Tips on Wellbeing in Lockdown Learning From our

Tips on Well-being in Lockdown: Learning From our Students Aimee Quickfall

Hello! Aimee. Quickfall@bishopg. ac. u k @aimeequicks I am Aimee Quickfall, Head of Programmes for Primary and Early Years at BGU and a member of the Well-being and Workload in Education Research and Knowledge Exchange Unit. 2

Background on this project In May, our RKEU led the BGU arm of an international project on student well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was co-ordinated by the University of Antwerp and involved 55 institutions in 28 countries. 278 BGU students took part in an online survey. The final question asked them to give three tips for staying well during lockdown. These are some of the responses. 3

“ Remember this isn’t going to last forever Stay in contact with the ones you love Don’t suffer in silence 4

“ smile, sing, interact 5

“ If you can't focus, don't force yourself to do something just because you feel you have to do it. 6

“ Be creative Talk to friends and family Try to remain positive about the future 7

“ Talk to someone you don't live with everyday, Go outside and explore where you live, Don't stress about uni and work as nothing is as important as your mental health 8

“ Don't listen to the news incessantly. Don't believe everything people say. Try to keep busy. 9

“ Stay connected, try and keep busy, it's ok if homeschooling is hard 10

“ Remember this isn’t going to last forever Stay in contact with the ones you love Don’t suffer in silence 11

“ Talk to family drink water read. 12

“ Talk to friends and family. Get some fresh air. Remember this is an uncertain time so you don’t have to achieve everything 13

“ Each day is a new day Music and dancing with my dogs planning my day has helped 14

“ In a crazy packed house make sure you give yourself some time alone even if that means staying awake later and getting up later. Get air even if you just stick your head out the window. read: you escape the world. 15

“ Watch netflix/disney + facetime my friends and watch tik toks 16

“ Talk to friends Do what you love and have a purpose everyday 17

“ Stay busy. Have a laugh. It is what it is! 18

“ Talk! Realise that everything has changed; the rule book by which we lived and worked has been torn up - stop worrying and panicking 19

“ Just crack on. 20

“ You can’t control something that’s not in your control. Go with the flow. Find time to sit and play with your kids, you won’t get this time back again! 21

Thank You More findings from the well-being project will follow in the next few months; please get in touch if you would like to know more about our RKEU and work. Aimee. Quickfall@bishopg. ac. uk 22