Welcome to Managing StressThis guide provides information, activities, useful books, and contact information to support you to manage stress. You may also want to have a look at the following guides
Preparing for Exams and Revision
For additional information about the services available to you at University of Suffolk see Student Services
Stress is a natural feeling, designed to help you cope with challenging situations. In small amounts, it’s good, because it pushes you to work hard and do your best. However if the demands of life seem too great to cope with it may help to plan each day with time for work, other tasks and time for relaxation. If symptoms persist you may want to visit your GP or the Suffolk Well-being Service. See before for useful websites and tips
(https://www.readytochange.org.uk/suffolk/pages/home.aspx )
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/studenthealth/Pages/Copingwithstress.aspx
Identify your best time of day do important tasks that need the most energy and concentration at this time
Make a list and arrange them in order of importance
Try to vary your tasks in a day
Try not to do too many things at once if you have too many things going on at the same time
Once you are finished tasks take a few moments to pause and relax. Don’t dwell on the past or future worries
Have a change of scene, take a short walk or focus on what happening around you
Reflect on what you have achieved
Try to get away every so often even if it’s for a day out
Develop a hobby or interest as it can be a great release to use your brain in a completely different way from your everyday work
Make time for friends- talking can help put things in perspective.
1. Be Active- exercise can help clear thoughts enabling individuals to deal with problems more calmly, reducing some of the intensity of what you’re feeling.
2. Take control-loss of control is the main cause of stress and looking how you manage your time may help.
3. Connect with people- talking things through with friends will help.
4. Have some “me time”- try to a couple of nights a week of me time.
5. Challenge yourself-continuing to learn will help you to become more emotionally resilient.
6. Avoid unhealthy habits- don’t rely on alcohol, smoking and caffeine.
7. Do volunteer work- help other people. If you don’t have time to volunteer try to do a favor every day.
8. Work smarter, not harder- prioritise, accept that you may always have something to do
9. Be Positive- be grateful. One of the ways gratitude does us good is by helping us to build our relationships with other people, which make them and us happier. Science shows that gratitude increases how willing we are to help and forgive others, which helps us all get along.
10. Accept the things you can’t change- focus on the things you can control.
If you do experience a problem while you study, talking it through can be the beginnings of its solution, and within the University of Suffolk, you will always find someone to listen.
• Your personal tutor wants to help you with the academic elements
of your studies.
• The disability and wellbeing team will talk to you about anything from how to apply for a DSA and get personal mentoring to meeting an assignment deadline, and including setting up alternative exam arrangements.
• Online and paper-based study support materials that help you develop your skills and keep you motivated.
The Question of Morale by All images included in this guide are available through Creative Commons licensing CC-BY-2.0
