Stress Awareness Month: Dealing with Stress

April marks Stress Awareness Month with this year’s theme "Little By Little"...

Stress is very common and something we will all experience at times, especially when every day pressures such as our studies or deadlines get to us. We can all experience stress differently but what’s most important is that we can recognise when we feel stressed so that we don't let it become a prolonged issue that impacts our physical health.

Stress Management Society is a charity that has ran ‘Stress Awareness Month’ for over 20 years. The month is all about removing stigma around talking about stress. This year’s theme is #LittleByLittle which means that small actions that we take can have long-lasting positive impacts on our health.

No matter how small your action is, you can be reassured that you’re doing what you can to look after your own physical and mental health. We've got some suggestions on small things you can do to help you in those times of stress…

Don’t underestimate the benefits of fresh air

A walk can work wonders! Whether it be before your day starts, at lunchtime or of an evening, a walk can help you process your thoughts and clear your mind. As tempting as it can be to stay inside sometimes, getting out to spend time in nature and feel fresh air on your face can encourage us to see new parts of the city and feel a calming sense of nature. Here's some places you can get out and explore this Spring!

Read: Mind Charity explains how nature can have positive effects on our mental health

Find a moment of calm in breathing

Whether deep breathing is new to you or it’s something you’ve tried before, it can be a really effective way to feel calm, lower your heart rate and relieve stress in the height of a difficult moment. It’s also something you can put into your daily routine to help maintain that feeling of calm whether it be just before bed or before you head off to uni for the day.

Read: British Heart Foundation shares 3 breathing techniques proven to combat stress

Make more time for healthy habits

There are some really quick wins that we can do every day to have a long last positive impact on our mental health.

Whether it be staying hydrated, getting enough sleep or reducing screen time. In the midst of our busy lives, we might miss out on doing small things that can have a significant impact day to day. Whether it’s limiting your time on social media each day or getting an early night every now and then. Remember, there’s always time to make healthy habits that will help you feel more ready to face the day.

Here's 30 days of self-care and small actions you can take to help make a positive impact on your mood and wellbeing.

Try something new

Trying a new experience or learning something new can help us connect with people around us, boost your confidence and help you get to know what it is that you enjoy the most. Whether it’s volunteering, trying a new gym class or a spot of gardening. Check out the Guild’s Give it a Go page for all the activities you can get up to over the next few weeks.

Connect

Although it might seem daunting to talk about what is causing you stress, try connecting with a friend, family member, flat mate about how you are feeling. Talking through your worries can help alleviate stress and make sense of what’s happening around you. Equally if you think you could support someone else, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask how they’re doing.

Connecting with others might even involve just reading about other students’ experiences. Student Minds have lots of blogs where students share their challenges of university life. Take a look at their Stress Blog by clicking here.

If there's something that causes you stress in halls or at university, don't forget to reach out to your Residential Adviser (RA). Our RAs living in halls have often experienced university life themselves so can really understand the difficulties that come with living in halls, sharing a flat with others and the challenges of studying.



The first step is to coping with feelings of stress is firstly recognising it. Once you’ve done this, you’re already on your way to tackling negative feelings and doing something positive to look after yourself.

Dealing with feelings of stress is something we might deal with at different times in our lives. So although we raise awareness about it throughout the month of April, these small steps are ways to creating life-long ways to look after yourself. Why not share this article with a friend this Stress Awareness Month? 

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