With the stress of your studies starting to heat up, Charlotte Lloyd chats about the benefits of the podcasting world on your mental health and wellbeing.

I remember being in high school, and my mum coming home and raving to me about this podcast she was listening to, ‘Teachers Pet.’ And, for some unknown reason, I totally dismissed this excitement and joy that she had found. The same thing happened, only a few years later when I found my friends around me listening to podcasts. They would try to explain the storyline to me, but I would just zone out. And now, now that I actually listen to podcasts and love them, I kick myself for being so oblivious and naive to this online world I am now so invested in.

Somehow…somewhere along the line, I missed the memo of the podcasting world. But not anymore! I am here, not just purely to try to convince you all to jump onto the bandwagon, but to also show you that listening to podcasts can not only be relaxing, but it can also broaden and open your mind during what is one of the most stressful periods of semester. 

Of course, you can’t just go to any podcast and start listening. This would immediately turn you off. I would say though, based on personal experience, the majority of the podcasting world is based on comedy and entertainment. In saying this, that doesn’t mean there isn’t some true crime drama willing to swallow you up for 5 days straight. If you head straight on to Spotify or Apple Music, you will find genre upon genre, anything that your heart could ever desire. So, while I could rattle on to you about what my go to’s are, first I want to mention the benefits of podcasts. Because aside from pure entertainment, these bad boys can actually improve your mental health and help release anxiety. 

We all know this can be a time of incredible stress at uni. It’s two weeks before mid-semester break and the assessments start flooding in. While I will admit, this doesn’t even compare to the last 3 or so weeks of uni, or worse…exam period, we are still under copious amounts of stress, and what better way to wind down after hours of studying. Just like how listening to music creates a calming effect, podcasts do the exact same. It’s almost like if you were to sit and read a book (one of the best remedies when overwhelmed) because you get enveloped in this narrative, and if only for a while that’s all there is to think about. 

Anxiety and stress are one of our least wanted emotions, yet they seem to creep up on us, well…a lot! That is why I recommend, if you haven’t already, listen to a podcast. It combines the joys of a narrative while also feeling like you’re binge watching an entire TV series. Another benefit of listening to podcasts is that it is something you can do while multi-tasking. If you can pay attention to what you’re doing while also listening to the storyline than you’re set.

As an example, I love listening to podcasts when I’m driving home to see my family. It not only passes the time extremely fast (especially if I listen to two), but, it makes me laugh and I am engaged the whole way. I am not saying this is the be all and end all that will fix all your problems, yet podcasts can be relatable, intriguing, heartfelt or laugh out loud funny. This is simply a way to de-stress while also keeping your mind active and engaged for a more successful time studying. 

I could talk for hours about podcasts in an aim to get you to listen to them. It’s almost that feeling of wanting to laugh at the same things as someone, and experiencing the same things, at the same time. But in all seriousness, podcasts aren’t just for entertainment, they’re used to make you laugh, forget about your worries, make you more productive, and if nothing else, become better informed.

I feel incredibly late to the game of the podcasting world and I am well aware that some of you may have been listening to them for years before I jumped in. But if you’re a newbie like me, take some time out of your day to dip your toe in the water; it could be just the thing you need to get you to mid-sem break, and even better, to finish a successful semester! 

Some of my favourite podcasts are listed below: 

• • Shameless (Entertainment)
  • The Health Code (Lifestyle & Health)
  • Rise and Conquer (Lifestyle & Health)
  • Call her Daddy (Lifestyle & Health)
  • A Whole Lotta BS (Society & Culture) 
  • Ted Talks (Educational)

Feature Image: Madelyn Gardiner, Yak Media Designer