Studying at University is likely to bring a number of changes to your life. It can be enjoyable and interesting, but it can also be challenging.
- You might face challenges such as:
- Meeting and working with new people
- Exams, presentations or deadlines for written work
- Managing your own finances
- Coping with homesickness
- Balancing the demands of studying with other commitments, such as work
- Leaving home, finding new housing and living with new people
- Maintaining relationships with family and friends, especially if you have moved away
Coping with new challenges can have an impact on your mental health. But there are lots of things that you can do to make your time as a student easier and more enjoyable.
We’ve put together a few tips to try and help you along the way:
- Build a support system. Connection with friends, family and other students can often help when feeling overwhelmed. There are often support groups running in university hours so utilising them could also help. Your place of study may also have a Students’ Union with a welfare officer or a Student Advice Service.
- Time management. Creating a schedule and feeling organised can often take the strain off a heavy day. Understanding when and how you’re getting around your day can make it seem that little bit easier and can also sometimes make it feel as though it is going faster.
- Prioritise self-care. Self-care is not a selfish thing, and such be prioritised as much as possible. These could be small things like allowing you time to read a book, setting aside time to have a pamper or even allowing yourself an extra hour in bed on days you don’t have to be up early.
- Know your limits. Knowing when to take breaks and understanding when you’ve taken on a little too much is important, especially at university. Asking for help or even an extension on time can often help to take the weight off.
- Seek professional help. Asking for support is often the hardest challenge of all, especially professional, but understanding it can help is key to having a positive change to university life. Most universities have a free counselling service for students. This is independent of your academic tutors or your GP.
- Stay connected. Staying in touch with family and friends can help to create a safe space in which you can talk about how you’re feeling. Making sure you’re connecting with family can also help when missing home.
- Take breaks. Make sure you’re prioritising taking breaks during stressful days and even the quiet ones. Having 5 minutes every hour can help with concentration and can also help with motivation and steering away from procrastination.
Remember, it is okay to ask for help and prioritise your mental health. University is an incredibly stressful, yet rewarding, experience but knowing how and when to get help is important.
If you find your stress or mental health is affecting your personal life or academic performance, reach out to your university’s support services as soon as possible. Or why not speak to us?
