Ready to focus on your mental health and wellbeing? Mind Matters week is almost here!
As a university student, it’s not uncommon to sometimes feel stressed, tired or like things are out of balance. During 2020, we’ve all had to adjust to new ways of doing things – new ways to study, work and connect with others. That’s why, more than ever, it’s important to find ways to look after your mental health and wellbeing.
Mind Matters – our yearly event that promotes optimal mental wellbeing – is happening next week, from Monday 3 to Friday 7 August. You’ll find lots of helpful information, strategies and resources to enhance your mental health, so we encourage you to check out as many activities as possible.
CARE
CREATE
CONNECT
This year, we’re focusing on three main themes that we think form the cornerstones of a healthy mind and balanced lifestyle:
care – promoting physical, mental and spiritual self-care
create – balancing activities and commitments across your life to improve mental wellbeing
connect – engaging with others to help minimise feelings of isolation during this time.
The week will include a range of opportunities for interacting with your peers and engaging with enjoyable activities in a relaxed, fun and helpful online setting. So check out the below program to see which activities might appeal to you. Then read our Deakin Life blog each day next week for event links and more information.
Some events require pre-registration – if you’re interested in one of these sessions, click on the relevant REGISTER NOW link to secure your spot.
See you online!
We’ll kick off the week with the launch of our online art exhibition. Talented Deakin students have submitted creative pieces that depict their personal mental health journey, express their personal struggles or share feelings of joy, love, stress and despair.
This online gallery will showcase the amazing creative talents of our community in a space that helps to destigmatise mental health issues and inspires positive action. Don’t miss it!
12–12.30pm: DeakinACTIVE Hatha/Ashtanga yoga session (suitable for all levels) Warm-up with the sun salutation flow sequence, followed by gentle Asana poses to improve flexibility, muscle tone and strength, and Pranayama to improve lung capacity and create calmness within. End with a short meditation and Savasana to reconnect. Can’t make this session? Check out our 10-minute desk stretches to ease any aches and pains as you study online.
On Tuesday we’ll focus on ways to care for yourself, with a particular emphasis on mental health and mindfulness:
3–4pm: ‘Healthy minds’ – wellness webinar Learn about the mental health spectrum and how your circumstances, study practices and lifestyle habits can affect your mental health. REGISTER NOW
4–4.30pm: ‘10 hacks to mastering the art of mindfulness’ – chat with a Deakin Wellbeing Ambassador
Get the lowdown on how to make mindfulness work for you. REGISTER NOW
4.30–4.50pm: ‘How spiritual care can support and inspire you’ – chat to multifaith chaplain Len Monk Discover how a holistic approach to life can affirm your body, mind and spirit, and how these three elements interact to heal and inspire. REGISTER NOW
5.30–6pm: DeakinACTIVE pilates session Move your body, stabilise and strengthen your deep core muscles, and increase flexibility. Breathe, stretch and tone – no equipment needed.
4–4.30pm: ‘10 hacks to creative pursuits’ – chat with a Deakin Wellbeing Ambassador
Get the lowdown on how being creative benefits your mental health. REGISTER NOW
Make your own body scrubs – anytime and from home!
DUSA has your self-pampering covered with our video recipes for homemade body scrubs.
Thursday is the day for more self-care, as we focus on the link between a healthy body and a healthy mind:
11–12pm: ‘How to maintain mental wellness through spirituality’ – chat to multifaith chaplain Carlo David Discover some spiritual tools for mental health, share individual experiences and ask questions on how to manage isolation using some form of spirituality. REGISTER NOW
1–1.30pm: Food and mood with Deakin PhD student Amelia McGuiness Discover the link between nutrition and mental health. REGISTER NOW
3–4pm: ‘Mental health in uncertain times’ – wellness webinar Learn some key facts about current global health concerns, and how you can experience and react to times of great uncertainty, with a focus on health anxiety. REGISTER NOW
4–4.30pm: ‘10 hacks to healthy eating’ – chat with a Deakin Wellbeing Ambassador
Get the lowdown on how to make good nutrition part of your daily life. REGISTER NOW
5.30–6pm: DeakinACTIVE Hatha/Ashtanga yoga session (suitable for all levels) Warm-up with the sun salutation flow sequence, followed by gentle Asana poses to improve flexibility, muscle tone and strength, and Pranayama to improve lung capacity and create calmness within. End with a short meditation and Savasana to reconnect. Can’t make this session? Check out our 10-minute desk stretches to ease any aches and pains as you study online.
On our final day, learn how to better connect, with each other and with your innermost thoughts and feelings:
4–4.30pm: ‘10 hacks to connecting with yourself and others’ – chat with a Deakin Wellbeing Ambassador Get the lowdown on how to create lasting and meaningful connections. REGISTER NOW
5–5.30pm: Get your groove on
Wind down the week with an awesome session of live acoustic music from Aussie muso Miller.
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