Your physical & mental health
The Student Wellbeing Centre
Going to university is an exciting time for anyone. It is a brand new chapter in your life and one that you will never forget. You will make friends for life and there will be lots of opportunities to develop yourself in different ways and participate in many new and exciting things.
It can also be a big change that can take some getting used to and the University’s Student Wellbeing team is here to support you with challenges you may face.
Your health
University Health Service
It is important that you sign up to a GP in Lincoln and the easiest way of doing so is by signing up to the University Health Service.
Sexual health
Be aware of the recourses and support available to you.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
When you move to university it is important that you look after your physical wellbeing and a great way to do that is by staying active and eating healthily.
Mental health
There is always someone to help you at university!
Talk to family – You are not alone, your family and friends are a phone call away, and can even come and visit.
Talk to lecturers– They are there to help! Especially if what you’ re struggling with is academic based.
Go to your wellbeing or advice centre – If you feel you need professional help, the wellbeing centre at your university is more than equipped to handle your needs.
Look at online resources – There is tons of stuff online that is specifically dedicated to helping people transition to university.
Becki Morgan-Phillips – 3rd Year Communications and Public Relations
Self care & emotional fitness
Moving away from home, for most of us for the first time, trying to get to grips with a new city, new people and a completely different way of working can feel like it’s shifted the ground out from underneath your feet, so this list is here to help anyone who needs some help getting your footing again.
Tash Etherington – 3rd Year English
Homesickness
Whether you’re at the other side of the country or only half an hour down the road, being at university comes with homesickness from time to time. Luckily there are a few quick things you can do to stave off the feeling – bringing home comforts, keeping in touch with anyone you miss back home and getting out of your room to explore this new place you now live. This will help you to get out of that head-space and start feeling more at home where you are.
Taking time for yourself
Set aside a good amount of time, maybe a night or so a week or a couple of hours before you go to bed, where you give yourself a proper break; both from Uni work and these new responsibilities. Giving yourself a dedicated amount of time where you can check in with how you’re feeling and properly decompress will get you into the right head-space to approach life more rested and more positively.
Accepting how you feel and being kind to yourself
It’s really common to feel you’re struggling with such a huge change and adapting can take a little time. To help you feel more comfortable, don’t beat yourself up and instead let yourself feel however you do, and then work through it constructively.
Getting organised
You don’t have to have everything in your life colour coded to be organised, just doing a handful of small things to help out your future self can help reduce your stress levels so much. Making lists of seminar topics and weekly reading, or getting bags or outfits sorted the night before so you get an extra 5 minutes in bed the next morning will help you feel more on top of your day and keep you ahead with Uni work.
Figure out what you want from uni
At the end of the day, you’re at university to have your own experience, there is no deadline on making friends or a minimum amount of nights out you have to go on to have ‘succeeded at freshers’, you’re never too late to try something out. There are so many events held through the Uni and so many opportunities to meet people, find what clicks for you and go for it.
If you are struggling at all or need any advice and support during your time at university please get in touch with our Wellbeing team.
Mental health support
If you are struggling with your mental health at university or have an existing mental health condition you can contact the Student Wellbeing Centre about counselling.
OFS Mental Health project
The Student Wellbeing team and Student Life team have been working collaboratively to bring you student made content all about mental health and transitioning to university.
Fresher Take podcast
Homesickness
Whether you’re about to leave University or excited to get onto campus for the first time, homesickness can affect us all.
I’ve certainly felt it before and never really understood what I can do to get back to being myself again – here are a few tips to help
Ben Cartwright – MA Journalism
Don’t give yourself a hard time
Remember – it’s absolutely okay to not be okay. Don’t get too hung up on the fact that you’re feeling low. Things do (and will!) get better, so try and put things into perspective to help you feel a little bit better and make the sad times that little bit easier.
Bring home comforts
Bringing something to help you remember home will help you not miss it as much. Having a little piece of where you came from always helps. Whether it’s a picture of your parents, a blanket or even a recipe to a family-secret dish, bring them to uni!
Don’t spend too long in your room
One of the worst things you can do is sit in your room feeling sorry for yourself. Whilst it is sometimes necessary to be in there, try to get out of your room as much as possible. Even sitting in the living room instead can make a huge difference to your mentality because you’re around different and new people.
Socialise & explore!
One of the best things to do when you’re feeling down is going out and doing things with friends or like-minded people. Doing stuff you enjoy will take the stress out of your day and make you feel a whole lot better. There are so many things to do in Lincoln and so many societies/activities to be apart of – there will be something for you!
Fresh Start
Fresh Start is here to help you with the transition into university life, either for the first time, or if you’re returning to continue your studies. These informal sessions will cover topics such as adjusting to change, homesickness and being independent, and help you to settle in to university as quickly as possible.
For more information on the workshop or to book in, please contact the Student Wellbeing Centre on studentwellbeing@lincoln.ac.uk
Multi-faith Chaplaincy
The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy service offers pastoral care, a confidential listening ear and spiritual support to anyone in our University community, no matter whether you consider yourself religious or not.
