A young person’s life at university may be both thrilling and challenging.

A young person’s life at university may be both thrilling and challenging.

For many students, moving away from home, navigating a new city, establishing new friends, and studying at the university level can be difficult.

For many students, moving away from home, navigating a new city, establishing new friends, and studying at the university level can be difficult.

Finding equilibrium through stress management strategies is the key.

Finding equilibrium through stress management strategies is the key.

We will address the sources of student stress and how to effectively manage them in this blog and a how-to guide on minimizing stress and enhancing mental health.

We will address the sources of student stress and how to effectively manage them in this blog and a how-to guide on minimizing stress and enhancing mental health.

Get in contact with us if you’d like to write for our student and graduate blog competition and acquire beneficial copywriting experience.

Get in contact with us if you’d like to write for our student and graduate blog competition and acquire beneficial copywriting experience.

What is stress?

According to the Mental Health Foundation, stress can be defined as;

“The feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure. You may find yourself overloaded with new information from your course, feeling the pressure to make new friends, or struggling to live away from home in a foreign place.” 

“The feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure. You may find yourself overloaded with new information from your course, feeling the pressure to make new friends, or struggling to live away from home in a foreign place.” 

There’s no need to worry if this is how you’re feeling; you’re not alone!

There’s no need to worry if this is how you’re feeling; you’re not alone!

According to the NatWest Student Living Index 2021, about half of students are anxious at university.

According to the NatWest Student Living Index 2021, about half of students are anxious at university.

What causes student stress?

Every student, including my friends and me, experiences stress throughout their academic careers. Our conversations would frequently center on our shared anxiety, from discussing our financial concerns to venting our frustrations during late-night library sessions.

Every student, including my friends and me, experiences stress throughout their academic careers. Our conversations would frequently center on our shared anxiety, from discussing our financial concerns to venting our frustrations during late-night library sessions.

The following are some of the most prevalent reasons for student stress:

The following are some of the most prevalent reasons for student stress:

1. Deadlines:

The workload in university is usually significantly different from what you had in high school and college.

The workload in university is usually significantly different from what you had in high school and college.

Many students find it challenging to efficiently manage time around various homework and test deadlines due to the shift in educational expectations, which sometimes causes anxiety.

Many students find it challenging to efficiently manage time around various homework and test deadlines due to the shift in educational expectations, which sometimes causes anxiety.

2. Relationships:

Along with the effort of preserving previous ties, there is a massive push at university to form new and enduring relationships with housemates, course classmates, and other society members – an onerous undertaking.

3. Finances:

Managing finances for the first time on your own may be complex; finding out how to budget, taking into account rent, bills, and other living expenditures, can be stressful for most students (not to mention the worry of going over your overdraft limit)!

4. Homesickness:

When you find yourself in a new environment, feeling homesick is normal. Many students’ first experience living away from home is at university when they leave behind friends, family, and the comfort of a familiar setting. All of this might make you feel entirely alone.

How do you deal with stress?

Learning to deal with stress is critical for maintaining a good mental state and making the most of your academic experience.

Learning to deal with stress is critical for maintaining a good mental state and making the most of your academic experience.

Here are some helpful hints for dealing with stress and anxiety while in university:

Here are some helpful hints for dealing with stress and anxiety while in university:

  • Stressed about deadlines? Plan ahead

  • Stressed about deadlines? Plan ahead

    • Stressed about deadlines? Plan ahead

    Begin by outlining your deadlines for homework and exams in chronological order.

    Begin by outlining your deadlines for homework and exams in chronological order.

    Then, utilizing lectures and supplementary reading materials, create a plan that you are likely to (at least informally) follow, providing enough time to accomplish each job.

    Then, utilizing lectures and supplementary reading materials, create a plan that you are likely to (at least informally) follow, providing enough time to accomplish each job.

    It’s also crucial to maintain a work-life balance to avoid burnout, so schedule some time to do activities you like.

    It’s also crucial to maintain a work-life balance to avoid burnout, so schedule some time to do activities you like.

    • Feeling isolated? Embrace the new

  • Feeling isolated? Embrace the new

    • Feeling isolated? Embrace the new

    Making new acquaintances may be intimidating, especially if you’re shy or socially worried. But don’t worry; there will be plenty of opportunities.

    Making new acquaintances may be intimidating, especially if you’re shy or socially worried. But don’t worry; there will be plenty of opportunities.

    Along with lectures and seminars with possible coursemates, living in student housing is a terrific chance to meet new people.

    Along with lectures and seminars with possible coursemates, living in student housing is a terrific chance to meet new people.

    Joining groups and attending social events can also help you meet individuals who share your interests.

    Joining groups and attending social events can also help you meet individuals who share your interests.

    Remember that everyone is in the same boat at university and will be just as eager to make friends as you are!

    Remember that everyone is in the same boat at university and will be just as eager to make friends as you are!

    You could start studying together or participating in daring activities after hanging out with new folks.

    You could start studying together or participating in daring activities after hanging out with new folks.

    Bike riding is one of these hobbies; a beach cruiser electric bike is ideal for city riding and light trail adventures.

    Bike riding is one of these hobbies; a beach cruiser electric bike is ideal for city riding and light trail adventures.

    • Financial worries? Manage your money

  • Financial worries? Manage your money

    • Financial worries? Manage your money

    Begin by creating a budget spreadsheet in Excel.

    additional info
    Begin by creating a budget spreadsheet in Excel.

    Add up your monthly revenue from student loans, part-time employment, and other sources of income, then remove your essential monthly costs like rent and bills.

    Add up your monthly revenue from student loans, part-time employment, and other sources of income, then remove your essential monthly costs like rent and bills.

    This will leave you with your monthly disposable cash; the trick is to not overspend! If you run into financial difficulties, your institution will provide you with resources and guidance.

    This will leave you with your monthly disposable cash; the trick is to not overspend! If you run into financial difficulties, your institution will provide you with resources and guidance.

    • Feeling homesick? Bring it home to you.

  • Feeling homesick? Bring it home to you.

    • Feeling homesick? Bring it home to you.

    Photos and memorabilia may add a sense of familiarity to your dorm or student residence.

    Photos and memorabilia may add a sense of familiarity to your dorm or student residence.

    Keep in touch with friends and family via social media and text messages — it’s a terrific way to check-in.

    Keep in touch with friends and family via social media and text messages — it’s a terrific way to check-in.

    If you’re an international student, there will be clubs exclusively for international students, which might allow you to keep your cultural comforts from home.

    If you’re an international student, there will be clubs exclusively for international students, which might allow you to keep your cultural comforts from home.

    • Burnt out? Practice self-care

  • Burnt out? Practice self-care

    • Burnt out? Practice self-care

    Always remember to pamper yourself! Sometimes all you need is a little self-care, whether a soothing bath or a quick pint with your pal.

    Always remember to pamper yourself! Sometimes all you need is a little self-care, whether a soothing bath or a quick pint with your pal.

    Taking time out of your day to exercise is another excellent approach to maintaining your physical and emotional well-being. Another good habit for your health is to establish a long-term exercising program. Kettlebells, dumbbells, and treadmills are all excellent places to begin.

    Taking time out of your day to exercise is another excellent approach to maintaining your physical and emotional well-being. Another good habit for your health is to establish a long-term exercising program. Kettlebells, dumbbells, and treadmills are all excellent places to begin.

    Exercising and participating in sports is a more active approach to exercise self-care, allowing you to physically express your negative emotions. Other interests, such as studying an instrument or a language, are also beneficial.

    What should you do if you’re overwhelmed by stress?

    Although university might be complex, you can use various coping methods to help you cope with stress and worry.

    Although university might be complex, you can use various coping methods to help you cope with stress and worry.

    If the stress becomes unbearable, the wellness service at your institution can help you find external coping techniques.

    If the stress becomes unbearable, the wellness service at your institution can help you find external coping techniques.

    Your university’s wellness team’s mission is to provide mental health support to students, ranging from general guidance to counseling.

    Your university’s wellness team’s mission is to provide mental health support to students, ranging from general guidance to counseling.


    They can assist you by allowing you to discuss your worries in a secure setting and working through your issues with a skilled specialist.

    They can assist you by allowing you to discuss your worries in a secure setting and working through your issues with a skilled specialist.

    This assistance will be provided for free, so make use of it if necessary!

    This assistance will be provided for free, so make use of it if necessary!

    Overall, it’s critical to remember that there’s no shame in seeking help if stress becomes unbearable!

    Overall, it’s critical to remember that there’s no shame in seeking help if stress becomes unbearable!

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