How to look after your mental health at university

While university can be a great experience, it can also be a really stressful time in most students' lives, which is further aggravated by the restrictions set by social distancing due to the pandemic.

Recent studies show that since the pandemic began there's a tendency for students' mental health to deteriorate. Here are a few tips that might help you have a more stable and healthier mind.

Routine Creating

A routine can go a long way in taking care of yourself, taking a walk, eating regularly, and having a good night of sleep will help you feel physically well. This also allows you to give more meaning to your day-to-day when you're spending most of your time indoors. Furthermore, by completing small tasks, you'll get a feeling of accomplishment which will further motivate you to do more and maintain a productive state of mind.

Socializing

It's normal if you feel the need to socialize, after all, humans are social animals by nature, and you'll inevitably feel down if you don't spend time and talk with those who are closest to you. While socializing and meeting people can be increasingly difficult with the covid restrictions, there are a few workarounds to keeping yourself safe whilst keeping in touch. For those new to the university who are still looking for friends, I advise you to participate in the university's increasingly growing events and seminars - you can't make friends if you don't put yourself out there. 

Unwind

Stress management is a big part of feeling and doing well. Thus, finding what works for you can really help you keep a healthy life. A few examples are running, baking, arts and crafts, or writing, essentially anything that gives you peace of mind and allows you to unwind.

Reaching out for help

Many universities are taking steps to protect their students and offer more resources to aid grieving students. However, if you feel uncomfortable talking with strangers about your personal life, reaching out to your family and close ones can also help, just a few daily minutes can make all the difference. As such, if you're feeling down or, for lack of a better word, "different," please reach out and ask for help, we all have our downtimes, don't be embarrassed by them.

To summarise, please try to remember that whatever you're going through is normal, and thousands if not millions of other students are feeling the same thing—as such, reaching out for help is normal and encouraged. Additionally, these feelings are directly influenced by the life you're having, and you can drastically improve it, and your mental health, with a few adjustments.