The formal exam and assessment season can be full-on, so let us help you look after your wellbeing.
Activities in Student Life building
To help you manage the next few weeks our Wellbeing team is putting on daily activities in the Student Life building on University Square, giving you access to mindful spaces and resources to help you relax, destress and enjoy a break from your studies.
Activities include origami, colouring, painting, crochet, knitting and board games, and students are invited in from 12.30pm to 4pm Monday to Friday during the three-week exam period (12-30 May).
Activities in the Guild
The Guild is also putting on a range of activities to help you de-stress.
Every Thursday during exams (starting from Thursday, 8 May), between 10am and 12pm, the Guild is hosting a free crafting session in the Gilmour Room. All supplies will be provided.
Take a Break sessions are also back in time for May exams! Some of your most popular societies will be hosting free events to encourage you to break from your studies and reset. Events confirmed so far are:
- Bake Soc: come along to mix and knead away your stress on Thursday, 8 May 2pm – 4pm and again on Thursday, 14 May from 12pm – 2pm
Sessions from Book Soc and Yoga Soc are also going ahead and details will follow when available.
Anxiety clinics
The Wellbeing team is running clinics throughout May to support anyone suffering from anxiety and/or low mood. Students should contact your Learning, Teaching and Student Officer (LTSO) for a referral or you can complete a triage form on our website to access these sessions.
Wellbeing tips
Here are some tips to get you through the next few weeks without stress getting in the way of your productivity and performance.
Keep organised
It’s important to set yourself realistic revision goals that allow you to prioritise your time. Not managing your time properly can cause a lot of stress, but you can help to reduce that by ensuring that the really important stuff is being covered. Creating a daily routine and sticking to it can help you feel a lot more in control.
Healthy habits
Our diet can have a big impact on the way we feel. So, are you eating the right things?
Eat regularly and choose foods that release energy slowly; stay away from sugary snacks to help to keep your blood sugar levels stead and keep your water bottle topped up as being well hydrated helps you to cope better with stress. Ditch the junk food and we’d recommend not relying on alcohol, smoking and caffeine as these can make anxiety and stress worse in the long-run.
Take a break
Remember that you have limits! Taking regular breaks during the day is really important. Aim for around 10 minutes for every hour and a half of study. Move around, make a drink, take a short walk – whatever works to take your mind off your studies and help you to relax.
Manage stress in the moment
As the stress response is largely physical, our body is one of the first things to be affected. Controlled breathing, deep muscle relaxation, mindful breathing, and relaxing activities can all help reduce tension and switch off some of the physical signs of stress. Learn to relieve stress in the moment and you’ll be able to relax and better focus on your studies.
The key to quick stress relief is to experiment and discover what works best for you.
Keep on moving
Exercise won’t make your stress disappear, but it can reduce some of the emotional intensity that you’re feeling. It can also help to clear your thoughts and let you deal with things more calmly. Any physical activity can help burn away tension and stress, but rhythmic activities such as walking, running, dancing, cycling, tai chi and aerobics can be especially effective.
Don’t forget there’s free access to Sport Liverpool during exam season. This is available Monday to Friday 9-11am and 2-4pm and all weekends. Find out more and register for free access on the Sport Liverpool website.
Talk it out
Take the time to connect with friends and family. Make the most of any study groups and friends from your course. Making time to socialise is really important. It can help you to relax, and having a good laugh is an excellent stress reliever!
Take a break from social media
Try reducing your social media use for a few days and it could work wonders for your stress levels. Scrolling through your social media feed when trying to revise can be a real distraction and taking a break will help you to focus and be more productive.
Try to get enough sleep
Sometimes when you’re feeling stressed the thing you need most is sleep. Allow half an hour or so to wind down from studying or screen time before going to bed. This will help you to get a good night’s sleep.
Still struggling to go sleep? Put on some calming music and turn your phone to flight mode so you won’t be disturbed. Then slowly tense and release one muscle in your body at a time, and you should soon be able to drift off. Focusing on taking slow, steady breaths can help too.
Reminder: how to access support
If you are feeling anxious, stressed or just need to talk, remember teams across the University are here to help:
- Student Support Services: Our Student Services team can help you with a range of non-academic issues including around wellbeing and stress related to your studies. You can find them in the Student Life Building on University Square, call them on 0151 795 1000 or contact them by completing this short form.
- Listening services: Health Assured: Call 0800 028 3766 24 hours 365 days a year freephone helpline. Health Assured also provide the Wisdom app which includes options to speak to someone via live chat, email or video call.
- Schools and departments: You may find it helpful to talk to your school or your department.
- The Guild: The Guild offer free and confidential advice and are independent from the University.
- Self-help hub: Our self-help guides are developed by clinical psychologists. These resources provide practical advice and support for a range of issues that may be affecting your wellbeing including anxiety, stress, depression and sleeping problems.