talk to I am always here, so send me an email any time or contact me via my socials:
Email: postgraduate@guild.bham.ac.uk
Twitter: @guild_postgrad
Instagram: @guild_postgrad
Facebook: Tobiloba Adeyemi
Xx
Tobi