Welcome to Warwick: a guide to life at university
The transition to higher education can be daunting, so here are
our top tips for making this journey a bit easier! We discuss how four major
areas can make life at uni less stressful for the average student by contributing
to a positive wellbeing, these include: physical activity, socialising,
wellbeing and diet.
Wellbeing
Dealing with loneliness
Transitioning to a new environment can always be
challenging especially when you do not have any familiar faces (Morosanu et al,
2010). Morosanu et al, (2010) asserts that moving to an unfamiliar place with
people you do not know can affect your mental well-being in a negative manner
and the surroundings of those around you can make a big difference. Personally,
I found that settling in was difficult for the first few days but after meeting
my flatmates and slowly becoming comfortable around them, the fear and anxiety
decreased, allowing me to feel more at ease. I would say that your flatmates
and those you spend the academic year with make a huge impact on your
well-being and happiness, easing the transition to university. For example,
homesickness is common especially for international students, leading to
anxiety and possibly depression (Christopher & Edward, 2012). Christopher
and Edward (2012) stated that this can lead people to withdraw from their
academic studies, preventing them from enjoying their first year at university.
My advice would be to try to know and enjoy your flatmate’s company as the
relationship you build with them will significantly impact your time at
university, mitigating the feeling of being homesick.
It’s Important to be physically active
Studies have shown the positive correlation between physical
activity and cognitive function. Engaging in regular exercise has been linked
to improved performance in working memory and cognitive flexibility (Mandolesi
et al., 2018.) To be more specific, Lin et al. suggest that exercise stimulates
the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which play key
roles in mood regulation and cognitive function. Therefore, as you navigate the
academic challenges of university life, incorporating physical activity into
your daily routine can contribute to better academic performance by optimizing
your cognitive abilities.
-Improved Physical Stamina to Cope with Academic Studies
Physical demands of university life are overwhelming, we all know
how it “smashed” our body. Thus, it is crucial to have a physical condition to
excel academically. Redondo et al. examine the relationship between physical
fitness and academic performance in college students. The study highlights the
importance of physical fitness, specifically maximum oxygen uptake, as well as
factors like blood pressure and sleep habits, in academic achievement. This
implies us the need for activities that focus on improving physical condition
to enhance academic performance.
Diet
University students
are known to have a poor diet (possibly due to prioritising going out over
eating well), however this may have a greater effect on their wellbeing than is
commonly known. Research found that 30% of young people in the lowest quartile
for healthy eating had significant association with greater depressive symptoms,
poorer well-being and emotional difficulties (Puloka et al., 2017). This suggests
that to have a more positive experience at university, students should try to
have a more balanced diet by incorporating various food groups into their daily
meals. Fast food heavy diets are also common to students, another factor that
can be harmful to their wellbeing. Studies found that high calorie diets are
detrimental to brain health, including cognitive decline and hippocampal dysfunction
(Firth et al 2020), leading to negative effects on the students overall mood. Therefore,
in order to keep a positive wellbeing, a good diet is imperative!
Reference list
Morosanu, L., Handley, K., & O’Donovan, B. (2010). Seeking support: Researching first‐year students’ experiences of coping with academic life. Higher Education Research & Development, 29(6), 665–678. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2010.487200
Thurber, C. A., & Walton, E. A. (2012). Homesickness and adjustment in university students. Journal of American College Health, 60(5), 415–419. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2012.673520Mandolesi, L., Polverino, A., Montuori, S., Foti, F., Ferraioli, G., Sorrentino, P., & Sorrentino, G. (2018). Effects of physical exercise on cognitive functioning and wellbeing: Biological and psychological benefits. Frontiers in Psychology, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00509
Lin, T.-W., & Kuo, Y.-M. (2013). Exercise Benefits Brain Function: The Monoamine Connection. Brain Sciences, 3(4), 39–53. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci3010039
Redondo-Flórez, L., Ramos-Campo, D. J., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2022). Relationship between Physical Fitness and Academic Performance in University Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 14750. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214750
Puloka, I., Utter, J., Denny, S.
& Fleming, T. (2017). Dietary behaviours and the mental wellbeing of New Zealand
adolescents. Journal of paediatrics
and child health 53(7), 657-662 https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13524
Firth J., Gangwisch J. E., Borsini A.,
Wootton R. E. & Mayer E. A. (2020).Food and mood: how do diet and nutrition
affect mental wellbeing? BMJ 369
doi:10.1136/bmj.m2382
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