Food & Friends - DLSS

DEAKIN LAW STUDENTS' SOCIETY PRESENTS

Food & Friends Your guide to improved wellbeing!

welcome.

Welcome to Food and Friends! Your guide that will get you through those exams that are looming on the horizon. We have brewed some chicken soup for the soul in hopes that it will be sweet, savoury and easily digestible. In this publication, we endeavour to share a four step recipe for improved wellbeing.

food.

Nutrition is key. I found I loved chicken and salmon, and would pair that with an avo and eggs each morning. If this sounds complicated, then a simple piece of toast with any form of natural fat and protein is a perfect way to start the day.

Trust me, try this for a week and you’ll feel an insane difference. Always keep your meals consistent each day: routine is the literal saviour to anyone feeling down!

food.

It is also important to understand that indulging in naughty treats a few times a week is nothing to feel guilty or ashamed about! That is why we have Tim Tams here for you today! Enjoying delicious treats in moderation will make you feel like you are not depriving yourself of enjoyment. So please, treat yo'self.

food.

Have you thought about cooking healthy recipes for yourself? Cooking is healthy because YOU get to choose what YOU want to put into YOUR food. Furthermore, it's another reason to take out time for yourself, away from your studies!

Don't have time or money for cooking?

We've got a hack for you. Simply Google "Taste 15 Minute Meals" and you will be directed to Taste's blog that will inspire you to create cheap, yet healthy meals within no time!

friends.

Make time for yourself — have a routine: this one is so overlooked!

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I should probs do some work�, then proceeded to do some work while scrolling Facebook and by the end of the night you feel even more stressed and useless?

If so, creating a plan, like a 30 min to 1 hour block of study, then having a 30 min break, makes the time for yourself so much more rewarding, and makes your work 100 times more productive!

friends.

What should you do to have meaningful breaks?

For me, this was socialising and catching up with friends, or going for drives, even playing xbox with mates.

These all were times when I could enjoy myself, knowing that I had no more work to do, allowing me to enjoy myself, guilt-free.

friends.

Friendships are so important during this time of the year. If you are feeling down or overwhelmed with how much you have to study, it is actually helpful to talk it out with your closest friends.

Venting might seem like a waste of time to many, but it is a healthy outlet to get stuff off your chest and talk about your problems to the people that deeply care about you.

Consider catching up with your high school mates, or mates you have made in other clubs at Deakin. Interacting with non-law students once in a while will allow you to have a brief escape from talking about law all the time with your law mates.

fitness.

Physical activity is huge for me. Going to the gym gives me an escape from the burden of life, and lets me do something to release those endorphins. Further, this gives you a chance to get some fresh air and clear your head.

If exercise isn’t natural for you, find a way to incorporate it into your life. Join social sports with friends or walk your dog (or a friend's dog!).

Any activity is helpful activity. I joined a futsal team.

Even though I’m not great at it, it was an opportunity to meet up with mates whilst doing some exercise which enabled me to make my study manageable, and our team would go to the library after to push each other through the last couple hours of study.

fitness.

Deakin has plenty of social sports that welcome all skill levels. From volleyball, to ultimate frisbee and everything in between, join something that mildly interests you to let of some steam!

If you want to play along side with your law peers, join our Allens x DLSS Netball Team. You can find us dominating every Tuesday evening at the Deakin Gym. Find us on Facebook and give us a go as playing with us is completely FREE.

framing.

This might already seem too abstract for some, but I assure you, it really isn't!

When approaching your exams, get into the habit of re-framing your mindset. Yes, it is perfectly normal at this time of the trimester to start dreading exam preparation.

However, now is the time to also shift your mindset from negative to a positive one.

Instead of saying "Damn, I HAVE to study today," perhaps say, "You know what, I am actually fortunate enough to be in a position to study today. IÂ GET to study today."

framing.

Yeah I know this seems silly. But think about it for a minute. How many people did you have to compete against to get into this course?

You GET to study law, while they miss out. You GET to go to university, when some people worry about finding their next meal on the streets.

framing.

Another way to think about this is to ask yourself:Â Why have I decided to put myself through this degree?

Think about where your degree will take you. Will it get you that top tier commercial law firm mergers & acquisitions role? Will it make you the best criminal defence barrister in Victoria?

Whatever it may be, remind yourself of this vision every morning. If you have to write it on a sticky note and put it on your bathroom mirror, do it.

good luck.

We hope you feel a little more confident when approaching your exams.

If you are every feeling worried, unmotivated, tired or frustrated, come back to this booklet to put you back on track.

Remember - you've made it this far in the Trimester - so push hard for a few more weeks and before you know it, you can binge watch all of Brooklyn 99, buried in the comfort of your doona.

The authors of this publication are: - Jack Leeds (First Year Representative) - Kelsey Walker (Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer) - Vernon Singh (Director of Education)

The team that made this event possible comprise of: - Vernon Singh (Director of Education) - Kelsey Walker (Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer) - Samantha Wilkinson (Peer Assisted Learning Sessions Officer) - Sophie McIntyre (Academic Officer)

Good luck & take care of yourself!