Iglu: Lockdown series – student tips

Taking time to invest in our personal health and wellbeing has become increasingly more important, particularly during times of uncertainty and stress. It can be easy to prioritise the needs of others and put our own needs to the back of the queue.

Developing regular self-care rituals can help us to recognise when our mental or physical energies are running low, and give us the tools to replenish our bodies with whatever they need to get back on track. If you’re in lockdown (again) and could do with some extra resilience, improved sleep, better focus and a happier outlook – this is for you.

Get enough sleep
A full night’s sleep is really important for your mental wellbeing. It helps you to learn as well as to consolidate your learnings, it restores energy to your muscles and helps improves your focus. Just a couple of nights of poor sleep can lead to irritability, a negative outlook and a decreased attention span.

-Stick to a sleep schedule making sure you get at least 7 hours a night
-Avoid caffeine and heavy meals before bedtime
-Keep your room dark at night
-Avoid napping in the day

Eat a well-balanced diet
Good nutrition is the very foundation of our health – we are what we eat, after all. By eating a balanced diet, we are providing our bodies with the necessary tools to function in the most optimal way possible. Healthy eating is not about restricting foods or stopping treats, but rather about prioritising the foods that matter most. Our daily choices will affect our physical health and wellbeing as well as impact our moods and outlook. By including a variety of foods with a range of nutrients, we are giving our bodies exactly what they need to function at their best.

-Take time to eat regularly
-Balance out your plate with protein, carbs, fats and minerals
-Colour up your plate as a way to ensure balance
-Treat yourself without guilt by using an 80/20 approach to food

Exercise
Taking good care of your physical self not only has proven health benefits, it improves your mood by releasing happy chemicals around your body that fight off anxiety and stress. Regular exercise will boost your strength and fitness, promote better sleep and help you maintain a healthy body weight.

-Find an exercise you enjoy or something you can do with a friend
-Schedule it into your day and make a commitment
-Mix it up – it doesn’t have to focus on one activity
-Don’t panic if you miss a slot – just pick back up where you left off

Digital detox
Technology is an incredible tool, but it can also lead us down a very long rabbit hole that’s hard to crawl back out from. Our average screen time use now equates to one third of our entire waking hours. Too much time spent online can seriously impact our self-esteem and confidence. It can cause anxiety and depression which in turn may lead to poor nutritional choices and a lack of physical exercise. Taking a digital detox allows you to re-establish your rules and boundaries in a way that protects your mental wellbeing.

-Turn off your wi-fi at night to remove temptation
-Impose screen time restrictions on your phone
-Use apps to block social media sites
-Swap your device for something tangible like a book, game or skill

Connect with others
We are inherently social creatures and making connections with others can considerably lower our risk of anxiety and depression. The opportunity to share experiences and emotions is incredibly healing and can help keep us happy, motivated and less stressed – especially in times of need. Lockdown can make us feel isolated and alone, so it’s even more important to tap into those social networks as a way of protecting your mental wellbeing, particularly at a time when we are forced to be physically distanced.

-Strengthen relationships by intentionally connecting with existing friends
-Set up an online activity to share with friends
Exercise with another person
-Reach out to someone you think may need support
-And if you’re living at Iglu, don’t hesitate to chat to the team who are available 24/7