Mental Health & University: Making the most out of Uni life
University can be an important time to consider your mental health. From developing new support systems, learning to manage new experiences and emotions and coping with independent study, there are a lot of reasons why we may need to pay extra attention to our wellbeing during our university years. March 3rd is University Mental Health Day, so we want to talk about how you can overcome challenges and make the most out of university life. And remember, we are here if you need us.
You're often told that university will be the best years of your life, that you'll spend all day every day out having fun, making friends for life and instantly feeling like you 'belong' at your university.
Well for me this couldn't have felt further from the case when I first arrived! People forget to mention how much time it takes to find your people and to figure out what you like to do. For many of us, this is our first experience of living away from home - miles away from our usual friendly faces and our tried and tested sources of comfort.
So, the first year especially can be hard, but you eventually start finding friendly faces amongst the crowds and you begin to find new things you like to do for self-care and your mental health. For me these things varied from feeding local horses and donkeys and going for walks around the city but also, I spent a lot of time learning how to be alone and enjoy my own company. The main thing to remember is that everyone is in the same boat, and there's help out there if you need it.
Besides, before you know it it'll be over, and you'll be telling others about how It was the best years of your life!
-Karla, Marketing Assistant for Wellbeing Suffolk graduated University in 2021 during the pandemic
So what challenges are we faced with when we first go to university, and what can we do to make the most of things?
You are living away from home for the first time
Living in student accommodation is exciting. However, for many, this will be your very first long stint away from home comforts, and it can be daunting. Students have to cook, clean, do laundry and manage your own finances - your parents made it look so easy! As a new student you may feel homesick; and really miss your school friends, family and pets too. But remember you'll soon get the hang of things.
Our First term tips (no matter what year you are):
Care packages - To combat anxiety and homesickness it's a great idea to ask your friends and family to send out care packages to you, these can include all your favourite things, giving you a little boost of happiness!
Get a date in your calendar for friends and family to visit you, or for you to go home for a weekend. Even scheduling a phone or video call will give you something to look forward to and help you get through stressful times.
Planning ahead helps reduce financial worries, have a go at budgeting! Take your monthly income and work out how much you need for bills, food, new clothing, Uni supplies and socialising. The UCAS website has some great tips for budgeting, read more on these here. There is also some handy information on Savethestudent.com:
Student budgeting tips - Calculate your budget (ucas.com) How to budget at university - Save the Student
If Uni life has you feeling a little low and you live in Suffolk, you can access our support by self-referring on our website or by joining one of our workshops that cover things such as relaxation, anxiety and sleep. Our support is free & confidential, with no need to consult your GP.
Relaxation Workshop: https://www.wellbeingnands.co.uk/suffolk/course/relaxation-station/
Anxiety Toolkit: https://www.wellbeingnands.co.uk/suffolk/course/anxiety-toolkit/
Mindfulness Workshop: https://www.wellbeingnands.co.uk/suffolk/course/introduction-to-mindfulness/
Your course is harder than you expected it to be
You no longer have to get up for school every day, and apart from a few lectures your routine is your own! Whilst sleeping in may seem like a great idea at first, keeping on top of your workload is important. Your course will likely require lots of independent study and more self-motivation than school or college. Plus maintaining a routine is invaluable to your sense of wellbeing.
Here are our tips for keeping on top of your studies:
Visit the library! There can be lots of distractions at your house, like party-ready housemates and kitchen dinner antics (pesto pasta anyone?). So, to help you focus, head to the library. It's the best place to study for many - grab your favourite snacks, find a quiet corner and you are good to go!
Share the load! With a study buddy you can help each other learn. There will undoubtedly be a course mate more than willing to team up with you and don't forget, your lecturers are there to answer your questions if you need them.
Always remember to take breaks. Try taking a walk outside or testing out the local cafes. Frequent breaks will prevent burnout and help keep you focused.
Plan! When you feel you have a lot on, allocate time throughout every week to ensure everything is covered and deadlines are met. However, don't fill every free hour you have with Uni work! Save time for fun stuff too!
More tips for studying here:
University Study Tips | The Student Room
Your guide to handling revision and exam stress | The Student Room
You feel pressure to go out and socialise
When you begin university the first few weeks are very focused on getting out, socialising and exploring the area or campus. Socialising is important for feeling included and forming friendships, but it can soon become overwhelming if you are busy 24/7, spending money, drinking alcohol, staying out late and confusing your sleeping pattern. You may feel unwelcome pressure to drink alcohol and go out and be left feeling tired and overwhelmed.
Remember:
It's not good for your physical or mental health (or bank account) to go out all the time, try and think of some cheaper ideas you can do from your halls, such as movie nights or barbeques in the summer!
Recognise that you need downtime for yourself to practise self-care & so does everyone else!
It's okay to say no. Whether you want an evening to yourself or a whole day. There's a lot of joy to be had in a quiet house while everyone else is out doing things; use that space to cook yourself a healthy meal, bagsy the bathroom for a relaxing bath or to clean your bedroom and to tidy your headspace.
BBC good food has a wealth of recipes from healthy snacks to comfort dishes and birthday cakes!
Here are some self-care ideas if you are feeling low at university:
And if you don't want to drink alcohol here are some ideas of things to drink instead, making mocktails can be just as fun:
BBC good food has a wealth of recipes from healthy snacks to comfort dishes and birthday cakes! BBC Good Food | Recipes and cooking tips - BBC Good Food
Our support is here for you if you need us. We are open to anyone aged 16+ living in Suffolk, so do not hesitate to reach out and help us help you live your life well.
Self-refer today here.
If you are a student at the University of Suffolk, you can find their information on wellbeing support here
