Ensuring that you are looking after your mental health and wellbeing is a crucial part of not only Freshers’ Week but your whole university experience. It has been an incredibly difficult year, and this may have understandably had a huge impact on your mood. As your VP Welfare and Diversity, I have put together a list of five tips that will hopefully help you manage your own wellbeing during your Freshers’ Week!  

1. Pace yourself 

• This is a tip that I personally wish I had paid attention to in my first year! You don’t have to do everything all at once. We all love a virtual quiz but trying to take part in 3 different ones in one evening is just not possible.  

1. Reach out to available services 

• There are huge a range of services that are here specifically to support you and your wellbeing, but it can often be quite confusing to access them. At the end of this blog I have included the most useful and important links to make it easy for you to reach out.   

1. Establish a routine 

• Having some sort of routine before you begin your teaching can be a really effective way to make sure you don’t get overwhelmed. But make sure you are flexible with this routine; you are not a failure if you wake up half an hour later than you had hoped to! 

1. Make time for yourself  

• Even if you are attending Freshers’ Week virtually without leaving your bedroom, it is important that you spend some ‘me time’ looking after yourself too. Self-care is so important and something that is going to become a very useful skill throughout not only University but the rest of your life!  

1. Spend some time in Exeter 

• Our city is beautiful, with many accessible walks either in the town or down by the Quay. Have a little wander and explore the city that is going to be your home for the next few years! The campus grounds are very beautiful too – especially the bunnies and squirrels! 

The most important things to remember this week are to be kind to yourself, to stay safe, and to reach out if you need us. We are here for you and got your back!   

Useful links: 

• Wellbeing services: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing/  

• VP Welfare and Diversity: vpwelfare@exeterguild.com  

• Advice: https://www.exeterguild.org/advice/  

• Speak Out reporting system: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/speakout/