Well-being events

Most of the events take place in the Guidance Corners or remotely. Always check the location of the event.

• The City Centre Guidance Corner is located in the third floor of the Kaisa House, next to the main doors of the library (Fabianinkatu 30).
• The Viikki Guidance Corners are located in the Infocentre Korona (Viikinkaari 11). The first Guidance Corner is in the Infocentre lobby and the second one in the campus library.

For more information on the Guidance Corners, you can visit the page Learning Facilities.

Carefree Shoulders is an energising 15-minute break workout focusing on the back and shoulder region and freeing up those stiff muscles. Carefree Shoulders is well-suited for beginners, and no gym clothes are needed. The exercises are instructed in Finnish, but the movements are easy to follow even without instructions. 

During the spring of 2023, the sessions will be held twice a week between 1 January and 31 May:

• on Mondays at 12.30-12.45
• on Wednesdays at 13.30-13.45

You can take part in an online break exercise on the Mywellness platform. You can find more detailed instructions for using Mywellness on Unisport's website.

In Well-being Tuesdays' sessions, you will work on things that support your ability to study together with visiting experts. Different aspects of well-being are approached through exercises, group discussions and presentations. 

More information on the events: guidance-coordination@helsinki.fi. 

Programme will be updated throughout the spring

What should you do if you’re worried about a friend’s alcohol or drug use? (FI)

Time and place: 7 February 2023 from 16.00 to 17.00, Zoom webinar

What should you do if you’re worried about the alcohol or drug use of one of your friends at uni? Attend this anonymous online lecture to gain concrete tips on helping your friend reflect on their substance use. You can bring a pen and paper to take notes. For more information, please contact Education Planning Officer Laura Sohlberg of EHYT, the Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention: laura.sohlberg@ehyt.fi.

To join this Finnish-language session, click on the Zoom link for the event.

Valentine's Day coffee with HYY (FI, SV, EN)

Time and place: 14.2.2023, 16.00-17.00, Guidance Corners in Kaisa-talo & Viikki lobby

At Valentine's Day we celebrate friendship! HYY offers coffee and small treats to the students of the University of Helsinki! Get your own coffee by writing a happy greeting to the next coffee drinker and sharing good cheer. The coffee will be served by members of the HYY board and committee members, with whom you can chat about various opportunities to get involved in student life.

HYY also celebrates student friendship on social media, so follow HYY's channels and join the conversation by tagging HYY in your posts! For more information about the event, please contact Etta Melander, member of the HYY board: etta.melander@hyy.fi.

Do you need a break from studying? Would you like a cup of coffee or tea? Come and meet the University’s guidance counsellors and career counsellors, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, on certain Wednesdays at Guidance Corner in Kaisa House, Kumpula and Viikki.  While doing so, you can chat with us and, if you wish, discuss your studies and career considerations.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Kaisa House Guidance Corner (Fabianinkatu 30), at 14.00–15.30

18.1.
15.2.
15.3.
12.4.
10.5.
7.6.

Viikki Infocenter, Guidance Corner lobby (Viikinkaari 11), at 13.30–15.00

1.2.
1.3.
26.4.

Kumpula campus (location will be updated), at 13.30–15.00

29.3.

Guidance counsellors organise study sessions open to all students over remote connections on Zoom. These sessions are based on the Pomodoro Technique. The sessions include introductions to other learning techniques, such as the SMART technique. 

The goal of these sessions is to provide you with time to concentrate on and make progress in your academic assignments under supervision, together with other students. No registration is needed for the sessions. The materials are available in English and the introductions will be held in English when needed.

Tomato Thursday study sessions at 10.00–12.00 every Thursday between 26.1.- 4.5. Join in via the Zoom link. 

Two times in Spring, at the beginning of the study session, study psychologists will give brief introductions to themes related to studying. The dates and themes the following:

• 23.2. Exams and deadlines approaching support for the final sprint 
• 30.3 Compassion 

More information from guidancecounsellors@helsinki.fi.

General guidelines 

Please book a quiet workspace suiting your needs for the study session. The session supervisor will review the principles of the technique and provide tips for smoother work. You should choose a study assignment you wish to actively work on during the Pomodoro session. The sessions are attended remotely, and you do not have to keep your camera or microphone switched on. 

If you have any questions about the Tomato Thursday sessions, you can send email to opinto-ohjaajat@helsinki.fi. 

SMART and Pomodoro techniques 

The Pomodoro Technique encourages focused work: the idea is to work intensively for 25 minutes, followed by a short break. During the breaks, you should try to get your mind off the task, for example, by stretching. One two-hour session includes three to four such Pomodoro intervals. Sessions based on themes chosen by counselling psychologists include two to three Pomodoro intervals. 

The SMART technique is a tool that can help you break down tasks and assignments into smaller pieces and set achievable goals. Segmenting a task often helps you get going and get a grip on your studies. 

With the help of videos accessible in the side panel, you can also use the SMART and Pomodoro techniques for independent study. 

The University's various actors organise workshops to support study skills, which you can attend once or several times. You do not need to register for a workshop, but arrive on time. 

Time management workshops (EN)

Do you feel like it is challenging to schedule your studies and daily life? Welcome to our hands on workshop! The aim of these workshops are to help you to recognize your time management style and how to create a more balanced study period for the future.

This is a set of two workshops – first one concentrates in time management tools. Second workshop is helping you to identify your time management habits.

There are two similar sets arranged. Contents in set 1 and 3 are similar as well as 2 and 4. You can participate just in one event or combine the best dates in your schedule. You don't need to sign up for the workshops, just show up! 

• Set 1 “Tools” is 26.1. at 15-17 in Guidance corner in Kaisa house
• Set 2 “Habits” is 9.2. at 15-17 in Guidance corner in Kaisa house
• Set 3 “Tools” is 16.3. at 15-17 in Guidance corner in Viikki library (same content as on 26.1.)
• Set 4 “Habits” is 23.3. at 15-17 Guidance corner in Viikki library (same content as on 9.2.)

More information guidancecounsellors@helsinki.fi  

Study Skills Workshops (in Finnish)

Do you need help with themes of time management, study techniques or concentration? Welcome to workshops supporting your study skills by guidance counsellors! Each time has its own theme: you can participate in all three or only one workshop that interests you most.

• Workshop Fri 10.2. at 9.15-10.45: Time management and accomplishing,  Kaisa House guidance corner
• Workshop Fri 3.3. at 9.15-10.45: Study Techniques, Kaisa House guidance corner
• Workshop Fri 17.3  at 9.15-10.45: Concentration and memory, Kaisa House guidance corner

More information: guidancecounsellors@helsinki.fi  

Thesis Writing Thursdays (EN)

Are you planning on – or are you already working on your thesis? 

Welcome to the library’s Thesis Writing Thursdays! Thesis Writing Thursdays are workshops where you will, for example, learn how to find resources for your thesis and how to choose and use different data and reference managers. 

The workshops will take place at the Kaisa House (4th floor, the computer classroom, room 4060) on every Thursday during March at 3PM-4PM. 

You can take your own laptop to the workshops with you if you wish. After the workshops you can stay in the library and continue working on your thesis. The workshops are held in English. You do not need to register to the workshops in advance.  

Welcome to the Thesis Writing Thursdays! 

For more information, please contact Mari Hietala (mari.hietala@helsinki.fi)

In this section you will find theme days, chats, webinars and other events organised by the University and partners such as welfare and student organisations. The list of events is constantly updated.

Nyyti's chat for students (EN, FI, SV)

Come and share your thoughts and experiences with other students! Nyyti's chat is an anonymous place to talk about student life. Don't worry about spelling or fluency - the most important thing is that you're there! Read more about chat on Nyyti's website.

Upcoming chats:

• 31 January, from 6 PM to 8 PM  Challenges with studying – what would help? (EN)
• 2 February, from 6 PM to 8 PM Tauolta takaisin opintoihin? (FI)

Click on the title of each chat for a more detailed description and a link to join. There is no need to register for the chats.

In all our events, the participants commit to following the principles for a safer space. When attending an event, meet all participants with an open mind, respect their diversity and let everyone define their own experiences.

Furthermore, please respect the time of the event organisers: If you have signed up for an event, do attend. This way the event organisers can plan their events based on the real turnout. If for some reason you cannot attend an event that has a limited amount of space, let the event organisers know.

Before participating an event online, we hope you will read the instructions for online participants. By following these guidelines, you can help create a comfortable atmosphere and open interaction.