Guyanese student Rae shares his top tips for looking after your mental health away from home.
Guyana is a tropical country; for more than half of the year, it is sunny or there is a downpour. In the UK, the weather is icy cold and when the time moves one hour back, the days get dark. Right now, it can be 4:00 pm and the day is gone. It can feel a bit disorienting, but more than that, I do not have the sun to wake me. I am relying on my phone. These are new changes and I believe international students who come from a similar climate should make provisions for this.
Living abroad can make you feel homesick. You can miss your loved ones or simply not feel motivated to attend your classes. But remember, you are here for a purpose, and your loved ones are rooting for you. Taking care of your physical and mental health should be a top priority. Health in anyone’s life should be the number one priority.
Especially for people with darker skin, ensure that you get vitamin D supplements. You are not going to get that beautiful sunlight. Ensure you find the time to moisturise your skin as well; we do not want to be looking ashy and getting dry skin.
Don’t forget, in this day and age, connectivity is a lot easier and video calls make the people you love feel closer. It helps to alleviate homesickness.
Do exercise regularly; physical health also affects your mental health. The University of Birmingham has an enormous gym with a 50m pool, and for those of you who miss the heat, there is also a sauna. I ensure I visit the gym; it is my comfort place, and it feels good to take care of my mind and body. It is how I am able to stay mentally fit and stay on top of my assessments; I really cannot stress this enough. There are also classes you can book if you’d like to do more socialising, like yoga, weights, pilates, and biking sessions. Take advantage of the gym! And who doesn’t want to look good? Feel good, do good. it might be a cliché, but it is true.
Finally, don’t forget to do some digital cleansing. Sure, we love our phones, but as students you ought to be mindful that being on your phone just before bed can greatly affect your sleep. It does mine at least. Wind down before bed with a good book (physical) and slow your mind down.
The day can move fast in Birmingham, but you should take stock of it and ground yourself in gratitude. Enjoy your experience, make connections, and don’t forget university life is not only about academics, but the connections you make. You are going to be more willing to do this with a healthier you.
MA Film and Television: Research Production student at the University of Birmingham
