My 5 wellbeing tips for university students
Lucy Steel
Speech and Language Therapy BSc(Hons)
Hi, I'm Lucy and I study Speech and Language Therapy. Whilst moving away from home was difficult, I am happy with the course I am studying, and I enjoy being in this town. Coming to Huddersfield has helped me become more independent and allowed me to explore places that I have never been to.
Going to university was something I had dreamed of for a long time, but I always pictured only the positives.
However, when I was faced with the reality of living alone, studying a degree two-and-a-half hours away from home, it was a shock to experience a side to student life I hadn’t been imagining.
It was a scary reality that made uni feel a lot harder all of a sudden.
If you start your life as a university student feeling lonely, homesick or scared, that's totally okay. You are not alone with those feelings. Trust me.
During the first term, I really struggled with all the changes that came with living alone as a university student. When looking back over my first term, even though I had been struggling I had still done so well!
I had made friends, I was learning to enjoy independence, and I loved my course! However, I couldn't dismiss the way I was feeling.
So here are some tips I used to help me manage my wellbeing and mental health as I started my journey as a new adult studying at the University of Huddersfield.
1. Find a home comfort
What do I mean by that? Well, find something you do at home, here.
Whether that’s going on a walk every Sunday because you did that with your family or having a takeaway on Friday night like you did with friends back home. Whatever it is, do it.
That little thing can really help you to still feel connected to your home and provide you with some sense of normal in a time full of change and the unknown.
2. Avoid comparing experiences
A big mistake I made was comparing my experiences with those of my friends. This was something that didn't help me at all and left me feeling worse.
It is important to remember everyone’s university experience will be different. If your friends seem to be having a really good time and you're not, that can feel really isolating. Although, what we see is not necessarily an accurate representation of a friend's experience.
If you’re talking to friends and you start noticing that you're comparing experiences, try and remember that you are not seeing the full picture. It is okay if it is taking you longer to find your feet, lots of people take a while to settle into a new place. There is no time limit on how long it should take you to adapt.
3. Join a Society
This one may seem obvious, but some first years miss this great opportunity. One of the first things I did was join a few societies. They have been one of my favorite things about university so far!
They gave me a chance to learn new skills and make some great new friends. There are loads of awesome societies for you to join in with, whether you are sporty, musical or arty there will be something for you. Whatever it is, Huddersfield Students' Union will probably have it covered, and if it doesn’t, why not start your own?
4. Get moving
One thing I love to do is exercise, which is something I always seem to forget can help. There is a gym on campus, run by Active Hud. But if the gym isn't for you, there are other things you could do instead to help you stay active.
Some things you could do include going for a walk (Huddersfield has some great places like Greenhead Park for you to explore), joining a sports society (like Thai Boxing and Dance), or watching an online workout and joining in.
Personally, I love to use the free gym that comes as part of my accommodation, or going for walks with friends to explore Huddersfield and its surrounding countryside.
5. Ask for help
If you find that you are struggling and you don't know what to do, then it may be a good time to reach out.
The University of Huddersfield has a Wellbeing Service you can book in with, which will be able to offer you support on managing your wellbeing. You can find more information about that on the University's website and there is also support and advice available through Togetherall.
You can also book an appointment with your GP (if you have moved away from home, registering with The University Health Centre would be a good idea), who should also offer advice and support that you might find useful.
Reaching out can seem scary and daunting, but in the end it will be worth it. There will always be someone ready to help you here in Huddersfield.
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