Salient » Portia Lancaster

SWAT

Portia Lancaster — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 20:00:55 +0000

It’s that busy time of year again. Uni is full of the preoccupied and the stressed, including me, and probably you too.
Nowhere and no time is sacred to the stressors that are University responsibilities. You could be watching Netflix (stressfully), studying (stressfully), even trying to fall asleep (stressfully) – it’s always in the background.
Unfortunately, problems arise when we fail to strike a healthy study-life balance.
I for one, as an “all or nothing” person, have been at two opposite ends of the scale. I’ve found myself doing the bare minimum, only willing myself to panic-cram an hour before tests. I did this not out of laziness, but because the thought of studying made me anxious. I was, however, inadvertently setting myself up for an extreme-extravaganza of stress every time it dawned on me I’d sabotaged myself.
At other times, I found myself spending 9 to 14 hours straight studying in the library with no breaks. Only going home when the security guards kicked the remaining stragglers out at midnight. Both of these approaches are obviously less than ideal – both for mental wellbeing, and academic success.
Avoiding things which overwhelm you only saves the stress for later and leaves you feeling guilty, while also preventing you from reaching your potential. Ignoring your personal needs and burying yourself in study puts you a risk of burning out, and studying endlessly without breaks prevents you from actually consolidating any information.
Do your mental health and academic goals a favour, chunk study into smaller sessions with decent breaks. It gives your brain time to take in what you’ve learned, and allows you to unwind. Think of breaks as a helpful tool rather than an indulgence to shake that persistent stress. You can get your study on and watch your Netflix (un-stressfully) too.

SWAT

Portia Lancaster — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 21:00:03 +0000

Trimester two has arrived, a fresh beginning for new and old students alike. We’re all bright eyed and full of motivation (hopefully), ready to take on our papers without procrastinating (good luck there, folks, I know I need it). Look at us go, so much optimism! Let’s keep it that way.
Right now, while we’re sans undereye-bags and impending deadlines, is the perfect time to take on some stress-killing self-care strategies. Here are some tips for keeping your wellbeing in check.
– Mindfulness is a highly researched and successful practice that reduces stress. Take a few minutes for yourself, in an environment where you can let yourself relax. Focus your mind completely on one thing – sensations you feel, your environment, relaxing your muscles, breathing. If your mind wanders, gently divert it back.
– Exercise! Endorphins and a sense of achievement work wonders on reducing stress. Not only this but fitting exercise into your routine can also be energising and improve your cognition – important for mentally taxing stressors such as assignments!
– Social support is also vital for getting through stressful periods. Confide in someone you trust, maybe they can give you a fresh perspective, or help solve a problem, or simply lift your spirits. Even just hugging it out can help because, believe it or not, hugs reduce the the stress hormone cortisol — who’d’ve thought?
– Sometimes we neglect to give ourselves a break when we feel overwhelmed. A bit of quality “me time” can help you unwind — chill out, accomplish something small, or treat yourself. Let yourself have a breather and be a priority without feeling guilty about it.

Self-care is an easy addition to your regular routine, so why not try it? Let’s get through the tri unscathed and with our well-being intact.