How do you deal with feeling overwhelmed at university?

1.

Keep a non-academic hobby going Having something completely separate from studying helped me switch off. I joined local non-uni groups for walks, pottery painting, jewellery making, scrapbooking and other creative sessions, which gave me a break and introduced me to new people outside of uni.

2.

Create a study setup you actually enjoy using Organising my desk or treating myself to new stationery made studying feel more manageable. I also built LEGO Botanical sets during breaks — small, calming activities like that helped me decompress without getting glued to my phone.

3.

Limit distractions so focused time feels easier Apps like Flora or Forest kept me off my phone and turned study sessions into something more structured. Once distractions are reduced, tasks feel far less overwhelming.

4.

Break tasks into small steps and recognise the progress Thinking in terms of 'read one paper/chapter' or 'write 150 words' made studying easier to start. Noticing each small step helped me stay motivated and stopped everything from feeling like one huge workload.

5.

Use simple time-management techniques to add structure Pomodoro sessions, time-blocking, or planning with Google Calendar helped me balance study, rest and social time. Having a routine made stressful weeks feel more predictable and less chaotic.

6.

Change your environment when you’re stuck If home became distracting, going to the library, a café, or a quiet campus space helped reset my focus. A change of scenery can make a bigger difference than you expect.

7.

Prioritise the basics: sleep, food, movement and social life Getting enough sleep, eating proper meals, going for a walk, or making time to socialise kept my stress from spiralling. When these basics slip, everything else becomes harder to manage.

8.

Avoid overcommitting yourself It’s easy to feel like you should say yes to every society, job or opportunity, but you don’t need to do everything at once. Overcommitting is a quick route to burnout, so it’s okay to protect your time and energy.

9.

Reach out for support early If a module or deadline starts to feel too much, speaking to your academic tutor or the wellbeing team can help massively. You don’t need to wait until you’re struggling severely to ask for help.

1.

Talk it out: Talk to a trusted person—a close friend, family member, or partner. Talking helps you release bottled up stress. When you share the burden, someone else can often calm you down or relate to your experience.

2.

Prioritise breaks: Take a break! This is an important step. Even if you only step away for 10 minutes or an hour, use that time to recharge and unwind completely.

3.

Engage in hobbies: Actively engage in a hobby or interest. You can fit creative activities like painting or knitting into your study breaks, or get some exercise to blow off steam.