Lifestyle

Introduction

This short blog posts highlights the importance of balance in your post-secondary life and provides tips and links on some ideas to explore.

Importance of a balance:

While school is likely your top priority, it is important to also balance it with an active social life. All school, all the time, can get overwhelming and can lead to burn-out and negatively impacting your academic career. Therefore, practicing a balanced lifestyle is important. This means exploring your city, exploring your campus, and hanging out with friends. However, in order to be able to balance your social life with your academic, you need to plan ahead to make sure you are not sacrificing your academics for your social (the importance of this, along with tips are highlighted in our Class Management post). As an international student, a large part of your experience is to explore the lifestyle of the country you are in. As such, expand your horizons to try new activities, new foods and make new friends.

Here are some tips on keeping a balance with your academic and social life:

• https://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/student-life/articles/college-health-safety/how-balance-school-work-and-social-life-freshman-college/

• https://blog.internationalstudent.com/2016/08/29/social-life-international-student/

• http://www.randolphcollege.edu/newinternationals/social-life/

Homesickness:

As an international student, it is likely at some point or another you will experience homesickness. This is completely normal, however, it is important to counter your feelings of homesickness! Otherwise, it can prevent you from fully enjoying your university experience and it can also interfere with your academics.

Below are some tips on how to reduce homesickness:

• https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/ways-reduce-homesickness-abroad

• https://studybreaks.com/college/homesickness-2/

• https://www.studyabroad.com/resources/the-study-abroad-rollercoaster-of-emotions

Self-care:

While it is important to put yourself out there, spend time with friends and explore, it is equally important to have some time to yourself and practice self-care. Self-care can be something simple as getting 8 hours of sleep to treating yourself once in a while to something nice.

Below are some tips on how to practice self-care:

• https://www.cratejoy.com/box-insider/self-care-tips-for-college-students/

• https://www.latrobe.edu.au/nest/why-prioritising-self-care-is-the-secret-to-postgrad-success/

• https://www.theodysseyonline.com/21-ways-to-practice-self-care

Explore Your New City:

A great way to counter homesickness or pass time during the holidays is to explore your new city! Join your International Student Association at your school to meet fellow international students. During the holidays, gather some friends and go on a short trip. Your trips don't have to be extravagant, typically cities have holiday events and some are even free! Do a quick Google search to find things to do for example “Things to do in Toronto this Christmas” or “Top 10 things to do in Kingston”. Weekend trips are also a great idea! Again, do a quick search “Things to do in Toronto this weekend”. Narcity and Tripadvisor typically have great posts. Once you have chosen what you would like to do, do a quick search on Groupon to see if there are any discounts available!

Here are some examples to get you started:

• Toronto: https://www.narcity.com/ca/on/toronto/best-of-to/31-places-in-toronto-that-are-better-than-anywhere-else-in-the-country

• Hamilton: https://tourismhamilton.com/top20

• Kingston: https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-kingston-ontario-canada/

• Scarborough: https://www.tripsavvy.com/top-things-to-do-in-scarborough-toronto-4160588

• Etobicoke: https://www.todocanada.ca/things-to-do-in-etobicoke/

• North York: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attractions-g155019-Activities-c56-zfn8150923-Toronto_Ontario.html

-Alishah Pirani

Life as an international student offers exciting new experiences. But, this transitional period of change can also present a significant challenge for even the most talented and well-supported of students. Our guide helps international students learn the skills, knowledge, resources and where to find them to transition more easily, as they begin the next stage of their educational journey. The International Student Guide provides blogs, videos and a resource directory that students can use to navigate their Canadian transition experience; from pre-arrival to post-graduation job hunting - based on the experience of current Canadian post-secondary students.

Learn more at https://studentsofferingsupport.ca/