During his fourth year at university, Tiitus Mäkelä wanted a change and to get away from his hectic life in Finland. He’d already done so much during his study years: he’d been elected to the board of the student organisation in his subject as well as the Student Union Council and acted as a contact person for business students for Suomen Ekonomit (the central organisation for graduates and students in economics and business administration) and as the person responsible for sociopolitical affairs for the local student association.

His studies had progressed too, although he admits that being active in so many student organisations meant that studying had sometimes taken second place.

“Doing a student exchange in the Bahamas helped me figure out what I wanted to do next. To have a well-balanced student life, it’s a good idea to take occasional breaks from your regular routine”, Tiitus believes.

You don’t necessarily need to go abroad to do this, but finding some mental or physical distance often helps put things into perspective.

Wellbeing comes in threes

For Tiitus, wellbeing in daily life comes from a balance between intellectual, social and physical activities. This has primarily meant combining studying with his activities in the student organisations and going to the gym. But of course there’s more to his life than that.

In an ideal situation, Tiitus gets to combine social with physical activity by going to the gym with a friend.

“I feel my best when I’m around people with whom I can just be myself and have a laugh”, he says.

Tiitus has noticed just how important balance is when he’s skipped the gym to make more time for studying and for his activities in student organisations – it didn’t make him feel good in the end.

When you have a lot on your plate, it’s important to avoid overdoing things, he believes.

“You have to be honest with yourself about what your limits are.”

To set boundaries Tiitus sometimes takes a weekend off from all his duties, and goes hiking out in the wilds or travels out of town to spend time with his family to take a breather.

It’s okay to ask for help

Tiitus’s friends have taught him that when his calendar starts to get too full, it’s okay to ask for help. When things get too busy, it’s a good idea to stop and think about what’s most important at that moment so you know what to prioritise.

If the burden becomes too heavy and you have trouble prioritising, the FSHS offers low-threshold support. The digital treatment paths on the YTHSDigi app, for example, can help you achieve a balance.

Tiitus agrees that with so many activities in his life he can sometimes start to slip into overachiever territory. But he highlights the importance of basing your daily student life on what’s best for your wellbeing and setting your goals in relation to yourself, not others.

“For me this is a lifestyle. It wouldn’t be better for my wellbeing if I stopped doing these things”, he says.

During his study years Tiitus has also learnt that there’s something else that’s very important for his wellbeing: doing everything with a smile on his face.