Start Your Year Right

Welcome to our inaugural THRIVE Newsletter!

THRIVE @ UNSW College is your brand new wellbeing program. It will be all encompassing, and we are here to support you with every step along the way as you progress through your studies here at the college! We’ll be covering every aspect of your wellbeing, from transitioning to life in Australia all the way to giving you fun stress-less events, we promise we’ll be with you every step of the way.

This first edition is all about starting the year right. We’re not talking about New Year’s Resolutions here. In this newsletter, we’ll be introducing you to the concept of a ‘growth mindset’ as well as sharing our tips for how you can make the most of this new year!

“Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart”
– Roy T. Bennett

Growth vs. Fixed Mindset

A growth mindset is where you believe your intelligence, abilities and talents can be improved over time with effort. A fixed minset, is the opposite. You believe that these factors are stable and cannot be changed over time. An example of a fixed mindset is if you are not good at something, then you believe that you will never be good at it and probably will never try to improve.

Benefits of a growth mindset include:

reduced burnout and,
improved mental health.

To find out how you can develop a growth mindset, check out this 2 minute video.

In addition to a growth mindset, there are lots of ‘little’ things you can do to set yourself up for the big year ahead!

Take a look at our list below:

Build relationships by researching local community interest groups such as clubs at Arc, sporting clubs, community gardens or support networks. A good place to start is here.
Purchase a diary, or set up a digital calendar. Input all of your key academic dates in here, as well as your other life commitments so that you can visualise and plan your time.
Be realistic. It is common at the start of the year to set goals and expectations, but it is important to make sure you are being true to yourself. Don’t place high expectations on yourself, and understand that it’s okay if you don’t reach your goals immediately. Progress isn’t linear.
Explore your local area! Familiarise yourself with your neighbourhood and surrounding areas, so that you know what is available to you. This can be anything from local parks, gyms and pools, all the way to where to find the bus stop and your local supermarket store.
Choose a word to focus on, instead of a resolution. For example, you may choose the word ‘balance’ to represent allowing yourself more time to relax instead of studying 24/7.
Make a conscious choice to focus on things you can control, such as selfcare, priorities, habit or your attitudes towards things. In doing so, you will find you can better accept the unfortunate curveballs that life throws you, which are out of your control.

Student Profile

Name: Stanley
Role: Student Life Admin Officer

What did you study at UNSW College?
Diploma in Engineering (Civil)

What are you studying now?
Bachelor in Engineering

What are your top 3 tips for starting the year right?

Appreciate on what we have achieved last year and set clear goals for this new year.
Embrace changes and see it as opportunities that can open new path in our life.
Channel your focus towards the significant; invest more time in what truly matters.