Life at Leeds | 8 October

“For anyone who needs to hear this, if your mental health isn’t the best right now, that’s okay. You don’t need to be your best all the time, and you don’t need to be productive every single minute of the day. If you need to stop and take a break, that’s okay. Stop being hard on yourself, you're doing the best you can”. 

This was in an Insta post that I came across this week, which I thought was perfect to share with you through this week’s newsletter.

Read it again and know that it’s okay to take a break and allow yourself time to recover and breathe. It's okay to allow yourself time to do the things you want, at a pace that you want. And though you may think that you need to experience all that Leeds has to offer straight away, know that it’s okay to spread out your experiences over the coming months (or years) and enjoy them at a pace that suits you. That supports your mental health.  

Talking of mental health, it’s World Mental Health Day on Sunday, so this week’s newsletter is all about the resources and support available to you.  

I’ll be taking a bit of a social media break this weekend, so I can catch up on some reading and binge-watching on Netflix, whatever you chose to do – I hope you have a good one!  

~ Nafisa (and the rest of the student communications team) ~ 

Got a question? Contact the student information helpline, who can help you get the answers you need. 

Complete this 30-second survey to tell us how you are feeling about money, so we can look at ways that we can support you over the coming weeks. 

7 things you can do to look after yourself 

There's lots of support for looking after your mind and body at the University and making sure you're taking care of yourself is the most important thing you can do to stay fit, alert, and healthy and enjoy your time here. Here are our top seven tips:  

  1. Exercise. Join one of the Union's sports clubs or using the University's extensive sports facilities could also help with stress as the social contact, along with the physical exertion, should help improve your mood. 
  2. Eat a varied and healthy diet. We sometimes underestimate the power of eating fresh ingredients and lots of fruit. The NHS recommends that you eat at least five portions of fruit or vegetables per day to lower the risk of health and wellbeing problems. When you're busy and tired it can be tempting just to grab another pizza or ready meal but cooking from scratch can be therapeutic as well as being healthier.  
  3. Try meditation. It might sound simple but sitting quietly for 10 minutes a day can really help with stress levels. If you've never tried meditation before, it's worth a go. You can download meditation files to support relaxation, meditation and mindfulness. 
  4. Take regular breaks. Short breaks between working can help you switch off. But longer breaks are important too. How about taking the weekend off to relax? Make time for fun and for yourself even if this means that you have to schedule time away from your work. Check out our blog on 30 things to do in Leeds on a weekend to get inspired. 
  5. Get the right amount of sleep and limit screen time. Try to get a good amount of sleep - between seven and eight hours is recommended for adults by the NHS. Being sociable online is fun – but too much of it, and too much computer time, can lead to more stress, and can make it harder to relax and sleep. 
  6. Listen to music. Listening to music can help calm you down and put you in a better frame of mind. If you're feeling stressed, putting on some calming music while you work could really help. Why not listen to our University of Leeds vibes ~ lofi hip hop mix ~ beats to study/relax to. 
  7. Talk about it. Sometimes talking about how you are feeling to your friends and family can really help. Talking helps create a sense of order to those jumbled thoughts. Choose someone you trust and chat about how you're feeling. If you can't see them face to face, drop them an email or give them a call. As a reminder – here’s the help and support that’s available to you as a student.  

One thing to do this weekend: 

Check out the range of resources and self-help materials available to you.  This covers everything from how to get support if you are feeling anxious, getting support if someone you know or love has died and ways to increase your confidence and self-esteem through to tips on forming meaningful relationships, help in overcoming trauma and successfully managing change and transition.  

Need to know about safety in Leeds 

We know last week’s events in the media may have been triggering for many, and we’ve previously shared everything you need to know about safety in Leeds. 

Leeds is a great place to live and study, but it’s important that you take some simple steps to keep yourself and your possessions safe. Watch our staying safe in Leeds video to hear advice from other students and from our Security Services. 

REMEMBER: The Nightbus and Amber taxis are a safe and affordable way to get home safely after a night out. Find out more about the Nightbus and Amber taxis service. 

Have you felt unsafe in a public place? Anonymously share details with StreetSafe, a pilot service where you can tell the Police about public places that should be made safer.   

Help limit the spread of Covid:   

  • READ the coronavirus rules, advice and guidance on Covid safety measures like mask wearing on campus 
  • GO get a jab. find out more about vaccinations including when and how to get a jab 
  • BOOK or collect a free COVID-19 lateral flow test. Remember: only take a lateral flow test if you are not showing any coronavirus symptoms – if you are showing symptoms, book a PCR test through the NHS.    
  • WEAR a facemask if you are asked to. Remember, everyone will feel differently about face masks and that’s okay. Try to keep a face mask with you while you’re on campus. Don’t worry if you don’t have one – there are free face coverings available across campus. 

BOOKMARK THIS: Find a teaching room on campus.  

ICYMI:  

  • The deadline for alternative exam arrangements is Friday 22 October. Find more details on alternative exam arrangements  
  • Find out about Engagement and Attendance, including how to notify us through Minerva of an absence.  
  • Visit our arrival and orientation pages to book International Welcome services and sign up for your International Orientation session. 
  • Join our Global Community to meet people from all around Leeds, the UK and the world.    
  • Use the new Digital Education Systems Help website for find step-by-step guides, introductory videos, FAQs, news, updates and information on training courses and events to help you with your studies. New content will be added to the website on a regular basis. 
  • Need IT help? The quickest way to get help is to search the IT knowledgebase. If you can't find the answer you need, you can contact the IT Service Desk using the 'Something broken' or 'Request something' links on the IT homepage. 

  • How do you Duo? If you're normally using SMS for Duo authentication, why not switch to the Duo mobile app - it's quicker, easier and more convenient. Find out how to activate your Duo mobile app.

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