Article adapted from Gareth Hughes

VP Community and Welfare, Rahul says "at the start of another busy academic year, it is important to take the time to set ourselves up for success and ensure we are looking after our mental wellbeing. This World Mental health Day, we bring you this blog post, we hope it provides insight to support you moving forward."

When there is a lot of uncertainty in our lives and in the world around us, we can slip into comforting behaviours that can have a negative impact on our wellbeing. If your diet, daily routine, or exercise has lost structure due to the current circumstances, you might want to consider making some constructive changes.

The link between physical and mental health

Our physical health has a direct impact on our emotional wellbeing. Improving physical health won’t necessarily prevent or cure all mental health problems, but it can give us more energy and focus to confront challenges and solve problems.

Here are some elements of physical wellbeing that can help improve your mood:

• Good sleep
• A healthy diet
• Regular exercise and sunlight
• A balanced daily routine.

Making changes to your daily routine can be hard if you are feeling low or anxious. In this circumstance, don’t feel the need to change everything at once: pick one or two small changes to make. Once you have embedded those, you might find it easier to make the next change. It may help to recruit a friend or family member to help you: committing to a change together can make it easier to succeed.

Focus on improving your current situation rather than on trying to reach perfection. Whatever you do to improve your physical wellbeing will help you maintain or improve your mental health. It will provide you with more energy to tackle the challenges you face and make it more likely that you will enjoy fun activities.

Changes to consider

Sleep

• Cut out caffeine after lunch time
• Set regular times to go to bed and to get up, every day
• Try to get out into sunlight in the morning
• Try to stay away from screens and devices in the last hour before bedtime

More tips for better sleep

Diet

• Keep fruit at home and with you, when you go out. Eat this when you are tempted to reach for a fatty or sugary snack
• Try to eat a healthy breakfast each day
• Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water throughout the day

More tips on food and your wellbeing

Nature and sunlight

• Take a short walk each day and spend 5-10 minutes focussing on some aspect of nature. You could pay close attention to the sway of a tree, a bird or the sunlight on a field or park. There are plenty of lovely green spaces in Bristol to explore!
• Bristol’s Best Green Gems: https://www.thestudentsunion.co.uk/news/article/15570/Bristols-Best-Green-Gems/
• Why not try these walks at Ashton Court: https://www.thestudentsunion.co.uk/news/article/thesuatuwe/Ashton-Court-Walks/

Exercise

• Try to make small gains in the amount you exercise - even by getting up and walking around inside
• Socialise with friends or family by taking socially distanced walks, runs or cycles, so your focus is on the conversation and pleasure of their company
• MOVE is a programme with over 70 weekly sessions, which is free for all UWE Bristol students. MOVE is designed to get you involved in activities that help you feel good and be active. With so many different sessions included, you can try something new, take time to relax and meet lots of new people.
• MOVE is free for UWE Bristol Students! Join here: https://facilities.uwe.ac.uk/online/Student/Join_Move.aspx

If you need further Wellbeing support or professional help, please visit the UWE Wellbeing Services:

• https://www.uwe.ac.uk/life/health-and-wellbeing/get-wellbeing-support
• https://www.uwe.ac.uk/life/health-and-wellbeing