Thursday 05-08-2021 - 14:48

Hiya! Welcome to my first full blog post! I’m Georgia, your new Student Engagement Officer for the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine (or your “SEO for FoHSCM” if you prefer tongue-twisters!).

I have a passion for mental wellbeing, so I’ll be releasing a new blog post each month which will hopefully give you a boost and remind you that yes, other people are having the same worry and yes, it’s totally okay that you feel that way!

Just as a quick disclaimer, whilst I have graduated with a degree in mental health, I’m no expert.

Mental wellbeing is subjective, so it would be impossible for me to have all of the answers for every student. Instead, I’m planning to offer you a little bit of informal info about some topics that might be playing on your mind.

This month, my focus is on the topic of “Re-entering the World”.

We’ve all had quite the turbulent year-and-a-half, especially those students working as essential workers. From students undergoing long shifts in customer-facing jobs, to our health students who worked on the frontline, so many of you sacrificed so much to help out during these unprecedented times and we’re forever grateful!

We’ve been restricted in the places we could visit and the things we could do, which has meant that a lot of us have probably overlooked opportunities to push ourselves because it was SO easy to just hold back instead.

But all of a sudden, it feels like everyone is expected to go “back to normal” in spite of us having such an irregular year-and-a-half, and I’ve found the thought of that really daunting.

 

 

Getting back to “normal,” one step at a time…

I’ve only just started easing myself back into the swing of things, but here’s some tips and advice that have really helped me to re-enter the world after such a strange time:

 

Take your time.

This is true of most things and seems rather obvious, but it’s important to remind yourself that you don’t need to go from zero to one-hundred overnight.

If you feel a bit nervous about going out again, build yourself up slowly.

Perhaps you could start off with a couple of short trips to quieter outdoor spaces to grow your confidence? Just remember to be patient with yourself.
 

 

Find a balance that works for you.

Going out can be mentally demanding and quite overwhelming, so perhaps plan to practise some self-care bits-and-bobs when you get back home.

Self-care isn’t all bubble baths and journaling, it’s just about doing things that make you feel happy and calm: put a good playlist on and have a dance around your bedroom; watch your favourite show or even just have a good nap!

It’s so important to check in with yourself to make sure that you’re feeling safe and healthy, both mentally and physically.

 

Don’t feel guilty about not making plans to meet up with people.

If you feel comfortable going out for a nice meal with friends that’s amazing news! But equally, you shouldn’t feel bad about not being ready for that stuff yet.

I’ve only very recently started meeting up with people indoors, but thankfully, my friends have been super accommodating in finding restaurants with outdoor seating or sticking with Zoom calls until I felt ready.

Your good friends and family will be happy to wait or find alternative solutions, just keep them in-the-loop so they can make sure you’re comfortable.
 

 

Push yourself to try new things!

If you’re feeling in a bit of a rut, why not use this time as an opportunity to cross off something on your bucket list?

New things can be intimidating, but small changes like picking up a new hobby, taking a different walking route or trying a new recipe can really help to invigorate your day!

You can also take a look at our Welcome Week page and keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook (shameless self-promo, I know) to see all of the ways you can get involved through the SU when term starts in a few months’ time!
 

 

Talk it out and recognise how far you’ve come.

This applies to your mental health as a whole.

If you’re feeling a bit worried about the regulations relaxing, don’t keep your feelings bottled up. There are loads of people you can reach out to: friends, family, the EHU Wellbeing Team, or charities like Samaritans are all great places to start.

Obviously speaking to another person is really important, but for some of the smaller worries you might have, even speaking to a pet or writing your thoughts down can help to give you mental clarity and relieve a little bit of that pressure.

It’s a scary time, but you’re doing so well just by coping with all of the uncertainty, so I can’t recommend enough that you celebrate the small wins in life!

 

 

The thing to remember is that we’ve each experienced this time through our own “lens,” so the best way to get back on your feet is to do it on your own terms, in your own time.

You know your own boundaries better than anyone else does, so it’s up to you to take the steps you want and need at a pace that is comfortable for you. You’ll get there- just put one foot in front of the other!

In the meantime, if you want to stay up-to-date with myself and the other Officers, we’ll be over on the SU’s Instagram story or you can reach us on our emails (see below!).

Until next time, stay safe!

 

This blog was written by Georgia Whalley-Smith, your current Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine Student Engagement Officer. If you’d like to get in touch with Georgia, or if you’re a Faculty of Health student and need some support on your course, simply email smithwg@edgehill.ac.uk.