As the academic term progresses, making student wellbeing a priority is an important element of guaranteeing success at university. Student wellbeing, and incorporating it into a regular routine can vary from student to student.
Creating a routine that is relaxing, and works easily around academic responsibilities can be a staple aspect of student wellbeing, and can encourage a sense of calmness during the academic year. University students are often presented with stressful and anxiety-inducing situations; from exam and assignment stress to the rising cost of living crisis, student wellbeing is often overlooked, due to the demands that come with studying at a university level.
As a city that has a variety of creative and cultural experiences on offer to students, Manchester is home to art galleries, museums and historical buildings, all free for students to visit. Incorporating cultural experiences into regular leisure routines can help to promote a greater sense of wellbeing, and provide a relaxing and enriching alternative to nightlife activities. Students often turn to clubbing and partying, in order to help with managing stress during the academic year, however this can compromise certain aspects of wellbeing.
The Whitworth Gallery at the University of Manchester regularly has new exhibitions on offer; currently, the Santiago Yahuarcani: The Beginning of Knowledge exhibition is on display, focusing on the works of the indigenous activist and artist, Santiago Yahuarcani, and his visual storytelling of the Uitoto people, from Peru.
Phoebe Brennan, 20, is a student at the University of Salford, and she describes student wellbeing as “giving some time to yourself, because obviously, moving away for a lot of people or even commuting, it can be quite hard to find that time for you”.
“I think there’s quite a lot [on offer for students in Manchester]; I don’t think you hear about it as much as clubs, and stuff like that, but I think there’s a lot especially in Salford, with there being an art gallery on campus [at the University of Salford]”.
According to the House of Commons Library, 1 in 6 undergraduate students in the UK now reports dealing with some form of mental health challenge, and in the latest survey conducted by Student Minds, 57% of respondents self-reported a mental health issue.
Placing an emphasis on student wellbeing, and taking the time to incorporate some relaxing practices into everyday life can be a key element of ensuring academic success throughout the year.