Blogpost by Nicole Chia, current International Masters student studying Speech and Language Therapy at Queen Margaret University
Living in Edinburgh has been quite the experience filled with ups and downs. As an International Masters student, the pressure is high not just in terms of fees, but also getting used to different grading systems and exam styles. Also I’ve been out of university for at least 4 years so that makes it even harder to get back into.
However, I have realised the importance of self-care and even though things can look bleak when you do badly in school or you lose motivation to study, feel homesick or constantly dream of your next travels, there are always things you can do to make it better.
One of them is exploring new cafes. As I live on campus, it’s easy to just be lazy and stay in my room all day. So, sometimes I force myself to take the train into the city and check out different, unknown cafes to find some with a good vibe. Just being in a new place gives me some much needed motivation to study again.
Another thing that helps is watching inspiring videos – I’ve been listening to Alan Watts recently and he helps calm me down and feel less anxious.
Everyone knows that doing yoga and meditation has its benefits, but I get lazy, so I usually stretch for a few minutes. I love to take a walk along the beach. Being by the sea is good for you.
Buying plants makes my room look more homely and cosy. Sometimes I paint too. Sometimes simply eating, cooking good food, chilling out with Netflix or watching your favourite show can help refresh your mind.
