What actually is stress?

Stress is the body's response to facing a difficult situation; such as feeling threatened or put under pressure. Contrary to popular belief, stress affects not only the mind but the body too and can negatively affect our overall wellbeing. Stress umbrellas a wide range of emotions such as anxiety, irritability and anger, while also be the root cause of physical issues like headaches, stomach issues and trouble sleeping.

What can cause stress and how can I combat this?

We've looked at some of the most common stress issues facing students and have put together some practical tips for you.

1. Money 

Financial stress is one of the top causes of stress in a university student's life as you'll likely be on a limited income while balancing work with your studies: this is why having a good budgeting plan is essential.

• An extremely helpful app that is free to all UWE students is 'Black Bullion'. this app has budgeting tools (such as setting targets and tracking purchases), calculators and video lessons.
• Having a Totem card gives you access to money off food, fashion, travel and more while also allowing up to 14% cashback on everyday purchases. Even more discounts can be found on apps like 'Student Beans' and 'UniDays'. All are completely free to access and can be used on hundreds of brands.

2. Exam deadlines and revision

University comes with strict and busy deadlines with assignments that overlap and can cause you to feel overwhelmed and overworked.  

• Using a personalised planner (either online or physical) to create a structured schedule for each of your deadlines helps create an organised space for you to plan your days around revising in conjunction with any other plans you may have during the week. These can be purchased from our Students' Union shop, any local super market or free on the app store.
• Organising all revision tools or notes and having a clean, clear work space allows room for a clear mind and the ability to focus without the distraction of clutter.
• Taking 10 minute beaks every hour to make sure your mind is refreshed and avoids burning out is vital to being on your 'A game'.
• Avoiding caffeine, as although coffee and energy drinks seem as if they will help the body stay awake and focus, it actually encourages adrenaline, which in turn increases anxiety and can result in 'lows' where your energy drops rapidly.

3. Isolation

Feeling like you will never meet 'your people' can be very scary and stressful and lead to self isolation and even lead to students dropping out. This must be tackled,  we have many opportunities for you to expand your circle.

• The Students' Union hosts a wide range of events open for students' with all different hobbies to attend and meet others who share the same interests. They range all the way from gaming, to historic walks around Bristol to, raves.
• Societies are a great way for students to learn new skills, get out of their accommodation and meet like-minded people. There are religious societies, special interests and academic societies. Helping you to understand and explore your identity in more detail and most importantly, have fun!
• Apps such as Friend Match and Bumble are similar to dating apps in the way they are formatted (with customizable profiles that show your interests to others), however are focused on finding and forming new friendships. These provide a wide range of people from all over Bristol which can also help students from outside  of Bristol to explore more of the city.

4. Burn out

Spending all your time, day and night revising for exams will lead to you becoming emotionally and physically exhausted and losing your motivation to study in the future. It's vital to mange the stress, delegate when to focus your brain on studies, and when to relax.

• Going outside! We all underestimate the difference some clean, fresh air can make to the mind and body. This could be anything from a hike, a 10 minute walk to even just sitting on a nearby bench.
• Not having enough sleep per night will lead to trouble focusing, slow reaction times, mood changes and increase daytime tiredness. Having a good sleep routine (ideally the same for both weekdays and weekends), winding down (with meditation, coming off electronic devices and reading) can all help clear the mind and allow for an easier journey to sleep.