"Taking care of my mind so that I can focus on my studying "
It is with great enthusiasm that the Espaço S team returns to work at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon to contribute to the promotion of the physical and emotional well-being of all students in yet another academic year. The Espaço S team wishes not only to contribute to the well-being of students who seek our psychological help, but also to broaden its intervention in the entire FMUL student community.
The pandemic environment left many marks on everyone. There were two academic years with great changes, both in academic life and in the personal life of students. Thus, we need to gradually adapt our lives to the changes and restrictions that this virus still imposes on us.
The Espaço S proposal for students is exactly what we suggest in the title of this newsletter, “taking care of my mind so that I can focus on my studying”. And taking care of our mind means taking care of us.
For greater academic performance, it is essential that the basic needs of our body and mind are met. Without these needs being met, we cannot achieve a balanced and healthy life, so our body and mind will not be prepared to reach the levels of productivity, attention and concentration required and expected in this new academic year.
To have a healthy lifestyle, we must:
- Practice a varied and healthy diet, and not skip meals;
- Practice physical exercise on a regular basis and preferably taking pleasure in the activity we choose;
- Have an individual leisure activity and a group activity on weekly basis;
- Have an active social life in person, despite the restrictions still in force. Human beings are social beings and as such they need to nurture their social relationships and be in relationships. Conversations with friends on social networks are not enough, it is important to be together and do activities together. Get creative!
- Have quality time for family life;
- Make time for ourselves (even if this time is used for doing nothing, it's also important!)
- Plan work and study. It is essential to have a study/work plan. This plan must be feasible and flexible.
When all these needs of our body and mind are met, we are psychologically better able to deal with the unexpected, with the inevitable adversities of life and with our goals in life in general.
So take care of yourself to be able to respond to your goals and desires!
Cláudia Martins
Espaço S Phsychologist
Find out more about Espaço S - a project integrated in the FMUL Student Support Office - on this link, and don't hesitate to contact us if you need.
