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Studying and surviving at LSE

Friday 15 October 2014 Wolfson Theatre, 3.30

Adam SandelsonLSE Student Counselling Service

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Aims

Common challenges in starting at LSE

Practical tips for dealing with transition

Stress management skills Sources of advice and help

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Part 1

Common challenges in starting at LSE Academic Social

Settling in tips

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Settling in: The Academic side

New level of study Previous standards Reading strategies

Use SQ3R: Scan, Question, Read, Review, Recall

Presentations, essays and exams Academic adviser relationship

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Academic challenges

Overwhelmed with material New style of learning Independent critical voice Anxiety can lead to procrastination

We may disguise avoidance by being busy We may find things to do that are interesting,

but don't contribute towards the main goal

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Settling in - the Social Side

Meeting new people New contacts through

shared activities Keeping contact with

people from home Balance of work and

leisure

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The challenge of transition

Loss of familiar home, friends, family, routine

Coping with loss, after initial excitement subsides

Depression and anxiety Cultural isolation Relationships and Identity Financial difficulties

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Feeling Homesick

There is a natural grieving reaction associated with

change extremely common often in first weeks can occur when

leaving home, but also later (eg after Xmas break)

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Homesickness is associated with

distance from home high expectations/ sense of anticlimax time to adapt to culture, language,

lifestyle work overload and low control over it most people come through

homesickness and go on to do well and enjoy their time

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Initial impressions

Why did you choose to study at LSE

What are your initial impressions Academic Social Cultural

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Settling in Tips

Talk to someone - others feel the same Call home but also get involved here

It’s not disloyal to to enjoy yourself! Be realistic about what to expect

Balance work and leisure Time to adjust You don't have to get everything

right straight away Food and sleep

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Part 2

The context for studying

What are you reallydoing here?

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Ambivalence?

Independence Relationships Being a student Studying at LSE Your course Career

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Underlying dynamics Trying to please others Being a perfectionist

Feeling under pressure to do everything right

Setting yourself impossible targets

Repeating anxiety, stress, fear of failure …

The family/ historic context for your success …

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Dynamics of study, work, life ...

Pastrelationships

Relationshipwith LSE or

course of studyor work or …

Currentrelationships

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Under Pressure?

What pressures are you under as a student coming to LSE

From others From yourself

Are these pressures realistic or excessive?

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Part 3

Practical ways of dealingwith study challenges

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Practical approaches Revise study skills

see LSE Learning World on Moodle Time management skills Set realistic and achievable goals Short term targets, longer term

strategies Recognise your achievements Talk to others, ask for help and support

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Concentrate on the task …

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Focussing on the task

Concentrate on the task, not the outcome

Break down huge activities into small manageable tasks

Remember past successes Time for breaks

space to breathe and think mind maps, scribble ideas go for a walk, talk out loud

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Part 4

Stress Management Skills

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Stress Management Skills

Physical, behavioural, cognitive… Regularly switch off

Schedule some kind of physical activity

Good self care Sleep, diet, caffeine, alcohol and

nicotine Time out without guilt Acknowledge anxiety, rather than

denying it. Ask: ‘are my negative thoughts

realistic?’

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Challenging negative thoughts

Imagine them under test in a Court of Law

Identify the negative thought (I can’t do this course, I’m going to fail…) Ascertain the evidence For

and Against Am I making a ‘thinking error’ Propose a more reasonable

alternative thought

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Thinking errors

All or nothing thinking

Discounting the positive only seeing the negative side

Over-generalizing ‘If it happened before it will happen

again’ Believing a catastrophe will happen Emotional Reasoning

‘If I feel it then it must be true’

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Part 5

Advice and help

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Sources of advice and help

Academic Adviser Departmental StaffDisability and Wellbeing Service Student Services

Centre TLC study skills advisors Learning World Student Union and Advice Centre Medical Centre

Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisors Deans

Don't wait until problems have grown impossibly largeIt’s OK to ask for help earlier

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LSE Student Counselling Service – KSW.507

Free and confidential Mainly short term counselling Book appointments in advance See Website for

Stress management handouts Self help resources Relaxation MP3’s

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Future Workshops

Good Writing Psychology Wednesday 22 October, 3:30pm – 4:30pm: TW1 G.01Friday 7th November, 3:00pm - 4:00pm: CLM G.02 (repeat session)

Managing study related stress Wednesday 29th October, 3:30pm - 5:00pm: TW1 G.01

Adapting to Life at LSEWednesday 5th November, 12:00pm - 1:45pm: CLM G.02

Groups

Stress Management Group (3 weeks)

Self Esteem Group (3 weeks)

Bereavement Group (7 weeks)

PhD group

24+ Group

Places on all groups need to be booked in advance. Please see the website, Call Ext 3627, visit KSW.507 or email student.counselling@lse.ac.uk.

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Final thoughts

Transition can be stressful, but also allows us to grow as a person

Imagine looking back in 5 years

Talk