How to boost your mood at uni

Hi everyone!! 👋Siobhan here, 3rd year student at University of Lancashire!As it’s blue Monday awareness day today, I’d like to share some tips that I have found useful to me and other students when times feel hard and how to look after yourself during these times!!

Keep a record of all the positive things: I like to write down or speak to others about the positive things that have happened in the last couple weeks and things that I’m thankful for. In exam season and with the weather it can be really easy to get caught up in the negatives, so having a list of the positives can really help you challenge this by visually seeing what there is to be thankful for! You can even write down things that you’re looking forward to which helps with motivation 😄 📋📝

Leisure time: Take some time this week to dedicate time doing what you love to do. This can be watching a movie, going to a club, playing games, baking/cooking, having a relaxing bath! Anything that soothes your soul will be really helpful in helping you relax when things get overwhelming. Pencil in a time in your diary to prioritise your needs and health!! 🧑*🍳👾⚽️🎥

Connect with others: Reaching out with friends/family and socialising is a really great way to lift your spirits. Whether this is in person, over text or on call, it’s great to get out there and have meaningful conversations with those around you!! 👥

Try and go outside: It can be tell easy to get cooped up inside with the weather not being that great and with exams going on. However, I would definitely recommend trying to get some fresh air and have a 5 minute walk to help distract your mind and body with new scenery! Moving around can also boost serotonin levels which is a bonus. (I might be biased being a physio student but activity is so crucial in this time) 🌳☀️

Seek help if you’re struggling: I have had to seek help from others during this time and there is nothing to be ashamed of if you do need the support! I was able to get the resources that I needed and it’s helped me a lot. So, if you feel as though this time of the year is hard for you, I would definitely recommend asking your uni for any kind of support. They are there for you all year around to support and listen and want to help you with any personal needs you might have 😊

Hope this has helped and please let me know if I can help in any other way or if you have any questions!!!

Siobhan (3rd year student ambassador)

Reply 1

University of Bath

Official Rep

Hi all,

Very nice idea for a thread, thankyou!

We typically see many students have difficulties with motivation and mood after Christmas, which is not helped by all of the assessments you have do pretty much straight away! Please rest assured, your unis are aware of how difficult this period can be and there is lots you can do to protect yourself from burnout and low mood. Here are the tips which helped me:

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Surround yourself with people you like spending time with - arrange to see friends after your exams, perhaps for a celebratory meal or a night out, or a simple walk in the park. Seeing others going through similar worries can be reassuring as it brings it home that you're not alone.

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Talk about things - keep in touch with your family back home - if you're finding things particularly difficult or are feeling overwhelmed, consider talking to your personal tutor about it. Sometimes that conversation can be enough, but if not then they may be able to arrange some further help for you from the wellbeing service, or help you apply for extensions.

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Reward yourself for your achievements - if you've just finished an exam or assignment, then celebrate it! Treat yourself to a chai latte and slice of carrot cake from the cafe, go out to town with friends, have a film night - things are always more manageable when you have something to look forward to.

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Do something fun in between your exams and studying - sign up for a few student ambassador shifts if this is something you do, bake something, play some sports, watch a film or show, and (my personal favourite but not my neighbours), play a musical instrument and have a jamming session. Disengaging your brain from your work and returning to it later is a known method for keeping up your motivation and might even help you consolidate what you revised.

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Get some decent sleep - if you can avoid them, all-nighters are not generally a good idea! If you can, try to look after yourself by getting a decent night's sleep every night, eating well and getting enough time outside (even just ten mins a day can help to improve your mood).

I hope this helps, feel free to share any more tips as it would be great to hear them!

Holly
University of Bath

Reply 2

J2002

This is a timely and thoughtful post, Siobhan. The connection between physical activity and neurotransmitter balance, particularly dopamine and serotonin, is well-documented in psych research.If anyone’s interested in the science behind this, this article offers a good breakdown of how specific lifestyle choices (e.g. diet, movement, sleep) can influence dopamine production and receptor sensitivity.

It complements everything you’ve mentioned and gives more neurobiological context for those who like to understand the “why” behind the practices.