Stress Awareness Week
This week marks International Stress Awareness Week. It is a major annual event focusing on stress management, campaigning against stigma associated with stress and mental health issues. This year’s theme is focussed around ‘Working Together to Build Resilience and Reduce Stress’. Whether you’re at home due to your course having a Directed Study Week, or you’re carrying on your studies as usual, you may be feeling stressed or anxious at this time of the year. We want to make sure that you know you are supported, in Liverpool or away.
Get active
It’s important to revise, study and work hard whilst you complete your degree. However, having a good balance between work and personal time to yourself can be a big help in defeating stress. By getting active, whether you go for a walk, or head to a gym class, getting out and about, moving your body and keeping yourself fit can break up your day and will release stress hormones. Did you know that as a student you can get a gym membership from LJMU Sports Centre for just £25 for the whole year? This gives you full access to the gym equipment, as well as classes they run; from yoga to spin, you can get involved today.
Take study breaks
Plan your day with short yet often tasks that will keep your brain stimulated. This will reduce the chances of you feeling stressed or burnt out. If you work better in the mornings, plan an hour or two to study and then take a break for lunch. Go for a walk, grab a coffee, or chat to a friend on the phone to shake off any thoughts or troubles you may be having about your work. When you go back to it, you will have a fresh perspective. This will help you focus better, stress less.
Participate in mindfulness or meditative activities
Having mindfulness can really stimulate your brain whilst simultaneously clearing up any stressful thoughts. By checking out some meditation classes on YouTube, or going to one in real life, you can relax, recharge and be more at one with your own body and mind. LJMU have their own Guide the Mindfulness that you can check out today.
Seek advice and support
LJMU have many advice and support services that you can reach out to, such as their Student Advice and Wellbeing team, covering mental health and wellbeing support, financial, fees and funding support, safety and counselling and more. You can get in touch with JMSU at any time if you are feeling stressed, as we have our own professional advice team to help guide and advise you. You can get in touch with us over email or book an appointment to meet an advisor, either on video call or in person. You can also come and visit us at the Student Life Building; our reception is open 9:30-7:30 each weekday if you need to speak to someone in person.
