News

This is our last bulletin for the summer break but we will still be working hard on honing our current offer as well as arranging some exciting new content, so there will be something for everyone next term. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who attended workshops/events over the past year and look forward to welcoming you back, as well as seeing some new faces next term. In the meantime, try and take some time out to for self-care: 

Get regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time. 

Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated. A balanced diet and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day. Also, limit caffeinated beverages such as soft drinks or coffee. 

Make sleep a priority. Stick to a schedule, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to fall asleep, so reduce blue light exposure from your phone or computer before bedtime. 

Try a relaxing activity. Explore relaxation or wellness programs or apps, which may incorporate meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises. Our Wellbeing page has links to wellness apps and other support. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy activities you enjoy such as journaling. 

Set goals and priorities. Decide what must get done now and what can wait. Learn to say “no” to new tasks if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much. Try to be mindful of what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do. 

And remember to be kind to yourself. Being kind to yourself and having self-compassion does not always come easily to everyone, but it’s a really important tool for strengthening our self-identity and improving resilience and motivation. One of the great myths of self-compassion is that it’s about lying to yourself or just pushing difficult thoughts aside and saying, “Now I’m going to tell myself positive things”. 

That’s not self-compassion. When you are self-compassionate, you’re actually doing something very specific for yourself – you are noticing difficult thoughts, being mindful of them, and creating a sense of psychological safety for yourself. 

People who have greater levels of self-compassion recognise their mistakes or shortcomings, but don’t get caught up in a cycle of blame and judgement. They can learn from the experience and adapt and change course for the next time.  

• If you are not so hard on yourself, you can forgive yourself more easily. 
• If you are not too hard on yourself for failing, you can use it as a learning opportunity. Then, you can focus on trying again. Perfection is not achieved on the first try. You have to learn to try again.  
• If you are not too focussed on your flaws, you will be able to feel the simple joys of finishing a task. It will bring about a significant change in how you deal with the world.   

We hope you all have a lovely summer.

The OD Team