Successful Student Transitions - A Time to Thrive

Are you thinking about taking a gap year. If so this episode is for you. Phoebe talks to Elizabeth about her gap year and discusses:

• Why she decided to take a year out.
• What she has been doing.
• How she has benefited from the experience.
• What she is planning to do next.

One of the health fundamentals we believe is the most neglected, is the importance of rest and recovery - and we’re not talking about sleep.

This is SO important at busy and stressful times such as exam season and here we revisit an episode first published last year.

We share:

• The seven different ways we can choose to ‘rest’ and ‘restore’ our energy levels outlined by Sandra Dalton Smith in her book: Sacred Rest: Recover your life, renew your energy, restore your sanity. Which would be your favourite?
• Why developing a rest and recovery mindset is so important and why rest is essential for good work and helping us to prevent ‘slow self harm’ (Alex Pang).
• The signals we need to look out for that suggest we need to take more time for rest and recovery. What signals are you aware of? When do you ignore the signals?
• The ways in which we have been programmed to ignore our need for rest. What do you think gets in the way of you and rest?
• Ideas for taking more appropriate rest and recovery time.

Exam time is looming and students are getting down to revision plans - and hopefully some effective revision!

But what makes studying effective? How can students get the most from the time they spend with their noses in their books?

In this episode: Bradley Busch from Innerdrive provides evidenced based strategies for students when studying for exams - he shares the following ideas:

• There's a difference between what we like to do when we are studying and what’s effective
• Studying is challenging work and isn’t easy!
• What helps to makes knowledge stick and different ways to retrieve the knowledge you need in the exam
• How and why spacing - is an effective study strategy
• The importance of starting your work early - we often underestimate the time we need
• Why effort is contagious and how to harness its power.
• The NASA rocket metaphor and how it can propel you into work space
• The truth in relation to distractions and their impact on the quality and quantity of learning 

This is the second part of our two part series discussing exam stress and how to best prepare to perform well in upcoming exams and/or assessments. Part one is episode 65.

In this episode we discuss:

• Somatic exercises to help you manage your stress levels and maintain them at an optimal level. (Listen to episode 65 to understand what we mean by an optimal level).
• The Well-being Fundamentals that will boost your mental and physical well-being and performance levels.
• Organisation and revision tips and strategies.
• Ideas for approaching the exam and assessments in an organised, calm and focused way.
• What to do once the exam/assessment is over to aid your recovery.

It's that time of year again, all over the UK students are beginning to revise for upcoming exams and assessments.

Today we start a two-part series on the subject of assessments and exams.

This Episode is all about understanding exam stress, where it sits with you and introducing ideas for calming heightened levels of stress or arousal.

The second episode, Episode 66 will be about introducing other helpful strategies for managing yourself through times of exams and assessments.

In this episode we discuss:

• The Yerkes and Dodson explanation of stress arousal levels and the inverted U shaped curve.
• We talk about stress being a normal and necessary response to a requirement to perform and what contributes to creating an optimal state.
• What it feels like to move away from the optimal state and the impact our thinking can have on increasing stress levels beyond the optimal zone.
• We introduce a very simple but effective way to help create distance and perspective in relation to our thoughts.
• Why a double sided coin is a great analogy for understanding why we feel heightened levels of arousal.
• A mnemonic for thinking about thoughts – THINK, listen to discover more...
• Why we have a lot more control over our emotions than we think.

"Cultural Agility is the ability to comfortably and effectively work in different countries and with people from different cultures" Paula Caligiuri

Cultural transitions occur when we move between countries but also when we move from one environment to another such as from school, college and home life to university.

In this episode we discuss the six competencies highlighted by Paula Caligiuri in her book 'Build Your Cultural Agility' and apply them to the university transition.

For each we draw on the experience of the students in our Student Voices series to illustrate the competencies in action.

A great listen for anyone moving to a new and novel situation/environment and wanting to consider the skills and competencies that will help them to adjust and settle well - all brought to life by the wisdom shared in our student voices series.

Welcome to the next episode of Student Voices.

In this episode Elizabeth speaks to Marianne, a first year university student, about her journey so far.

It is a great conversation full of insights and helpful tips for students about to embark on their university journey.

Listen if you are a first year university student reflecting on your experience so far, you are in your exam or gap year thinking about a move to university. Also a helpful listen for parents and student counsellors/wellbeing advisors.

They discuss:

The value of visiting and getting a feel for the university and city environment as part of the preparation process.

Tips on making friends, listen as Marianne shares her approach and recognition that it is not always easy.

Factors that can contribute to overwhelm and what to do to manage and prevent it from building up.

The challenge and benefit of living between two homes.

The positive payback of doing more to build your social connections and involvement at university.

Welcome to the next episode of Student Voices.

In this episode Elizabeth speaks to Isis, a first year university student, about her journey so far.

It is a great conversation full of insights and helpful tips for students about to embark on their university journey.

Listen if you are a first year university student reflecting on your experience so far, you are in your A level or gap year thinking about a move to university, and also a helpful listen for parents and student counsellors/wellbeing advisors.

They discuss:

• Isis's shares her ideas for preparing for a good start.
• The importance of friends and building a solid friendship base.
• The bittersweet experience of going home.
• What caused Isis to struggle and what she did to help herself.
• Getting into the academics and asking for help.

Welcome to the next episode of Student Voices.

In this episode Elizabeth speaks to Sofia, a first year university student, about her journey so far.

It is a great conversation full of honest insights and helpful tips for students about to embark on their university journey.

Listen if you are a first year university student reflecting on your experience so far, you are in your A level or gap year thinking about a move to university, and also a helpful listen for parents and student counsellors/wellbeing advisors.

They discuss:

• The advice Sofia was given before leaving for university and how that helped.
• How Sofia has settled into her new independence and what she has learned along the way.
• What has helped in her settling in journey - and what has not.
• Why it matters to know yourself and be clear about what matters to you.
• The two things Sofia feels every student should know.

In this episode of Voices in Transition, we are delighted to welcome:

• Keri Haw - Student Wellbeing Manager, University of Bristol
• Amy Lewis - Senior Tutor for the School of Arts, University of Bristol
• Laura Baglow - Senior Manager for Inclusive Communities, University of Bristol

They bring their wellbeing expertise and advice to support first year students as they return after the winter break. Listen as we discuss:

• Why it can feel hard to return after the winter break and what to do if you are struggling.
• The opportunities and approaches for continuing to make new connections and friendships, this is not for term one only.
• The role of solid study planning, suggestions for managing workload, minimising stress and enhancing wellbeing.
• How to manage year one exams and assessments.
• Why perfectionism is not your friend.
• The value of looking forward to future transitions, including advice to ensure you are not blindsided by the next change.
• Practical tips and sources of support for accommodation challenges and financial hardship.