Advice from Associate Professor Tim Higgins

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tim higgins

Associate Professor Tim Higgins 
Research School of Finance, Actuarial Studies and Statistics

How do you look after your own wellbeing and health?

Below are some of the strategies I use to proactively look after my wellbeing and health, some of which might hopefully be useful to others. Going on outdoor walks can be a great form of exercise and can help alleviate stress, and get your mind off work. I walk about an hour each day, often with the company of my dogs near nature, and often listening to podcasts and audiobooks.

I'm also very conscious that how I feel depends very much on what I eat – more vegetables and less sugar has been good for both my head and my heart. Getting enough uninterrupted sleep also makes a huge difference to my energy and happiness. I still have a bad habit of watching my IPad as I lie in bed, but I always have better sleep if I read a book instead. I also try to regularly catch up face-to-face with friends for a meal or drink. Even those of us who are more introverted than extroverted need social interaction, and there is nothing like reminiscing or sharing a laugh with friends to help take the worries away and make me feel more human.