Well-Being@UP

How hope can help us move forward

It is more than 100 days since our daily lives changed drastically due to measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, our hopes about various matters have waxed and waned.

Preparing for the new normal

Our ability to adapt to our environments is what has ensured the survival of our species. As humans, we are remarkably good at adapting. We learn from one another, we find ways to transcend seemingly insurmountable obstacles and we communicate constantly in all sorts of creative ways. We try out possible solutions.

Reflections on Christmas in April

Here we are.
Christmas in April.
Doing the things that we usually do over December holidays.

Lessons from my Grandma’s time of crisis

In January of this year we celebrated my great-grandmother's 100th birthday. I have always been fascinated by her stories, especially her stories of the wartime and how they survived by eating pap and pumpkin. What amazed me most, however, is how she would always turn the story around to focus on the positives.

How do I maintain a sense of control over my studies?

As a student, it is really important for you to maintain your focus on your studies as we move through this period of uncertainty. Your ability to maintain focus on your studies will be much easier if you remember the following rule: If you can’t control what happens to you, control your response to what is happening to you.

Taking care of your mental health

There can be no health without mental health. During times of crises it is natural to feel fearful, but anxiety should not become overwhelming or debilitating. A useful starting point when attending to mental health is to consider physiological needs: eat healthy, rest enough and make time for exercise in a safe environment.

Ideas for academic leadership during uncertain times

There is no manual to offer an academic leader guidance during these unprecedented times. You instantly transitioned from being an ‘on-site’ and occasional virtual leader to an exclusively virtual leader. The culture of your department has changed suddenly as the usual methods to communicate and to accomplish tasks have changed.

How to practise a growth mindset during the COVID-19 crisis

Owing to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges that you face as a student are overwhelming. During a crisis like COVID-19 and the lockdown, it is normal to have anxious thoughts that could go into overdrive: Will I be okay? Will my family get sick? Will there be enough food in the shops?

Kindness and gratitude during an extraordinary time

I want to use my first blog entry to express my gratitude to so many people at the University for the manner in which they have responded to the University’s efforts to ensure its continued functioning in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and all the anxiety and dread that have accompanied it.

Three ways to strengthen your emotional well-being during difficult times

While it may seem frivolous to talk about well-being and happiness in the context of the tragedies surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, it is essential to harness our positive psychological resources during times of crises. It is possible to create small moments of happiness in your everyday life.

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