Christmas is a fantastic time of year but can also come with its extra stresses: travelling home to see the family, more travelling when you get there, making time to catch up with all your friends not to mention the pressure of buying presents.
Here are a few tips to look after your mental health this Christmas.
Not going home? If you are staying in Bath over Christmas we have some events taking place that are free for anyone to join. Come along and help decorate our tree or join us for Christmas lunch. We can also help put you in contact with other students staying in Bath, take a look at our webpage for full details.
Be active: Exercise is great for our mental health so keep it up over the festive period.
Sleep: Christmas can be a busy time for some but lack of sleep can affect our mood. Take time to get some good sleep and re-charge.
Eat well: Christmas was made for food right? We can all overindulge a bit at Christmas so try to mix it in with some healthy meals. Too much of eating unhealthy food can affect our mood and energy levels.
Get outside: Enjoy the time of year, wrap up warm and cosy and get outside. It’s also a great way to take a break. You may have got used to the independence and routine of University life so need the occasional break. Fingers crossed for snow.
Plan ahead: If you traditionally have a busy Christmas travelling or catching up with friends try to plan ahead. This way you can make sure you have enough time for you and if you don’t schedule some in, don’t be afraid to say no.
Alcohol in moderation: If you are a drinker we all know Christmas can be a time we have a few more drinks than normal. You know what we are going to say, just have some balance.
Make time to relax: Carve out some time for yourself, take a walk, play some sport or just relax in the bath. The holiday season is a time to recharge so don’t cram too much in or spend the whole time studying.
Be grateful for your Christmas: Like the summer Christmas is one of those times where everyone is a social media star, shouting about how much fun they might be having or what gifts they received. Take the time to think about what you are grateful for. Everyone celebrates Christmas differently and to a different extent, not to mention how far a camera angle or Snap Chat filter can go to exaggerate. So don’t spend your Christmas comparing yourselves to others.
Keep in contact: It can be easy to forget about university friends over Christmas, keep in contact and support those friends that need it. If you are feeling lonely don’t be afraid to reach out and catch up with friends.
What to do if you feel low?
Christmas can be a difficult time for some people. If you find that you are struggling there is still support available even in the holidays. The Wellbeing Team run a drop-in every day of the year (including Christmas Day) so pop in if you need some support, are feeling a bit lonely or just need to chat with someone.
There are also these services you can contact:
Samaritans is free to call or email.
Call: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
SANEline provides telephone support to those affected by mental illness
Call: 0300 304 7000
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