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As you will know, a lot of preparation goes into studying for university, and as you will know, some of the most important preparation work for entering college is not necessarily academic. There is a direct link between your health and academics, as result, your health is an important factor in your overall academic success. It’s also a beneficial path to a good start.

If it’s your first time moving away from home, you are likely to spend a lot of time on your own without much supervision. This will be an important time in your life when the demands will be far greater than ever before. And perhaps, this will be the first time where you have to rely on yourself and not your parents/guardians to take care of you.

Maintaining good health is critical to ensuring that you can focus on what you are learning, prepare for exams and meet other demands. Lucky for you, there are free health facilities at the university that don’t require you to spend money. Institutions understand that there are many pressures facing students. Therefore, they provide resources that support good mental health, wellbeing and fitness.

Wellbeing

As a part of cultivating your well-being, being part of a social network is an important part of a fun and healthy experience. Therefore, joining a society or club can be a great way of socializing with people with similar interests, religions, political beliefs, cultures, etc.

Mental health

Most institutions, if not all, have some form of student wellness service where they offer free professional health and counselling services. Here are some health facilities available to you as a student from a few public universities:

UNISA Health and Wellness Clinics

UNISA has health clinics in two campuses, with limited primary health care services:

• Muckleneuk campus
• Florida Campus

UCT Student Wellness Service (SWS)

They “provide professional medical and counselling services to students at a primary health care level. They are involved with the promotion of a balanced and healthy lifestyle as well as the prevention, early detection and treatment of all physical and mental health conditions.

Students can reach these services by calling 021 650 1017.

Wits Campus Health & Wellness Centre (CHWC) 

Offers a wide variety of health services to Wits students and staff members. The services are convenient, accessible, caring and cost-effective. Wits also offers a Counselling and Careers Development Unit, Disability Rights Unit, Gender Equity Office, Safety on Campus and Wits Integrity Hotline.

University of Johannesburg (UJ) Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development (PsyCaD)

Through PsyCAD, the University of Johannesburg offers student support. Sessions are free for UJ students and are generally 30min in duration.

Rhodes University Counselling Centre

The counseling centre offers counseling services to students for free, to work through any difficulty that might be experienced at a particular time. Students can make an appointment by emailing counsellingcentre@ru.ac.za

UKZN CAES Student support services

The University of Kwazulu-Natal offers a range of free, professional and confidential services. They provide academic support in the form of study skills, academic risk assessments, time management workshops; and psychological support for students experiencing personal and psychological difficulties.

Stellenbosh University Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD)

The centre offers psychotherapeutic & support services which offers professional support and counseling to students who are experiencing personal, professional, or academic challenges and emotional trauma.

Students can call 021 808 4994 or email supportus@sun.ac.za

Nelson Mandela Student Health Services

The Health Services actively seek early identification of mental disorders, treatment of common mental disorders, attention to the mental health needs of people with physical health problems, and mental health promotion and prevention and counseling.

North-West University Student Counselling and Development (SCD)

At Student Counselling and Development (SCD) professional services are rendered to students by professional members of staff qualified in psychology, counselling, and social work. The aim is to be a support structure for students in times of need, as well as to inspire and aid them in developing and reaching their optimal wellness potential in all dimensions of life, ranging from emotional, social, and physical wellness, connectivity, growth and influence.

Medical support

Universities often offer Consultations and support are offered through their various Student Wellness Service, which is run by medical practitioners and nurses that are often free and done at a discounted student rate. They offer a range of services for those who are sick or in need of non-urgent medical attention and help students maintain overall health. Please consult your respective university website of student bodies for more information.

Here’s what’s going to be different in your life this year:

You will play at a higher level. You will raise your academic standards.

It’s 2023 my friend, and we are coming with that full court press!

Cheers to acing your academic responsibilities 🥂.

Now then, let’s delve into the concept of Academic Wellness.

For starters, it includes extending your knowledge, building networks and habits that support lifelong learning, whilst taking good care of yourself.

Further than that, it consists of managing academic workloads, using available resources to make effective decisions, challenging yourself to new academic experiences and achieving your goals without burning out.

Number one rule of the successful: strategize to achieve greatness

The year carries twelve months. That’s why it can get overwhelming to handle all the workload and still have time to be a person outside of the classroom.

To be an effective student, break the year into digestible pieces.

Planning and strategy are the lifeblood of consistently successful endeavours.

For example, you may begin by developing weekly (academic) habits, as time goes on come up with monthly milestones, fight to commit to them and before you know it, the habits will be hardwired —— and the year will take care of itself.

And whenever you lose your perspective and motivation, think of an elephant. The analogy goes: you cannot eat the entire elephant with one big bite. (Neither can you see the whole elephant if you are standing too close to it. Take a few steps back to get an unobstructed view.) Self-introspect — and journal your thoughts — all the time.

One lecture at a time until the course is finished. Mantra.

It’s 2023, let’s get academically healthier

First, let’s both accept that wellness is multi-dimensional.

That’s the reason it is important to take care of yourself holistically.

In addition to the need for food, shelter, communication and transport, there’s the need to be healthy —— academically speaking.

It’s your responsibility to monitor how well-off you are on the school front.

And while in pursuit of academic happiness, be on the look-out for:

• Stress (learn to navigate change)
• Anxiety (don’t create problems in your head; breathe, relax, you got this!)
• Sleep difficulties (are you giving enough sleep to the body and mind?)
• Nutrition (how and what are you eating?)
• Depression (what is currently stressing you out? And why?)
• Sexual health (love and take care of yourself always)
• Participation in extracurricular activities (all work and no play made Jay a dull boy; leave behind the textbook, the phone and go interact with the world fully)
• Relationship challenges (learn to solve disagreements with a calm, intelligent and respectful demeanour; that’s how you keep lifelong relationships)
• Alcohol and other types of drugs (look out for yourself; don’t depend on substances to function)
• Body image and self-esteem (how do you really feel about yourself? Explore that question deeply and you’ll be better for it).

Above all else, tend to your wellness consistently. Make it your foundation. Mainly because on a good day, being a student and juggling other life commitments can be daunting. Hence a student with poor academic health has a higher chance of flunking their subjects and perhaps, end up dropping out as a result.

Take advantage of campus health services.

Supportive health services are interventions designed for students. This includes the provision of a wide range of services that can influence health and well-being.

For a tangible feel and understanding of academic wellness in action, check out a few student support initiatives from South African universities:

• WITS University

• University of Pretoria

• University of Cape Town

• University of Johannesburg

• University of the Western Cape

Always keep in mind that health is the gas. Make sure you got too much in the tank.

All the best with the year 👊🏾