Top tips for Students at Birkbeck from one of your Officers, Tonya
Written by Tonya Moralez, LGBTQ+ Officer at Birkbeck Students' Union
University life may be demanding but it doesn’t have to dominate your sense of internal peace. Here is some advice for you:
1. Build connections
London is full of free and low-cost events. Whether you’re interested in fun, educational or networking opportunities, Birkbeck Students’ Union is here for you! The SU offers a wide range of events and activities all year round – from joining the football club to coming to our regular Breakfast Club or hanging out with puppies at Barkbeck – there is something for everyone, whilst being a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends.
Want something a bit different? https://www.meetup.com/ is a platform that is constantly active with groups catering to all interests and hobbies. Spirituality, entrepreneurship, foodies, singles nights, AI, yoga, musician’s network, and everything else you can think of.
Most often, people attend alone to meet others, so you won’t be the only newbie and don’t worry about not knowing anyone, everyone is in the same boat as you. That’s the great culture of meetups! Just show up, make new friends, try a new activity and build your confidence!
2. Mental health
Mindfulness meditation (link: What Is Mindfulness Meditation? (verywellmind.com)) is a trending topic amongst other wellness practices such as yoga and healthy eating. It is popular because it is a simple technique to learn, which helps you feel more in control of your thoughts and emotions and can be conveniently applied throughout the day. Five-minute meditations, once or twice a day is a great start to feeling more calm, centered and empowered.
There are many ‘free’ meditation groups and ‘drop-in’ beginner classes in London which you can find by searching “mindfulness meditation” as keywords at https://www.meetup.com/. Groups, workshops, and classes can provide motivation to follow through and commit, but if you prefer to start your practice independently, YouTube is a great resource for content. Just search “mindfulness meditation” to find a range of teachers and videos to help you get started or further your practice.
Birkbeck has a mental health and wellbeing service which you can explore here: Wellbeing Services — Birkbeck, University of London (bbk.ac.uk) and there are often well-being events with useful content and tips, so keep an eye on the event’s page: Events — Birkbeck, University of London (bbk.ac.uk)
3. Self-expression
Everyone needs to have an outlet, or two, or three. If you haven’t found a creative way to express your feelings, unload your stress or work through your frustrations, then perhaps consider things like writing in a journal, or poetry, song lyrics, something fun that can be kept private and safe. If you choose to share any of your expressions in a blog or media, it can help you further to find connections. However, a therapeutic method to decompress anxiety and process the chaos of daily life is a necessary self-care tool. The same way we shower daily, an internal cleansing of the mind, heart and soul is spiritual hygiene, maintaining our health and well-being. If writing isn’t your thing, perhaps put on your favorite songs and shake it all off in a private dance party where you can focus on moving freely, and nobody’s watching.
Of course, any form of physical activity, such as sport of gym exercises can provide relief from built up tension. Yoga, swimming, tennis, running, whatever you may take pleasure in, pushing that tension through the body burns off cortisol, can alleviate anxiety and increase your “happy hormones” along with oxygenating your body and revitalizing your entire being with new energy. Try an active way and a passive way on different days but commit to giving yourself some daily “me-time” to let it all go! 5 mins a day is a good start, doing more for as long as you find it beneficial.
Building this habit increases our resilience to help us get through a busy lifestyle. The internet can be a great tool, search online for creative emotional outlets and explore various methods.
At Birkbeck, you can also express yourself by joining one of our many student groups or by creating your own. Picking a group can be a daunting experience, so there is a fun quiz to help you find which group is the right one for you!
Can’t find the right group for you? You can create your own and fully express yourself as well as find people who have similar interests to yours!
