Let’s chat about well-being for Midwifery students

Student Ream shares her advice for maintaining your well-being while studying for a Midwifery degree.

It’s easy to let your mind get crowded with work, and get stressed and overwhelmed by it. It is important to look after yourself and make it a priority, as a Midwifery student and as a student in general. Especially for those working in health care, you’re so used to caring for others, but what about caring for yourself?

Here are some things I do to care for myself, and how I think they can also help you!

Organisation is key

I got myself a diary I take everywhere with me. The first page of each month has a calendar view, which made it easier for me to know and visualise the days for when I had uni, placement, and my part-time job.

The following pages were empty, so I could make notes and organise what I was going to complete each day of the week. Don’t forget to include two rest days each week! (It was a thick diary, but not as heavy as you may think.)

That being said, it also helps to start an assignment or any revision from when it is first given, so that you can avoid unnecessary stress and will not need to cramp it all together in the last week before the deadline.

Treat yourself

In those two days, do at least one thing you enjoy, whether that’s painting, having a warm bath, going out with friends, trying something new like ice-skating, going to the movies, and so on.

What I personally love to do is get a movie ready at home, turn the main lights off, turn on my fairy lights, and grab my blanket with some snacks and a hot chocolate or caramel latte. (9/10 times it's a Disney movie :D)

Just as it is important to make time for uni, it’s definitely more important you make time for yourself.

Routine

Form a routine! Know what time you’re going to bed and what time you’re waking up, making sure you still get 7-8 hours of sleep at night. That way, you’ll feel more organised – the earlier you start, the earlier you finish, meaning you can enjoy the evening for yourself!

What I do is I always try to wake up at 6:30am. I try to be in bed by 9pm the night before, so by the time I feel tired and sleepy, it’s roughly 10:30pm, meaning I will still have a full eight-hour sleep.

Nutrition and hydration

It’s important to take breaks when studying, to make sure you eat and drink. Have a bottle of water within reach when studying and, if you’re a snacker like me, have fruit on the side like grapes or chopped apples with cinnamon... Mmm. Talking about food is making me want some now!

What to do when things do get too much

Make a list of everything that needs to be done. Then organise the list from most important to least important. Or, if you have time, you can get the small things out of the way so you can focus on the big tasks that need to be done. It really depends on you and how you work.

Also, make sure to break up the bigger tasks into mini-tasks. Let me give you an example: instead of just saying “I need to do Chapter 1”, break it up into:

• Read Chapter 1
• Watch videos on it
• Make brief notes
• Answer questions

And then tick tasks off as you go along, so you feel like you’re making progress each time.

Also, be realistic with the tasks you give yourself to complete that day – don’t put too much on your plate! And don’t beat yourself up about not completing a task or two. There are plenty of other days to get it done and catch up!

Ream studies Midwifery at ARU. Find out more about Midwifery, and other degree courses, at one of our Open Days.