My Subject: Thrive: Stress management

Why stress isn't all bad

Stress is the body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It's an evolutionary response designed to keep us safe. It's very common to experience stress and it can be motivating to help us achieve things in our daily life. Stress becomes problematic when we don't have the tools to manage it, and when it's ongoing or long-term.

Download the Fika app and start working on the stress management course
Stress management is a tool you will need for life. The skills that you learn at University through managing stress will no doubt be useful to you in your home life, your work and your career beyond your time at MDX.
Counselling and Mental Health
If you feel that the stress you are experiencing is not manageable, ask for support. You could start with a one-off appointment with Counselling and Mental Health. If your workload is the main cause of your stress though, speak with your Programme team too. Don't forget that it's expected that you experience some stress during your time at MDX, but you shouldn't ever be feeling so alone that you cannot cope.
Counselling and Mental Health groups and workshops
Counselling and Mental Health offer safe group spaces to discuss experiences with fellow students, learn skills and offer support to help you better understand yourselves.
Student support events
Teams across the University are regularly coordinating a number of events which you might useful to manage your stress levels.

How to relax when you're stressed

Think about why you are stressed. Is it academic pressure, personal problems, or a combination of several things? Experiencing some stress can be useful. Too much however is unhelpful and can lead to poor wellbeing.

What practical steps you can take to tackle the root cause of the stress/stressors? For practical advice on issues that might be causing you stress, check out the MDX welfare advice guides (link on the homepage). If it's your academic studies, ask for help from your lecturers, your Personal Tutor, SLAs or the Learning Enhancement Team. We have support teams ready to support you with whatever it is (or combination of things) causing you stress, so please reach out if you need a helping hand. It might be that whatever is causing you stress is something which is outside of your control, in which case you need to try to work on letting go of the worry. Mindfulness may help with this (see below). Counselling and Mental Health, or other external options to support your mental health, might be helpful to you.

Exercise is one of the best ways to beat stress. Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins which boost your mood. Exercise doesn't have to mean working out at the gym every day. Find an activity that's fun and sustainable to your lifestyle. Anything that gets you moving and your heart rate up - walking with a friend, dancing in your room, cycling to University etc.

It is important to fuel your brain by eating a well balanced diet in periods of stress. Like a car, you have to ensure that you are fuelling yourself right to get the best performance with the fewest problems.

Plan and organise what's stressing you out. Write a list of everything you need to get done and plan how you will do this. Be realistic - don't set yourself targets you can't achieve. Make sure that your to-do list goals are SMART and reward yourself when you complete tasks.

Read March 2022's wellbeing spotlight on procrastination and study skills

Top 10 stress management techniques for students

45 easy ways to relax in your room

Students: 10 ways to beat stress

The Yerkes-Dodson law

Some stress is good for us and our performance - be that in exams, in sports or giving a presentation. Too much is not good for us though, particular over extended periods.

Watch the video below on time management and planning - some of the best ways to manage stress associated with University workloads.