Spiritual
Spiritual health helps you maintain perspective when faced with life's challenges.
Why is your spiritual health important?
It can be easy to get so caught up in your own assignments, deadlines, exams, and other responsibilities that you lose sight of who you are in the context of the world around you. Maintaining your spiritual health can help you ground yourself by keeping in mind the big picture, as well as providing you with a meaningful world view from which to approach the problems that you might face as a university student.
Nurture your spiritual health
Nurture your spirit
- Try an activity like yoga or meditation that connects your mind and body. The UBC Yoga Club offers affordable classes for students on a weekly basis.
- Indulge your creative side by taking a break to write in a journal, paint, or listen to music.
Take perspective
- Researchers have shown that students who read spiritual materials perform better academically.[1] Visit a library or talk to one of the UBC Chaplains for some suggestions of spiritual texts to consider.
Develop meaning in your life
- Volunteer your time for a cause you believe in; whether it’s helping an elderly neighbour garden or walking shelter dogs, sharing your time and energy with others will help you to realise the value of your own life.
- Check out UBC Learning Exchange for opportunities to contribute to the community.
For some great student-to-student strategies for maintaining your spiritual health, check out the Healthy Minds Blog.
[1] Trockel, M.T. , Barnes, M. D. & Egget, D. L. (2000). Health-related variables and academic performance among first-year college students: Implications for sleep and other behaviors. Journal of American College Health, 49(3), 125-131. DOI: 10.1080/07448480009596294.
