Wellbeing Guide

A Law Degree can be incredibly demanding, from three-hour lectures to endless reading lists, and incomprehensible case summaries, it is very easy to start feeling exhausted, and overwhelmed. Whilst we can’t exactly make Corporate Law any easier, we have developed a list of ten ways to help your personal wellbeing stay as priority one. Whilst some are as simple as remembering to get enough sleep, implementing these tips, and putting your wellbeing first, is going to help you have the best possible experience here at Deakin.

Redefine Success

University is a different ballgame to High School, and success may no longer be defined by the grades on your assignments. It is important that you redefine success based upon your own personal goals. This could be as simple as attending every lecture for that particularly challenging class!

Support System

Life at university can be overwhelming at the best of times. Between work and study and squeezing a social life in too; that’s why having a support network, to help you through the hard days is so important. Surround yourself with people who can help you manage your time, help you out with your content, or just be a sounding board on a bad day.

Scheduled Recovery & Breaks

Whilst your unit site may have posted a seemingly insurmountable reading list, it is vital that you remember to schedule time for the things that you enjoy doing every day. Plan your week around social activities and sport, make sure you have the time to play footy on Saturday afternoon, or go out for that girls’ night on Friday. By balancing your week with your university workload you will find that there is always something to look forward to.

Separate Law from Your Personal Identity

Whilst it can seem at times that your three-hour Constitutional Law lectures have become your whole personality, it is important to remember that law school is not who you are, but just something that you do.  Stay involved in the hobbies that you love; read books for pleasure not content, stay involved at your local footy club, get brunch with your friends. Doing so will help keep you level-headed through the rest of the semester. 

Sustainable Productivity

Whether your assignment is due tomorrow and you haven’t started, or you’re grinding through the days studying for exams early, study breaks are always important. They help to reset your body and reorient your mind, allowing you to come back with fresh eyes, and a new perspective. They don’t have to be hour long lunch breaks either; sometimes, a study break is as simple as walking your dog around the block or eating your vegemite sandwich outside in the sunshine. Even just a few minutes away from your computer screen will do wonders for your productivity.

Inner Dialogue

The mindset that we have when approaching our degree is critical to our personal wellbeing. Try not to be too hard on yourself if you don’t quite stick to that rigid study schedule, or you procrastinate an assignment for one day too long. Treat yourself with kindness and work out a plan that helps you to succeed, rather than focussing on everything you weren’t able to do. Your wellbeing will improve once you aft from “I’m not smart enough to understand” to “I don’t understand this yet”.

Comparison Culture

Everyone’s journey through law school, and university broadly looks different. In order to stay in the best mindset for your personal success, it is important that you steer away from comparing yourself to those around you. Everyone has strengths that lie in different areas, and by focusing on where your strengths lie, rather than where they are deficient in the eyes of others, you put yourself in a healthier and happier frame of mind.

Sleep

Sleep is arguable the most important thing to focus on at university. Your mind cannot, and will not, effectively function unless you have given enough sleep. There is no study session important enough to lose a night’s sleep over, and you will probably surprise yourself at how much easier your work looks in the morning, when you wake up with a fresh mind. A proper night’s sleep gives us the best chance at succeeding that day, and is key to our personal wellbeing.

Recognise Burnout

Burnout is probably one of the most universally felt experiences across universities, and beyond. It develops gradually, and thus, it is important to recognise the symptoms when they start to appear. This includes emotional exhaustion, reduced concentration, sleep disruption feeling detached and persistent self-doubt despite your efforts. If you do start to feel burnt-out at university, it is important that you step away for a short while, maybe even a whole weekend. Allowing your mind to get some well-deserved rest!

Seek Help

Sometimes, even when we do our best to take breaks, schedule social activities and get our eight hours of sleep, everything can just be a bit too much; in these situations it is important that you seek help from others. This is not a weakness, but rather a sign of strength; being self-aware enough to know when you need some support to get through.

Deakin provides free counselling to all students, face-to-face, online, and over the phone. Alternatively, you can always reach out to Lifeline (13 11 14), and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) for support.