Weekly Wellbeing Themes
Connecting with Nature
Taking a break to step outside and connect with nature is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to look after your mental health, particularly during stressful exam and assessment times. Spending time in natural spaces has been proven to lower cortisol levels, reduce anxiety, and directly boost your cognitive skills and academic performance, restoring your focus so you can study more effectively.
Have you ever tried forest bathing? Originating in Japan as shinrin-yoku, it simply means immersing yourself in nature and using all of your senses to take in the surroundings. It isn't about strenuous exercise; it's about slowing down, listening to the birds, feeling the breeze, and giving your mind a complete rest from screens and revision notes.
We are very lucky to have a beautiful campus. This week, try to intentionally carve out 20 minutes to step away from your revision or assessments to explore our campus woods, take a peaceful stroll around the lakes, or simply sit in one of our many green spaces.
Tips for Stepping Outside:
Make it Mindful: Leave your phone in your pocket (or at your desk) and focus entirely on what you can see, hear, and smell around campus.
Combine Nature with Connection: Take a walk around the campus lakes with a friend or course mate to combine fresh air with a supportive catch-up.
Protect the Time: Treat your time outside just like an appointment or revision slot—it is a non-negotiable investment in your productivity and wellbeing.
What’s on in Wellbeing:
- Student Anxiety Peer Support Group: Feeling anxious is something many students experience, especially during times of change or pressure. If anxiety is beginning to affect your day-to-day life, join us on Mondays, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the Library Gathering Space. No need to book; just turn up
- ADHD Peer Group: A peer support group for students who have a diagnosis of ADHD or are waiting to be assessed to provide information and support. We meet Tuesdays, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm in the Reception of Wellbeing Support (Ground Floor, Senate House)
- Preparing for Exam & Assessment Stress: An informal hour-long session to prepare for the stress of assessments, hear how others are managing, and pick up practical tools. Join us Wednesdays at 4:00 pm in the Creative Community Space in the Library
- Exploring Mindfulness: Mindfulness can help you de-stress, manage pressure, and develop focus. All students are welcome—no experience necessary. Thursdays, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm in the Creative Community Space in the Library
How to Get Support:
All students can access the Student Health and Wellbeing Service for support. Brief consultations are the starting point and are available Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. You can speak with a Health & Wellbeing Practitioner face-to-face in Senate House or online via Teams. To get started, use the Wellbeing Portal to join a queue or submit an inquiry to the Disability Services team. For out-of-hours or emergency support, please see these Emergency & Support Contacts.
NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The following videos may prove helpful to some students to view both prior to arrival and upon arrival.
Before arrival:
On arrival:
Hear from Sophie,
Meet our team member Sophie, who is here to talk you through managing your anxiety.
Understanding Wellbeing
A new online module is now available for all Warwick students. It has been designed to improve the wellbeing literacy of students at Warwick and has been co-created by IATL Staff and Students to make sure that it can be accessible to all and geared for often time-constrained University life.
To access the Online Module on Moodle click here
You may find it helpful to view a 2 minute introduction to the module.