Enjoy your education
„Those who adopt a positive mindset and attitude are more likely to benefit from their experiences in a constructive and supportive manner.“ Stúdentablaðið/Unsplash
Article by Kristjana Mjöll Sigurðardóttir, Academic and Career Counselor at the University of Iceland
Translation: Katrín le Roux Viðarsdóttir
Being a university student is a privilege, especially at such an esteemed school as the University of Iceland (UI). At UI, Students have both direct and indirect access to the best experts and academics in their respective fields, many of whom are the best among their peers internationally.
Students at the University of Iceland also have access to all kinds of support services. For example, the Student Counselling and Career Centre (SCCC) offers a wide variety of services and resources. We at SCCC are here for students and are ready to help with problems large or small. We encourage you to come visit us sooner rather than later. Don’t be alone with your thoughts, and certainly not with your worries. Make your needs known.
At UI, you also have access to all kinds of clubs, student associations, fitness facilities, etc.
It’s your responsibility as a student to do your best in your studies and to balance learning and having fun. University studies are demanding, and there’s often little time to spare. That’s why it’s so important to have a clear overview of what lies ahead. Time management plays a big role in having oversight, and organization helps relieve stress and increase happiness. Everyone feels better when they have a pretty good idea of what assignments are coming up, how long they’ll take to complete, and when they’re due. When students manage their time well, it often comes to light that they have plenty of time left over to finish assignments decently and to work on other things not related to their studies.
For students to enjoy their studies, they must feel happy. In most cases, students can have a significant effect on their own mood and shoulder the responsibility for their own happiness. There are many sensible and inexpensive things you can do to increase your happiness.
According to heilsuvera.is, positive thinking and a healthy outlook on life are the keys to happiness. Heilsuvera.is is a website for the public based around health and all the factors that contribute to health. It is a project between the Directorate of Health and the Reykjavik-area local health clinics (heilsugæslur).
The website’s goal is to reach the public with important information about health and development.
The site identifies five tips for better wellbeing, which can easily be applied to students:
Make connections
Exercise
Be more aware
Keep learning
Be generous
On top of these five tips, it’s also very important to have a good attitude toward your studies and assignments. Attitude is of our own making, not a situation other people create for us. When it comes to challenging assignments, a positive mindset is more likely to bring good results than a negative mindset. Everyone goes through difficult times and has challenging assignments at some point. Those who adopt a positive mindset and attitude are more likely to benefit from their experiences in a constructive and supportive manner. They’ll be richer for the experience. Be positive and find happiness in the studies that you chose to pursue.
Best regards from the Counselling and Career Centre.