Personal well-being is the topic of various discussions and debates everywhere in the world as people have now realized how important it is to take care of oneself; physically as well as mentally. It is often seen that when a person lives in a new place it is challenging for him or her to be well in all aspects due to obvious reasons like different food, lack of friends, new ways of doing things, new culture etcetera. A lot of students or working professionals have anxiety and stress due to such reasons which sometimes leads to their failure in the land which was their dream destination to be successful. Let us explore various types of mental issues people usually have to deal with:
Pressure to perform well
Whether you are in a foreign land to get educated or to build your career, there is always the stress to accomplish the task and perform well to succeed. For a student it is important to study well and get good scores in academics as the career depends on it and for a working professional it is crucial to accomplish the task assigned to excel in the professional life. There is anxiety about the future which is dependent on the efforts of the present day, this keeps on mounting and increases the stress levels which if not taken care of in time, could lead to depression.
Emotional Well-Being
Most of us focus on physical and mental health but forget something very crucial: emotional health. As humans, we all are emotional and like to be with people with whom we have emotional connections. When we leave all our loved ones behind and go to a new country, the most difficult challenge is to take care of our emotional well-being. It is normal to miss family and friends but it sometimes leads to serious issues like homesickness which makes it hard to live in a foreign land. Although the UK has a multicultural society and there are people of various cultures living there, for a newcomer it is still an unknown place.
Some practices to take care of personal well-being:
- Focus on physical health because physical issues lead to irritation and frustration which could make one upset about all the things in general. Try to eat healthy and keep some routine of exercise like walking or jogging. In most of the places in the UK, fresh fruits and vegetables are sold by farmers in special markets, so there is no shortage of healthy and nutritious food, make sure you visit such markets and buy healthy food. This also allows you to interact with the locals.
- Give yourself some time to get used to the new environment and do not be in a hurry to learn all at once. Take your time to observe things around you and learn them slowly. Do not over-expect yourself, keep realistic targets to be achieved daily.
- The UK has a diverse population as people of various cultures live there, therefore try to make friends with people of different cultures through small talk as it will work as an ice-breaker. By doing so you will slowly develop cordial relations with people around you and will not feel lonely. In the long run, you can have some good friends to share your thoughts, feelings, and opinions.
- Make sure that you regularly talk to your friends and family members at home as it will help you to be emotionally contented. Also, they will know what is going on in your life and if there is anything wrong, they could offer help.
- Try to know about the places where you can find products that are from your home country so that you get to use similar things. It helps to feel at home in a new place. Visit places where people of your home country stay as you will be able to find familiar products and religious places there which will be quite comforting.
- Do not hesitate to ask questions about the education or work from others like fellow student’s professors or colleagues. This will give you clarity about many small and basic things that you might need to be able to perform better.
- Finally, there is no harm in seeking professional help if you feel the need for it. You must contact the student counselor available at the university to discuss the issues you are facing. All the colleges and universities in the UK that enroll international students have this facility available or can make it available for you if needed. It is very normal to do so, hence you must not hesitate to approach a professional.