Vic Well is Victoria College’s holistic wellbeing framework, designed to help students thrive academically, personally, and socially throughout their university journey. Grounded in a holistic approach to wellbeing, Vic Well encourages students to explore different aspects of wellness through programs, resources, events, and opportunities for connection. Whether you are looking to build a community, develop healthy habits, access support, or discover new interests, Vic Well offers opportunities to support students at every stage of their university experience.

October Wellness

Vic Well’s October themes are Personal & Academic Wellness. These themes are chosen intentionally to support you as your workload and schedule gets heavier and you settle into routine. The busier that life gets, the more important it is to balance your wellbeing and keep up with habits around studying, sleeping, and caring for yourself that will allow you to thrive personally and academically.  

Personal Wellness this month is about keeping up with self-care routines at school, with others, and on your own. When school and life get busy, it can be easy to de-prioritize your personal health and wellbeing. It may feel like you have so much to do that you simply don’t have time to take care of yourself. But remember, a lack of work-life balance and personal self-care can lead to burnout and overwhelm. Finding moments to take care of yourself is productive to your overall wellbeing and your academic performance. 

Academic Wellness is about finding approaches to studying and learning that fit your unique needs. As deadlines approach, you may feel so overwhelmed that you can’t even begin or maybe you’ve begun and feel guilty when you try to take a break. Learning which study skills and techniques work best for you to study efficiently and effectively is critical to balancing your workload and thriving academically.

By centering Personal & Academic Wellness, we hope to help you find a work-life balance that grounds you, academic skills that support you, and wellness approaches that inspire you to care for your wellbeing for a fulfilling and enriching mid-term season at Victoria College. 

Monthly resource spotlight

Study Well – Worksheet

How are you feeling about your upcoming midterms? We're here to connect you with the support and resources you need to set yourself up for academic success. 

Tip: Make the most of your professors’ office hours—this is a great opportunity to ask questions and clarify anything before tests or assignments. You can also reach out to the Vic Registrar’s Office to connect with learning strategists and get the latest advice on effective study techniques. You've got this!

Care Well – Worksheet

What does self-care look like this month? Remember, wellbeing isn’t one-dimensional—it includes social, emotional, physical, psychological, spiritual, and academic aspects. Caring for any of these areas is a step toward caring for all of them. 

Tip: Attend Gather in the Goldring (every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the Wendy Cecil Atrium from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM) to meet Vic Students and connect to Commuter Dons, International Mentors, and Transition Mentors. Student staff are ready to say hello, connect you to other students, and see how the start of your year is going. 

Sleep Well – Worksheet

Your nervous system will thank you every time you choose to sleep over late-night caffeine. Studies show that well-rested students actually tend to perform better on exams and enjoy their social interactions more. So, let’s prioritize routines that allow you to be fully rested and recharged! 

Tip: Try turning off all screens, dimming lights, and reducing loud sounds at least an hour before bed. Reward yourself every time you succeed in this challenge, you’ve earned it. 

Vic Well HoneyComb

The 9 Vic Well honeycombs represent interconnected dimensions of student wellbeing. Together, they encourage a balanced and holistic approach to health by recognizing that wellbeing is shaped by community, belonging, support, and self-care practices.

Ally Well: Encourages students to build an inclusive and supportive community by recognizing barriers, challenging inequity, and taking action to support the wellbeing and belonging of others.

Care Well: Encourages students to prioritize their wellbeing through a holistic approach that integrates emotional, physical, social, spiritual, academic, and psychological health. Care Well helps students build sustainable habits that support balance, resilience, and overall wellbeing.

Connect Well: Fosters a sense of belonging by encouraging meaningful connections with peers, faculty, staff, and the broader Victoria College community. Through social events, peer support, and community-building opportunities, students can build relationships, strengthen their support network, and feel more connected through their university experience.

Eat Well: Encourages students to build a positive relationship with food by exploring balanced nutrition, mindful eating, and practical strategies that support energy, focus, and overall wellbeing. Students are empowered to make choices that fit their unique needs and lifestyles.

Meditate Well: Cultivates open-mindedness, playfulness, curiosity, and spirituality using a holistic well-being and community-based learning perspective. Meditate Well promotes the discovery of personal meditation styles to create an authentic connection with the self.   

Move Well: Promotes physical activity as an important part of overall well-being. Through recreational activities, movement classes, and spending time outdoors, students are encouraged to find exciting ways to move, supporting their stress reduction as well as their physical and mental health.

Resource Well: Helps students discover and confidently access the support available across campus. From academic advising and financial support to counselling and wellness services, Resource Well empowers students to seek support early and use available resources to thrive throughout their university journey.

Sleep Well: Encourages building a healthy sleep schedule and habits amid the busyness of daily life for personal wellbeing and academic success.  

Study Well: Encourages academic success within the university setting, acknowledging the importance of simultaneous academic rigour and holistic well-being.