Let’s talk about mental fitness | iQ Feel Good Series
Being active is so important for our mental health, but so many of us struggle to get enough exercise. When you’re in the throes of exams or your social calendar seems a bit too busy, finding the time can be tricky. Other times, you might not feel like you’re in the right headspace to get up and head out.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, we came together at iQ East Court to talk all things mental fitness. As part of our iQ Feel Good Series, we brought together a panel of experts to help our Feel Good Ambassadors and residents discover ways to fit moments of movement into their daily routines.
There was a panel, pizza and prizes – you can guess which was the biggest treat.
We were joined by
- Ross Abbot, Head of Health and Wellbeing at Green Cross Global
- Jazzmin Rae, student fitness influencer on TikTok
- Oly Newton, Founder of Run4YourMind, Lights On Well-being, and co-founder of 100 Talks for Change
- Vuong Ng, Student Wellbeing Advisor, Queen Mary University
- Lara Rebecca, Host of the Keep Smiling podcast
Our panel of experts shared their unique experiences and insights on mental health and fitness to give our residents practical tips to stay sharp. From suggesting activities like meditation and walking to signposting our residents to where to get support, our panel encouraged the room to remember that we each have to find a routine that works for us – no two people will have identical routes to a happy mind, but we can take tips and tricks from lots of sources to build the map that leads us on the right journey.
Some top tips from the day?
- The science is clear: movement is a powerful tool for boosting mental wellbeing
- Building a healthy routine with balance and self-compassion is crucial for student success ⚖️
- There's a strong mind-body connection, and mindfulness practices can be incredibly helpful
- Don't be afraid to seek support from friends, family or student wellbeing resources
Ross MC’ed the event, summing it all up well: “There are good times in our lives, there are bad times in our lives. It’s all about how we manage them. Mental health is a global entity, it doesn’t discriminate, it can impact absolutely all of us. Things like this are really important to be able to talk and normalise issues around mental health.”
We’ll be hosting another Feel Good panel in a couple months time, so stay tuned on our eventbrite to sign up for our next discussion.
For more support with your wellbeing, check out this Move for Mental Health guide from our partners at Shout
Our charity partners Student minds have also written a great blog on how exercise and movement are proven to boost your overall health
