Skip to Main Content

Student Learning Success Guides!

HEALTH & WELLNESS means taking steps to ensure your physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs are being met. Figuring out how to have a uniquely balanced life is a complex but rewarding process.

TIPS

Practice bringing awareness to how you're feeling.

Consider what you'd like to change and how you'd like to grow.

Plan the steps to achieve your SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, timely) goals.

Seek help when you need it.

Celebrate your successes.

Try to make exercise and sleep a priority. 

SELF-REFLECTION

How do you create balance in your life (with school, employment, family and friends, relaxation, exercise, sleep, diet, etc.)?

Describe the people in your life and your relationships with them.

What are some challenges in your life that you feel anxious about?

Change Is a Process

You're probably reading this guide because you'd like to make some healthy lifestyle changes. Just remember, change takes time and patience. These tips can get you started:

  • Reflect on habits you’d like to change.
  • Plan how to make small changes.
  • Seek help when you need it.
  • Be kind to yourself when you fall short of your goals.
  • Don't give up.
  • Celebrate your successes.

Support Your Basic Needs!

Developing healthy habits means taking good care of yourself:

  • Consider all aspects of your health: mind, body, emotions, and spirit.
  • Eat healthy foods, saving fast foods and sugary and high fat snacks for the occasional treat.
  • Moderation is a good rule for pretty much everything in life!
  • Seek out emotionally supportive relationships.
  • Find time for self-care, whatever that looks like for you.
  • Stay hydrated, remembering that alcohol and caffeine dehydrate.
  • A little exercise daily is better than major and sporadic workouts.
  • Be sure to prioritize sleep.

Be Kind to Yourself

Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies! Being kind to yourself takes time and practice:

  • Changing ingrained behaviours and beliefs about yourself, and your academic abilities, can be very challenging especially if you lack emotional supports.
  • If you were bullied, belittled, beaten up, or made to feel stupid as a kid, you might need some help to improve your self-image. That's okay!
  • Stress, anxiety, and depression are common problems. Very few people can overcome these challenges without help.
  • Be kind to yourself, avoiding negative self-talk and harsh judgments. Think “I’m learning!” instead of “I suck.”
  • Hang out with people who like you for you.
  • If you find yourself trying to escape difficult feelings through drugs, alcohol, TV, Internet, games, etc., talk to someone.

Write Out Promises to Yourself

Writing down your plans is a good way to remember and commit to them. Keep track of what works well and do more of that. Drop ones that don't work:

  • I’ll go for a 15-minute walk when I’m feeling stressed out.
  • I’ll cut back to one large cola a day.
  • I'll eat one serving of vegetables each day.
  • I'll meet with one supportive friend/family member/classmate/counselor each week.
  • I'll go to bed one hour earlier each night.