Tag: relaxation

A Guide to Beating Exam Stress

09/12/2022 / raquelbyrne / 0 Comments

A Guide to Beating Exam Stress

It might be hard to believe, but exams are nearly here and 2022 is nearly over. I know, right!?

The exam period can be a highly stressful time, and it’s understandable you may be feeling overwhelmed, stressed or unsure about how to manage yourself and your time. If you’re looking for help, there are a number of places you can go to find it.

Our libraries are open to you for individual and group study. We’ve got a great variety of resources if you’re in need of some study tips, no matter where you are in your academic journey. Pop on over to our exam support reading list for resources on studying smart, mindfulness, taking successful exams, study skills, and beating stress.

Here are our top tips to help get you through.

Top Tips for Beating Exam Stress

1. Timetable and prepare a study plan.

2. Create a study space that is comfortable, quiet, well-lit, organized, and has no distractions nearby.

3. Put your information into a format that allows you to absorb it best.

4. Take regular study breaks. Alternating subjects you’re studying will also help.

5. Remember self-care!

6. Schedule fun activities to reduce your stress.

7. Eat nutritious foods and exercise regularly to keep your brain power and energy up!

8. Make sure you have all the items you need for any exams. Get them ready the day before to avoid rushing on the day.

9. Remove anything distracting to help you focus. Try putting your phone in a different room when revising.

10. Write down revision targets for the day, review your progress, and update your revision timetable and targets appropriately.

Most of all: Remember to rest – get a good night’s sleep – and also relax! Check out our Virtual Relaxation Space, Or one of our special exam chillout areas in all our Libraries. You can find them next to the relaxation zones.

Keep an eye out on our Digital screens for more exam tips. Here’s a taster:

Further Support

Please do remember that if you’re experiencing difficulties, get in touch with Napier’s Counselling & Mental Wellbeing service. Drop them an email at counselling@napier.ac.uk or call them on 0131 455 2459.

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Meditation Day 21st of May

21/05/2022 / julietkinsey / 1 Comment

World Meditation Day– 21st May

“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour.”

These words, attributed to an unknown Zen master, are probably the most famous, and arguably the wisest, words ever uttered on the subject of meditation.

The paradox is, of course, that the more you have to do, and the less time you have to do it, the more important it is to stop whatever you’re doing and take time out. Meditation is one of the best, and certainly one of the healthiest, ways to do that.

It can be hard to describe exactly what meditation is or how it feels. I’ve been meditating nearly every day for more than a decade, and I still struggle to define it, but at its heart I believe it’s a way to quieten the mind, relax the body and turn down the volume on the chatterbox in my head that is continuously spouting nonsense.

Types of Meditation to try this world meditation day

There are as many types of meditation as there are practitioners. You may have tried some of them: mindfulness, visualisation, walking meditation, mantra meditation, OM chanting, Vipasanna, and loving-kindness are just some of the many ways to do it. I’ve tried several of those, but my regular daily practice is TM – transcendental meditation. Whatever form suits you, the main thing is to do it regularly. Like any other practice, establishing it as a habit is the key to its success.

The benefits of meditation are well-known. It improves sleep and concentration, relieves anxiety and stress (exams, anyone?), can reduce cravings and pain, helps you to feel calmer, makes you more productive and creative. Some people claim to experience a feeling of bliss when they meditate. I can’t claim that, but I have always felt better after my daily session, and I feel less at peace if I miss one.

We have several books that give greater insight into this most ancient of spiritual practices. Log into LibrarySearch to access them:

Learn to meditate: the art of tranquillity, self-awareness and insight – Edinburgh Napier University (exlibrisgroup.com)

Wherever you go, there you are – Edinburgh Napier University (exlibrisgroup.com)

Meditation for everybody – Edinburgh Napier University (exlibrisgroup.com)

Meditation Day 21st of May

This year, Saturday, May 21st marks World Meditation Day. Why not treat yourself to a session? It’ll only take 20 minutes – or an hour if you’re really busy.

By Lesley McRobb

Read more on Mental Health awareness here and here

and don’t forget to check out our virtual relaxation space.

Studying over the Christmas Holidays?

13/12/2021 / jemmalidgard / 0 Comments

The Christmas holidays have finally arrived, and you might be thinking it is time to get those feet up, relax, enjoy a hot drink and binge-watch all your favourite Christmas movies!

A cosy Christmas

But wait a moment… as there is still studying to be done. Here are some tips on how to motivate yourself whilst studying over the festive season:

Break it up:

Spend a few hours each day or every other day to break up your study period- you can set some time during the morning or evening then you have the rest of the day to enjoy your break and catch up on those movies!

Read and Research:

Set time in your schedule for reading and researching in your comfiest chair, you can do this along with your cup of coffee or tea for extra comfort. You can check out some of our books to help you with your studies via our Library Search

Christmas Treats:

Treat yourself in between breaks (by this we mean opening the celebrations tubs, eating mince pies, gingerbread men, and anything festive to motivate you throughout the Christmas period).

Christmas Star Biscuits

Family and Friends:

Ask a friend or family member to proofread your essay, project, or dissertation. You could engage in a conversation about your current topic and share your opinions which you never know…may end up being the main outcome of your work!

Organising and Planning:

Use your home space to organise your work, create study note tips, and plan your schedule throughout the week using a calendar, a table, or a ‘to-do list’.

Christmas Planning

Edinburgh Napier Information Services sends their best wishes to everyone studying!

Support and Wellbeing Over The Exam Period

06/12/2021 / julietkinsey / 0 Comments

stressed student needing Support and Wellbeing

Source

During exam time, it’s important to look after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. The library is here to support you and your wellbeing over the exam period.

Relaxation Spaces

Each campus library has a relaxation space where you can take a break and relax on comfy furniture or try a mindful activity like colouring or doing a jigsaw puzzle. Check out our virtual relaxation space here on the Library Blog for some excellent wellbeing resources.

Shelf Help

We also have Shelf Help which is a collection of resources aimed at supporting your wellbeing. There are print and ebooks, tv shows, podcasts and more which we’ve organised into themes. You can find resources to help tackle stress, insomnia, anxiety and low self-esteem as well as cookery books to help you eat well on a budget and ways to deal with procrastination and increase your productivity.

Spotify

If you are looking for some relaxing music to listen to while you study, the Library has some Spotify playlists for you here.

Get Outside

One of the best things you can do is to get outside and have a walk in the fresh air. Although don’t forget to wrap up warm in the cold Scottish winter. Nature is proven to help us feel better. Read more on this with our article on “thriving in nature”

Contact

Library opening hours can be found here You can also contact the library 24/7 by phone and email on 0131 455 3500 and library@napier.ac.uk

The university is here to support your wellbeing and you can find out more about the services they offer here

By Julie McGregor

International Games Week 2021-coming to a campus library near you!

22/11/2021 / julietkinsey / 0 Comments

International Games Week 2021-coming to a campus library near you!

22^nd November – 28^th November

Do you like playing games? Would you like the chance to win an Amazon voucher?

Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that for the 3^rd year running the Library is participating in International Games Week, this time with fantastic prizes! Furthermore we’re sure you are going to have some fun with the games we’ve created

You’ll find links to the activities where prizes are on offer below.

Crossword puzzle

https://puzzel.org/en/crossword/play?p=-MLNhjbHtSqbRO5e_V7F

Jigsaw puzzle

https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=28a27c52ebad

Wordsearch

https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/1601428/edinburgh-napier-library

How to enter

Just take a screenshot of your completed activity and email it to library@napier.ac.uk from your Edinburgh Napier email address. Alternatively, pick up a paper entry for the Crossword and the Wordsearch at any of our campus libraries. All entries will be entered into a prize draw to win an Amazon voucher! The closing date for entries is 30^th November 2021.

Good Luck everyone!

Find out more by following us on Twitter @EdNapLib and Instagram @enu_library

Get more ideas for relaxing here

by Cathryn Buckham

Get Creative! Ideas for relaxing

08/04/2021 / julietkinsey / 0 Comments

Photo of craft items. Wool, watch, paper and camera

Photo by Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash

Get Creative!

Stress awareness month is here and as our work, study and life balances are interrupted due to the pandemic, we yearn for a breathing space or some creative vitality in our lives. Here are some tips below on how to get more creative!

Knitting or Sewing

Knitting doesn’t just have to consist of socks and scarves. The repetition of stitches can be a way of calming the mind from the everyday stresses of the pandemic. You could add new embroidered designs to your garments or repair any odd holes or two! This fantastic Box of Broadcasts documentary tells you about the history of knitting and how it has become the people’s craft in Britain

Want to learn how to knit? You can access the online eBook Knitting for Dummies through Librarysearch.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Scrapbooking

Did you know Scrapbooking first began in the United Kingdom during the 19^th Century? All you need is a plain paged scrapbook, journal or book to keep your memories alive! You can add photographs, fabrics, objects, quotes, colours, and materials that you have collected or bring you a sense of comfort. You can find more about the psychological benefits on scrapbooking in the book Creative Nostalgia: Social and Psychological Benefits of Scrapbooking, available through Librarysearch.

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

Blogging

Blogging provides a platform for self-expression and to communicate information with others online. Wix and WordPress are free blogging sites where you can begin to share your thoughts, passions, and ideas to a worldwide audience.

Find more information on how to carve your own digital footprint via https://blogs.napier.ac.uk/

Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash

Article by Jemma Lidgard

Tag: relaxation

A Guide to Beating Exam Stress

A Guide to Beating Exam Stress