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Tuesday 26 February 2013

Stress management


Hello again :) 

How are you all? I am super stressed! All my assignments are getting closer and my dissertation is just round the corner. I have been so busy with everything other than uni work. When I was in my first year and I met third years who said how much work there is to do, I definitely underestimated the amount of work you have to put in the third year to do well.


Although it is not too late to get on top of things. To deal with the stress I searched what to do as it is normal for university students to get a little stressed. I found the following tips - 

Looking after yourself. Be kind to yourself. Give yourself "me time" in which you can choose what you want to do: Rest; do nothing; try a relaxation technique, massage or yoga; have a long hot bath; spend time with friends; treat yourself to something special. Taking proper breaks and eating well do help to combat stress.

Confronting the problem Try to stand back and look at the problem carefully. Break it down into manageable parts. Talk it through with someone else, brainstorm solutions, or get help if you need it. Try to manage your time effectively and learn to say "NO". Avoidance won't make the problem go away and can often make it worse. Leaving everything to the last minute is a major source of stress for students. Think about why you are finding it hard to get started: uncertainty about how to do the assignment, fear of being judged or failing? Starting a piece of work effectively reduces stress levels as it frees your mind, putting the thoughts of failure back into perspective. If you've had a row or a misunderstanding with someone, it rarely helps to avoid the issue. Talking it through with the other person or with someone outside the situation, often helps you express your feelings, regain a sense of proportion, and identify a way of resolving the differences.

Find some distractions Sport and physical activity helps you to relax physically and also releases endorphins in the body which produce a real feeling of well-being. Walk, cycle, swim, join a gym or a sports team. Joining a club or society, maintaining an existing hobby or learning something new, talking to other people... can all help you to take a mental and physical break.

Express yourself Talk about it, write about it, shout or moan about it: expressing your feelings can help to relieve stress. Acknowledging a problem to yourself and to others can be the first step in dealing with it. Sometimes having a good cry or bashing a pillow can release emotional pressure and calm your feelings of anxiety.
  
Looking at these tips the first this I realised that I have found too many distractions which means I will need to eliminate a few of them. On top of this, I have moaned and complained enough about how much work I have to do so I just need to stop and get on with it. Also I have had more than enough unproductive time to myself so no more 'me time' from now on. In terms of confronting the problem, the only thing I can do is start my work so at least I know I have done something. I hope these tips help you too if you are stressed about work.

On top of the uni work load I have to think about what I will be doing after uni. I have finally found a few jobs that I would like to apply to, so I just need to write up my personal statement and make my CV perfect. I cannot wait to get into the real world and start work.

Speak to you all soon.

Love,
Av x

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Amiens in France - CROIS Exchange Project


Bonjour!

How are you all? So I went to Amiens in France for the CROIS exchange project. It was extremely cold and windy in France but it was soooo much fun! As a mentor I had my own team with French and English young people. We saw some beautiful and interesting places like the cathedral, museums, WWI battlefield and many other historic places.

War Museum



The Cathedral

The battlefield ground memorial

The overall experience was brilliant! All the mentors become closer and we all worked well together. I cannot wait for the French students to come to London! I love student trips!

I have been involved working with young people since I was 13 years old with Youth Coaching Academy and was awarded Youth Peer Coach of the Year 2007. Being involved in projects with young people has definitely been one of the best things in my life. I was born in India and moved to London when I was 13 which is when I started to work with Youth Coaching Academy and has become one of the first youth peer coaches in the UK. It was one of the best decisions I ever made! 

It has always been amazing working with young people and watch them come out of their comfort zone and grow. The last time I went to Youth Coaching Academy’s Youth Summit, I met some amazing young people who had blown me away with the events that had taken place in their lives, and during one week of the trip they had learned how to deal with things and had come out of their shell. It is a proud moment when a young team member shines.

I have been to international events with young people before, for example, Anthony Robbins Foundation’s Global Youth Leadership Summit, where hundreds of young people from all over the world get involved. These events are extremely beneficial for young people to meet new people, emotional development and team activities, building them to become leaders.

The French student mentoring trip was a little different because it involved students who did not speak English, but even with that difference I had great communication and connection with my team. It is wonderful to know that language does not limit us from being able to have a relationship with someone.

A little about uni now. Cheerleading has been a lot better! I have been doing a lot more as my foot is healing fast! I cannot wait for the next competition so I can take part in it. With doing the academic work, I need to do a lot more than I am doing at the moment. I have joined the gym as well and I literally have no time for anything else but work (job), work (uni), gym and cheerleading. 3 more months now and it will be over… Need to make the most of the time I have…

Oooh and Valentines Day is coming up! Hope you all have a weekend filled with loads and loads of LOVE!!!!




Love,
Avneet xxx