How to Use the Workbook

You can print the workbook, or go through the workbook online. As you go through it, you can take notes on your phone providing yourself with reminders of the tips that you find most helpful. When you complete the workbook, take the Be Well Quiz and be in for a draw to win a pair of Beats Solo 4 Headphones.

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Be Well Workbook

Irish Second-Level Students’ Union

By providing a Be Well Workbook The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union and Youth Work Ireland are working to support the wellbeing of young people. This initiative is supported by the RTE Toy Show Appeal.

The workbook is a simple guide to managing your stress, worry and anxiety. It is based on the Be WellProgramme that has been successfully delivered to thousands of second level students across Ireland. The workbook can be a big help in optimising your performance and feeling well every day, but is hoped to be particularly helpful during exam periods or other busy times.

The workbook provides tips and guidance on optimising performance through healthy eating, rest and time management, as well as techniques to effectively manage stress.

We have included a practical resource to address vital elements of wellbeing for high pressure situations young people encounter in their lives called the “NEST” which reminds us to address our Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep & Time Management needs during this period to facilitate a steady state of wellness for optimal performance.

What is Wellbeing?

In short wellbeing simply means feeling well in your everyday life. Feeling a strong sense of wellbeing includes so many positive things such as feeling happy, healthy, connected, supported, engaged, motivated and purposeful. Wellbeing does not mean that you never experience feelings or situations that you find difficult, but it does mean that you feel you can cope with tough times and the stresses of daily life. It is for this reason the wellbeing is the foundation of our Mental health. Having a strong sense of wellbeing equips us with the ability cope with whatever life throws at us, be the person we want to be, do the things that we love and are passionate about, surrounded by people who we care about and who cares about us.

Looking After My Wellbeing

There is no magic about looking after your wellbeing – it is simply something you do. It is an action that takes time and effort throughout our entire life not just when we are young. That doesn’t mean it has to consume of lives everyday. In fact, it is the opposite – focusing on small actions daily result in experiencing a strong sense of wellbeing. Small daily actions are worth the effort because the longer you work at looking after your wellbeing, the easier it is to be manage challenges in life, bounce back quicker when faced with difficulties, and keep heading in the direction you want to go. Research tells us that once you start focusing on looking after your wellbeing you will begin feel better pretty quickly. But the trick is to stick to it even if you are feeling on top of the world.

Young people’s Wellbeing in Ireland

In 2012, the My World Survey (MWS-1) collated data on over 14,000 young people aged 12-25 years from across Ireland. Findings from that study suggest that while the majority of young people reported having good mental health, over one-third of young people expressed that they were experiencing difficulties with depression (35%) and anxiety (34.5%). The report also highlighted that these difficulties increase among young people over time.

Also, it highlighted those mental health difficulties that emerged in early adolescence peaked in the late teens and early 20s. (Headstrong, 2012). In 2019, My World Survey 2 (MWS-2) reported an increase in levels of depression and anxiety in adolescents since MWS-1 (Jigsaw, 2019). Additionally, MSW-2 reported a decrease in levels of protective factors, including self-esteem, optimism, coping with daily stressors of life, life satisfaction, school connectedness and talking about your problems.

How this workbook can support your wellbeing