Ways to manage your physical, mental, and emotional health at university

In today’s fast-paced society, many of us get so wrapped up in academic pressures, work commitments, and social ties that we neglect our health and well-being. We think that taking our dog for a walk around the block in the morning and attending a spin class once a fortnight when it fits into our busy schedule is enough to grant us good health. Whilst walking and attending gym classes occasionally are, of course, beneficial when considering our physical health, they are not enough to constitute good overall health. Having ‘good health’ means prioritising your health in all areas; physically, mentally, and emotionally. We understand that it can be difficult to prioritise your health whilst juggling university life, but let’s take some time to reflect on our well-being and learn how we can take steps to improve our health and well-being going forward, holistically.

Physical Health

Our physical health is what usually springs to mind when you hear the word ‘health.’ This is unsurprising though, given that our physical health lays the foundation for our overall well-being. As a college or university student facing assignment deadlines and/or exams, some important questions to ask yourself are:

Am I getting enough sleep?

Am I regularly exercising?

Am I eating a balanced diet?

If you confidently answered yes to these questions, chances are that your physical health is in check and that you are balancing your studies with your physical well-being. However, if you hesitate when answering these questions or can answer two positively, and the other negatively, it’s time to start prioritising your physical health. It’s easy to neglect your physical health when you have a busy schedule and academic pressures, but making even the slightest changes such as going to bed an hour or two earlier can reap great benefits, including increased productivity, energy, and overall happiness! The benefits of sleep for our physical, mental, and emotional health have been examined more closely by our Mental Health Advisor, James Ewens, in our ‘Why sleep is important for our student mental health and wellbeing’ blog.

Mental and Emotional Health

Good mental and emotional health is increasingly being recognised as essential for good overall health. With growing rates of poor mental health, it’s important for us to educate ourselves and others on ways that we can improve our mental and emotional well-being to lead a healthier life. From dealing with exam stress to balancing multiple assignment deadlines, developing coping strategies is essential for a university student. University has highs and lows, but it’s important to remember that you are never alone! Our professional well-being team are on hand to provide you with support and guidance when you need it most. You must also designate some time towards self-care activities, particularly when you aren’t feeling your best and are feeling overwhelmed. Self-care activities might include journalling, taking a bath and trying out some new skin-care products, pursuing your hobbies, catching up with friends, or participating in student societies. As discussed in our ‘how to be more productive at university’ blog, it is essential for you to build some self-care activities into your to-do list. These activities can lower your stress levels, providing you with an emotional balance.

Take Action

Taking action to prioritise your health is massively important as a university student facing academic pressures. Let’s vow to ourselves that we will begin prioritising every aspect of our health, that we will educate ourselves and others on the benefits associated with good health, and that we will offer a listening ear to anyone struggling with their health - whether this is physically, mentally, or emotionally. You can find helpful advice on how you can support yourself and others in our blog dedicated to the importance of mental health awareness in university. We must come together and embrace a proactive approach to health and well-being in order to flourish and lead a happy, healthy life.

If this blog has got you thinking more closely about your health and well-being, consider viewing our Health and Well-being page to find out about the non-judgemental, personalised support we offer our students. We are here for you… today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Alternatively, if you’d like to help others who may be facing difficult times, why not check out our Undergraduate Health and Well-being or Mental Health Nursing courses to discover how you can make a difference?