Officer's Log #5 17/11/2017
-Log Begins-
[17:45] Earth UK Time 17/11/2017
This is Rowan Cooper-Gritten, Welfare & Support Officer of the UCSU Leader-Crew.
Another week has flown by, with non-stop action in awareness raising campaigns, group and individual missions of representing and supporting all student members of the University of Cumbria.
This has been an especially prominent week for spreading better awarness and good will & health throughout the campuses, as it there have been a combination of 'Anti-Bullying Week' which the UCSU Officer team have been planning for some time, and executed the Sports day (which will be re-attempted for a higher turn out of members, ideally at the start of next term for 'Re-Freshers' - and unfortunately, Anna was quarantined to Sick-Bay- but I am glad to report that our Academic Officer is now recovered, and is back in action). and also the Quiz nights. We have also held a promotion of the Navy-blue hoodies, where £5 of the purchase goes to the Anti-Bullying Foundation.
It has also been the national 'Inter-Faith' week, where NUS have been encouraging SU's throughout the country to band together to recognise the need that we all need to choose unity and connectedness, instead of being culturally divided through a difference in theology- or not practicing a faith at all.
On top of that, it has also been 'Self-Care Week' where I have been travelling around the Northern campuses (in Carlisle, Brampton Road and Lancaster) to raise the importance of looking after ourselves and one anotehr during this highly stressful time in the year- with colder and darker weather, and with the amount of pressure building up around deadlines. Please review the cover image for this article for an effective and simple strategy to take a step back out of the pandemonium of daily life, and re-collect yourself, so you can leap back into action renewed and restored!
As well as having conversations with students about how we all like to reduce stress and increase mental and emotional wellbeing for ourselves (from sport, baking and meditation, and taking responsibility for our surrounding environments, and so on) I have also done a series of social media posts and FaceBook Lives, and even a student interview. Take a look on my Facebook profile at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010243201951
Movember Update: You can find a regularly updated photo album on my progress for my personal Movember campaign on my Facebook profile (above) as well.
Self-Care Tips for getting a better Night's Sleep:
Here are some links to some articles which I have found, regarding beating back Exam/assessment stress, and increasing our sleep hygiene. I hope you also find them useful!
https://www.ucsu.me/articles/ten-tips-to-beat-exam-stress
27 Sleep Tips That Will Make You Fall Asleep In 7 Minutes Or Less
https://www.downduvet.co.uk/tips-to-get-to-sleep.html
Don't forget- you can get the Headspace App from us (a whole YEAR's subscription for free- and save £60) from us- and that also includes some incredible packs and single sessions to help you sleep easier!
Even though I always feel a passionate obligation to write these brief reports and updates, it is time for me to retire from the week (other than helping out with the open day for 3 hours, tomorrow!) and take some time for myself to rest and recover from the battles and campaigns of this week.
Thank you for reading- and remember- your UCSU team are always here to help you out, through the rough and the smooth! Just come along to ask for some advice, help, or even just for a friendly conversation.
Welfare & Support Officer 2017/18 signing out.
Friday [18:15] Earth UK Time 17/11/2017
-Log Ends-
