University should be an exciting time full of exciting adventures and making new friends, but sometimes it can really challenge your mental health.
Living away from home can feel daunting. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the huge amount of assignments and exams. Not to mention relationship breakdowns and arguments with friends. University can feel like a lot.
That’s why staying on top of your mental health is so important while in higher education.
In honour of the upcoming Mental Health Awareness Week (15 to 21 May), we’ve put together some top tips to ensure you don’t neglect your mental health.
Creating a new daily routine can be a great way to prioritise yourself and what you enjoy doing.
You could spend some time reading your favourite books or watching your favourite films, if you can you could go out for a walk to get some fresh air, or maybe even teach yourself a new skill!
Changing up your daily routine to include some ‘you’ time can be a good distraction from everything else that is going on in the world.
If you’ve got an assignment due or an exam around the corner, you might spend all your time hunched over your desk or typing away in a quiet corner of a library. Exercise is probably the last thing on your mind!
However, trying to do a little bit of exercise every day is an easy way to improve your mental health. Whether going for a walk, running, or lifting weights at the university gym, it releases powerful endorphins
Being outdoors and exercising has been proven to increase mental alertness, energy and boost your mood.
Don’t forget to lean on your housemates too!
Try not to isolate yourself if you’re feeling down, even if all you want to do is barricade yourself in your room. Maybe you could arrange a games night or a film marathon with your housemates, or a weekly meal where you can all eat together.
If you’re feeling stressed or anxious about something, don’t keep it to yourself – talk to someone, whether that’s family or friends. Being around other people, and sharing your thoughts and feelings with them, is a great way to help you feel better.
There are a lot of scary news stories floating around at the moment, but not all of it is totally reliable. It might help to take some time away from the news, or if you are following it, make sure you’re getting your information from reputable sources. In other words, don’t believe everything you see on TikTok!
Finding some positive podcasts to listen to can be an effective distraction, and can also help you feel less lonely.
We’d recommend the following:
Fearne Cotton interviews a range of celebs, to talk about everything from life, love and loss, and what makes them happy. A great one to help you if you’re currently feeling a bit down.
This one is for all of you ladies out there, Perfect to listen to for a bit of girl talk and some gossip.
Looking for a good laugh? This podcast is a great shout, as William and Jordan try to navigate themselves through everyday life.
Studying at university can be very full on, so it’s important to ensure you’re not overworking yourself!
Having a good work/life balance can help reduce stress and avoid burnout and also give you more time to relax and unwind. The amount of work can be really damaging to the mental health of university students. So, try and stay on top of uni work – start focusing on assignments or revising for exams in plenty of time. Leaving things to the last minute might seem like a tempting solution, but it will only lead to more stress and pressure later on!
Most universities will offer student mental health, well-being, or support services. They can offer you support or even urgent help. Consult your university’s website to find out more information.
Look out for University Mental Health Day – your university will likely have loads of fun events designed to improve your mental health.
Don’t forget, if you need someone to talk to, there are a range of other services available too:
CALM: 0800 58 58 58
Samaritans: 116 123
Mind: 0300 123 3393
University is stressful enough without the added hassle of setting up and managing your utility bills. If the thought of calling multiple energy suppliers to find the best deal already has your anxiety levels soaring, a bill-splitting service might be the solution.
Split the Bills is a bill-splitting service trusted and relied on by thousands of students. We simplify your household bills to give you peace of mind and help you focus on the more important stuff!
We set up your utility accounts and direct debits on your behalf. The bills are split equally between you and your housemates, so no one is stuck with all the stress and responsibility. All everyone has to do is pay one neat monthly bill!
You can choose the services you want included in your package, such as gas, electricity, water, and even your TV licence. Our energy plan is completely unlimited, so you don’t have to stress about reminding your housemates to turn their radiators off while they’re out!
If you want a simple way to pay your household bills that doesn’t damage your mental health, find out more about what we do or get in touch with our team!
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.