Here at The Library, we’re keen on mindfulness and staying healthy during study. At a recent mindfulness session we had, we noted down some top tips for mindfulness. And as we descend into the academic term, we thought we’d share them with you. Take a look below.

By Ellie King, Ana Kedves and Dr Dean Howes

One: Stick with what you know

If a coming to university for the first time is a new and unnerving experience, maintaining some constant is great. Continue doing something that you’ve enjoyed before, as it’s a natural source of mindfulness.

Two: Try something new

However, university is a great place to try new things, stress and judgement free. There are so many activities around campus for you to enjoy, from sports clubs, exercise classes, pub quizzes and even food tasting events. It’s a great way to meet new people and will help you take that well-earned down time after a hard day of studying.

Three: Notice your surroundings

Warwick campus is a really beautiful place, and there are so many hidden woods and nature areas. Try and slow down a little and notice what is around you. Explore the campus, try working in a new building, visit some nature once in a while.

Four: Get Organised

Staying organised is easiest when you start organised. Buy that planner, colour code your timetable, write down your due dates. The more we are organised outside of us, the more organised we will feel on the inside.

Five: Find your calm place

University can be full on, so find a place that’s peaceful for you and develop a habit of going there when you need some calm. This may be an outside spot, your bedroom, your favourite café. Associating it with feeling calm and mindful will help you get through those tough times.

Six: Plan to Slow Down

It’s easy for your schedule to get filled up very quickly, and it can be tempting to keep working to stay on top of things. It’s so important to build in some time to slow down and balance out all that hard work, even if it’s just half an hour.

Seven: Practice Wellbeing Techniques

Practice wellbeing techniques during less busy times. It’s a bit like training for a marathon, you want to start early and in more neutral situations and then build up gradually. This will bring strength to tackle challenges later on.

Eight: De-stress in the Day

You might be inclined to practice your mindfulness at the end of the day. However, it’s important to destress during the day. Don’t leave it until the evening as it may affect your sleep or ability to relax later on.

Nine: Sleep Well

Sleep is important, so look after it. Try to find a healthy sleep-wake rhythm that allows you to do what you want and feel well throughout the day

Ten: Self-care

We all handle our self-care in different ways. Commit to whatever it is that helps your mental health, whether that be reading a book, having regular coffee and cake with friends, or going for a nice walk. Try building a routine early on and develop those habits early.

If you’re keen to get involved with mindfulness, why not check out our Study Happy programme full of events to keep you studying, well, happy! Similarly, if you are struggling with things, it’s really important that you talk to someone. The University’s Wellbeing Support Services are always on hand to offer the support you need, in whichever way you need it.

What do you do to stay well? Leave a comment below or tweet us @WarwickLibrary