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Posted Sept. 4, 2024

Mental health & wellbeing tips for postgrad students

Wellbeing tips for Postgrad students

There are many stages in modern day life where we’re more vulnerable to stress. The most stressful life events feature both happy and tragic occasions, and each takes its toll without the right management or interventions.

The link between stress and quality of life has never been so apparent during our student years. Those studying at a higher level of education as a postgraduate student feel the pressure with everything from course workloads and job searches to budgeting, maintaining relationships, and striking a balance between study and free time.

While institutions play an active role in helping students at all levels support their mental health and wellbeing, taking the lead with your own stress management techniques is vital. Read on to discover our mental health and wellbeing tips for postgrad students.  

Prioritise the basics

During the most stressful periods of our life, including achieving the results you desire from postgraduate study, it can be so easy to overlook the basics.

Sleep is one fundamental that should be prioritised, with a solid eight hours each night directly supporting your body and mind. Getting the sleep quality and quantity you need to boss your waking life isn’t easy however. It all starts with a decent sleep routine, here the Sleep Foundation explains how to perfect yours:

Having the same sequence of steps to prepare for bed can signal to your body and mind that it is almost time to sleep. Your routine should help you feel ready for bed. What you can do: Tailor your nightly routine to suit your own needs and preferences. You may want to put on comfortable pyjamas, brush your teeth, do a relaxing activity, then turn out the lights. Complete the steps of your routine in the same order every night.

Bring balance to your day

Developing a routine that serves your mental health and wellbeing in the day is another must we’d recommend. Make physical activity – in whichever form you prefer – a part of your daily regime, alongside relaxing practices like breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness. Remember, you are what you eat too and, as this guide details, eating healthily doesn’t have to break the bank.

You should also dedicate time to maintaining the relationships that are important to you, touching base with family and maintaining an active social life with friends.

Balancing work and play is integral to success at any stage of life, including during your postgraduate studies. Manage your time effectively to ensure you achieve your academic goals and look after YOU.

Find your triggers – and figure it out!

We all have our own stressors, with some postgrad students finding certain scenarios, events or factors more stressful than others. 

Finding what triggers stress for you is important. Even if your stressor cannot be avoided (looming deadlines and budgeting woes are all a part of postgraduate life), knowing what you’re up against, how it makes you feel and what you can do to manage stress while negotiating it will help you move forward positively.

If tight postgraduate deadlines are among your triggers, prepare yourself by brushing up on those time management skills. If it’s your finances that are stressing you out, work on that budget. There are steps you can take to ease stress, whatever you get anxious about.

Don’t do it alone

More and more universities are helping their students put their mental health and wellbeing first. Social events, shared spaces, group training, dedicated mental health support services, online support and peer mentoring are just some of the procedures institutions facilitate, so be sure to access them. You don’t have to go on this journey alone.

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