Earlier this year as part of University Mental Health day we asked students to tell us their Mental Health and Wellbeing tips.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts. We had lots of really good ideas and wanted to share this wisdom with others (this is mostly in their own words, in a few places we’ve added a comment or a link). Here is what they told us:

Self-care

• Enjoy the little things
• Take time for yourself, even when you “don’t have time”
• Set aside some time in your day to do something for yourself that makes you happy… take the time to recharge your batteries and clear you mind for the next day
• Make time for things you love
• Look after yourself and give yourself time
• Watch you fave Netflix show
• Make sure you always speak out if needed
• Take a nice relaxing bath, (or shower if no bath available)
• Selfcare Sundays
• You are the number one priority! Put yourself first and worry about others later, self-care before anyone else
• Listen to music and relax (here’s a breathing exercise to do just that)

The company of friends, it’s good to talk

• The most important thing is to talk to a family member or trusted friend about what’s worrying you. Let them hug you and give you a shoulder to cry on
• Spend time with people you love! (You’d be surprised how much evidence there is that kindness is good for us!)
• Talking to people always helps
• Keep very social with your friends so you’re never lonely
• I walk my dog, and talk to family and friends about my worries
• Talk about it, have a cup of tea and a nice chat (with biscuits)
• Do things that make you happy and spend time with people that are supportive
• Make sure you always have a date with a friend booked in the diary!
• Having a good balance between finding time for yourself, and socialising with peers and friends
• No topic is taboo, even if it is hard, talk as much as you can about your mental health
• Be around people who care and they will help bounce you out of any bad feelings/moods
• Just talk about it, people will listen and it’s a weight of your chest
• Do not keep toxic people in your life, even if they are on your course

Mind your thinking, and learn to meditate

• Take every day as it comes. If you’ve got things on your mind, switch off at night, write them down and put them aside, come back to them when the time is right. Don’t overthink every little thing, it will seem worse and spiral out of control
• Practice mindfulness as a normal thing (Excellent idea! As well as lots of other benefits, mindfulness has been shown to help develop skills in stepping back from rumination (negative-overthinking) here’s a practice to get you started)
• Think of a positive thing you’ve done today, even something small counts
• Download the ‘headspace’ app. Take advantage of the sleep music and exercises
• Accept yourself, there is only one of you

Small steps and a good balance

• Start writing, rather than facing assignments as whole, less stressful, less full on
• Get organised, and reward yourself with each step (this fits very nicely with suggestions in our post on procrastination)
• Make sure you plan time well, so that you make time to step back and take time for yourself
• Social life and studying should be evenly split
• Take deep breath, get a cup of tea and make a plan, and start again

Get out in in the fresh air

• Get some activities that are not to do with the university, like walking through the park or going to a place that calms you
• Go for a walk whatever the weather!
• Go for a nice walk
• Walking with headphones
• If you can take a break and get outside, even just 5 or 10 minutes away from a screen, getting some fresh air can clear a foggy mind
• Spend time outdoors in nature
• Go to the hills

Sleep well

• Make sure you get enough sleep. Have a good regular amount of sleep
• Give yourself time to relax and do a self-care routine, e.g. bath, read a book, pamper yourself
• Have 20 minutes off your phone before bed every evening to help sleep. Try reading, drawing, knitting, sewing, talking to friend or yoga instead (yes definitely better than too much screen time)
• Use headspace stories to fall asleep