Successful Student Transitions - A Time to Thrive

Do you react or respond to your thoughts and emotions? What we think and feel at times of change and transition can impact our level of well-being, our experience of our new environment and how we manage both challenges and opportunities. In this episode we discuss: How to deal with conflicting thoughts and emotions The five areas where we may feel more threatened in social situations - and why. T...

Money is always a hot topic, but as a student, it is often a constant source of challenge and concern, only made worse by the cost of living crisis. In this episode Elizabeth speaks with Alistair. Alistair honestly and openly shares his money challenges so that you can avoid making the same mistakes and thrive financially in this next stage of your life. In this episode we discuss: Alistair's two...

We know how important it is to feel we belong and to participate in community. Without doubt, community fuels our well-being and is a huge source of support at times of transition. In this episode we talk about: What we mean by community. The characteristics of community. Our personal stories of community at times of transition. Why community is so important for our well-being. How we can enter an...

Our relationships play a fundamental role in our well-being. When they are positive they nourish our well-being, but when relationship challenges arise they can be a significant drain on our well-being. In this episode we discuss different types of relationship challenge and suggest strategies for coping with them positively. We discuss: The different kinds of relationship challenge that may arise...

Social connection and friendship are fundamental to our level of well-being especially at times of student transition. A move to University, a year abroad or to the world of work offers new opportunities for connection and friendship, but the process of creating new relationships is not always easy. In this episode we discuss: Why relationships matter. Why we are socially motivated to connect. How...

Times of change and transition can be both fun, exciting, challenging and sometimes, overwhelming. As we adapt to our new environment, make friends and settle it's really important to make time for rest and recovery. Sleep is one form, but there are other ways to recharge our batteries and sustain our energy levels. Listen on as we discuss: The importance of rest and recovery. Why sleep alone is n...

We all know the benefit of healthy eating - in theory. This episode is packed full of fun and budget friendly ways to help you move from theory to practice and eat nutritiously as you settle into your new environment. We talk to Rob Hobson a registered nutritionist and sports nutritionist who is passionate about everything to do with food, nutrition, health and sport. We discuss: Why it is importa...

Movement is important for physical fitness and well-being and yet research has found that inactive Brits spend two times longer sitting on the toilet per week, than they do exercising. Movement doesn't have to mean hard hitting or extreme exercise. In this podcast, we discuss what movement is, and how we can all build more of it into our lives in ways that enhance our well-being in many surprising...

Student life and new beginnings are often a whirl of new experiences, opportunities and challenges - and one of the well-being fundamentals most likely to suffer is our sleep. In this episode we talk about: Why sleep is so important. The benefits that sleep provides both the body and the mind. Strategies for creating good quality, restful and plentiful sleep. 'We are all animals and we are program...

In this episode we introduce you to the Well-being bucket. A fantastic way to visualise well-being from a holistic perspective. We discuss: How our buckets of well-being are impacted in times of change and transition The inputs: What feeds our well-being The leaks: What drains our well-being How our buckets sit within our specific environments The impact of our well-being on other people's buckets...

In this episode Louise and Elizabeth introduce you to positive psychology and the PERMA model (Prof Martin Seligman). They discuss: Why it is important to pay attention to well-being through times of change and transition. Why well-being does not have a definitive or fixed set point and ebbs and flows through the highs and lows of life. How we can all use the PERMA framework as a foundation on whi...

Are you facing a big life change? Maybe a move to university, a year abroad, a work placement or out into the world of work. Times of change like these can be both exciting and challenging. Series three aims to support you to thrive as you embark on this exciting new chapter in your life. In this episode we introduce you to: The theme for this new series - Fundamentals for Well-being. A model for...

In this Voices in Transition episode, we welcome Alexa Cutteridge to the podcast. Alexa is a PE Specialist and Head of Student Induction and Training in a London School. She is extremely passionate about student wellbeing throughout their education and in particular at times of transition. In this episode we discuss: School strategies for supporting transitions on arrival and then at key transitio...

In this Voices in Transition episode we are pleased to welcome Gayle to the conversation. Gayle is an experienced teacher and an Assistant Head who has a professional and personal interest in student transitions In this podcast episode we’re going to be discussing: School strategies for supporting transition as students prepare to either enter the school or get ready to leave at the top end of the...

In this Voices in Transition Series, we are pleased to welcome Fabienne Vailes from Flourishing Education. In this episode we discuss: What shocked Fabienne when she returned to work in Higher Education after a nine year absence. The research Fabienne conducted as she sought to understand why some students flourish while others simply survive. The model of well-being that resulted. Why, WHY is so...

In this Voices in Transition Series, we are pleased to welcome Natasha Winnard (Natasha Winnard Consultancy) to the podcast. We discuss: The work that Natasha does to support and guide mobile students and their families. The challenges she see's many students face when moving abroad to study at university. Natasha's tips and advice for getting prepared, starting strong and staying strong. How pare...

In this Voices in Transition Episode we are pleased to share our conversation with Jane Barron and Valérie Besanceney from SPAN (Safe Passage Across Networks). Elizabeth, Jane and Valérie discuss: The work that SPAN does to support student, parents and families in transition. How impact unmanaged mobility can have on learning. The importance of leaving well to arrive well. The transition cycle and...

In Series Two we are excited to be sharing the voices of students in transition. In this episode, Elizabeth speaks to Naomi a final year student, who at the time of recording is in the second term of her final year, looking forward towards her finals and what she hopes will come next. Naomi shares: The mix of emotions that comes with all transitions. Her double transition, moving country and meeti...

In Series Two we are excited to be sharing the voices of students in transition. In this episode, Elizabeth speaks to Toby a first year student, who at the time of recording the conversation had just completed his first term at university. Toby shares: Why not making the grades and losing out on a place at your first choice university, may not be the disaster you first imagine. How Toby has adjust...

In the Series Two we are excited to be sharing the voices of students in transition. In this episode, Elizabeth speaks to Maia. Maia is a third year university student and discusses: Her decision to take a gap year and why it was so beneficial. How she found the experience of adjusting to university life. Her insights to help new students as they settle in. The challenge of deciding what next. Thi...

In Series Two we are excited to be sharing the voices of students in transition. In this episode Louise speaks to Ben, a third year university student who is currently taking working gap year in Spain. Ben shares: His experience of settling and adjusting to University life. How the move to Spain was similar and different. What Ben has learned about himself through these transition experiences. Tip...

In Series Two we are excited to share the voices of students in transition. In this episode Elizabeth speaks to Raphie, who shares her experience of adjusting through several transitions discussing: Her experience of settling into university, the surprises and the lessons learned. What helped Raphie through the change from school to university. The similarities and differences between her move to...

If you are the parent of a young person moving away from home then this episode is especially for you. For parents there is a duality to the transition experience. They have to support their young person while also managing the impact the change has on their own lives. In this episode we discuss: The challenges young people face when leaving home and how parents can best support them. Two framewor...

A common concern for students when moving to University or new jobs is about fitting in and making friends. We have a strong evolutionary need for connection and belonging. In this episode we talk about nurturing support relationships. We discuss: Why it is so important to us that we make friends - and quickly. Some surprising research about friendship development. Ways of developing new friendshi...

Times of transitions often bring a mix of challenge and optimism. In this episode we discuss the role that hope can play in moving forward positively through periods of adjustment. In this episode we discuss: What we mean when we talk about hope. How it is helpful to notice our 'what if' thinking. Questions to help you identify what you hope for. The value of pathway thinking and personal reflecti...