Humans of IKB

For me, wellbeing is an ongoing practice! When I am feeling stressed or disconnected, I try to identify which personal and environmental circumstances are impacting me. I remind myself that it’s not forever, and I ask myself what I need in that moment to feel better. The answer is always different! Social connection with loved ones; time outdoors; creative hobbies (cooking, reading, journaling, sewing, painting); movement (long walks, hiking, dancing, yoga); embracing laziness… These grounding experiences give me perspective on the ‘greater scope’ of my life and what really matters most to me.

I commuted a long distance in first and second year, and struggled to feel ‘at home’ on campus. Joining a club in my second year inspired me to pursue more involvement opportunities: as a residence advisor, research assistant, and volunteer for community events (from Imagine Day Orientations to the Polar Bear Swim!). Through these experiences, I met some of my best friends to this day. It can take time to find where you belong. Pursue your genuine interests, be open to new experiences, trust what feels right, and you will find your place- and learn more about yourself!

Yes! As an undergraduate and graduate student, I held myself and my work to a very high standard, to the point of burnout. Finding resources and talking to mentors, supervisors, and friends has helped; I learned that many folks I admired had experienced impostor syndrome, too. Trusted individuals can give a grounded perspective on what is expected of you so you can take pressure off yourself; provide reassurance and empathy; and remind you that you belong and that you are capable of success! I’ve worked to redefine my perception of ‘success’ more holistically, favouring happiness over perfection - to care for myself, and model that for those I care about.

Preparation reassures me. I research, write down questions, review documentation, and ask others’ advice. In the midst of excitement and change, I set times to reflect on the process and what I am learning and feeling, to ease the transition.

It’s important to communicate proactively with your supervisors and colleagues when working remotely, especially without in-person opportunities for questions to come up ‘naturally’. Take advantage of opportunities to connect in meetings, office hours, phone, email, or instant message. Asking questions shows that you are thinking critically and curiously, that you are considering details, and that you are demonstrating care and ownership over your work.

Wellbeing is a process! I am always tweaking what I do to feel centred and calm. Sometimes it is exercise, sometimes meditation, sometimes sitting in the sun. Recently, I’ve been trying to do one creative thing each time I watch TV- it’s a challenge to not get too distracted!

I lived on campus when I started school–I was really shy and living with others helped me meet people! I also joined clubs and took on a role with some small responsibility. It helped give me an excuse to talk to other members.

I recommend joining clubs you have an interest in. You don’t have to stick with all of them, but pick one and take on a small role- it gives you an excuse to chat with new people!

I did! All the time! I always found it helpful to talk to others. Often my friends felt the same way, and even if they didn’t have Imposter Syndrome they said things that made me rethink my approach, offer support, or just provide a distraction!

When I start something new I see who I can talk to. Before graduate school, I spoke to someone who’d attended the program I was entering- hearing about their experience encouraged me to move across the continent, to a new country, where I knew no one! I chose it over a school in my hometown- just from a recommendation.

Ask folks to share something about themselves. Yes, it is nerve wracking asking someone new a question, but remember everyone loves to talk about their interests – so just ask questions about them! For new students, try JumpStart and Imagine UBC. Connect through Collegia. Or even join a mentorship program.

Sometimes for me it is about sharing happy everyday moments with those I miss. Buying a BlueChip cookie and calling my best friend. Taking a lunch break to look at the blue whale and sending a photo to my parents.

Well other than the library (an obvious first choice!). I loved studying in the Nitobe Gardens. It feels like stepping into another world, especially in the spring when the sun is out!

I use both regular exercise and a daily meditation practice in order to maintain and enhance my wellbeing. If someone is struggling with anxiety or a large amount of stress, my first piece of advice to them would simply be to take a deep breath and relax! I know it sounds cliché, but it is truly amazing how much of an impact our breath has on our body (and consequently our mind) during moments of stress. I think that in order to truly resolve stress, we oftentimes need to take a step back and take a moment to think about how much of that stress is stemming from external factors (i.e. a deadline, a relationship etc.), and how much of it is stemming from the negative “feedback loops” that our thoughts create around those factors.

I’m not sure if I experienced Imposter Syndrome per se, as I never feared people perceiving me as being more competent than I actually was. In fact, if anything, I was more worried about the opposite- people wrongly perceiving me as being unintelligent after giving a wrong/uninformed answer in class. This did affect my confidence a bit, and I went through a period of rarely answering questions or speaking up in class. One way that I approached this was taking the time to build relationships with my professors and peers in my classes. Actually knowing the people who were in the room with me helped me build up that confidence again, as it gradually felt less like I was speaking into a crowd of strangers who would judge me for getting things wrong.

Perhaps this wouldn’t work for everyone, but one of the strategies I used to combat homesickness was to learn how to cook some of my family’s signature recipes. Although I would never claim that the quality of my cooking is on par with my Mum or Dad’s - having those familiar dishes present really helped to trigger those warm feelings of nostalgia. Watching the many squirrels on campus is also something I find helpful, as its something that my Mum and I used to do during our nature walks while I was living at home as well (they are also fairly amusing on their own, my own personal connection notwithstanding).

Although I do not usually take my work there with me, I very much enjoy the look-out point near the Rose Garden. The sight of the ocean and the mountains off in the distance is quite beautiful. It’s a great place to sit with a morning tea and take in the sights!