#EveryLittleActionCounts Week 20: Mental Wellness!
This week is a call to prioritize our mental wellness and recognize its impact on academic excellence. Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. Good mental health helps us manage stress, relate to others, and make sound decisions.
“You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you” – Dan Millman
However, the demands of academic life can take a toll. Too much stress and burnout can hurt our productivity, creativity, and resilience. By nurturing our mental well-being, we can stay focused, innovative, and balanced between work and personal life.
There are several ways we can nurture our mental well-being:
- Get enough sleep (7-9 hours) to improve memory, focus and problem-solving.
- Exercise regularly to reduce stress and increase mood-boosting chemicals in your brain. Even a 30-minute daily walk helps.
- Eat nutritious foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins to fuel your brain.
- Take short breaks using the Pomodoro Technique – work for 25 minutes, then take a 5 min break.
- Try mindfulness practices like deep breathing, meditation or reflection to calm your mind.
- Connect with others. Share experiences with colleagues or use campus resources like counselling services.
A healthy mind does not only improve academic performance but also enriches our personal lives, leading to overall well-being.
We recommend the following resources that can support your mental wellness:
- Mental Health Foundation: Comprehensive information on mental health care.
- Mind: Tips for maintaining mental health in the workplace.
- Sleep Foundation: Guidelines and tips for better sleep.
- Headspace : Mindfulness and meditation resources.
- Calm: Tools and techniques for relaxation and mindfulness.
Contributed
by
Health & Wellness Coach
We would be very happy to learn more about your suggestions on prioritizing mental wellness in academia.
Anne-Wil Harzing & Christa Sathish.
