How to manage stress while studying at university

Stress is a normal part of university life. Deadlines, exams, financial pressure, and the demands of balancing study with work and personal life all take their toll. According to a Student Minds survey, 57% of students self-reported a mental health issue during their studies. A separate Student Minds survey found that 30% of students said their mental health had got worse since starting university.

These figures are not meant to alarm you. They are meant to reassure you that if you are struggling, you are far from alone. And there are practical steps you can take to protect your wellbeing and keep stress at a manageable level. This guide covers six of them.

Give yourself time to relax

When you have a lot on, relaxation can feel like a luxury you cannot afford. But rest is not the opposite of productivity. It is part of it. Your brain needs time to process what it has learned and recover from focused effort. Without that recovery time, your concentration suffers, your mood drops, and stress builds.

Build rest into your schedule deliberately. That means blocking out time for it in the same way you would block out time for a lecture or a study session. It does not need to be a large amount. An hour of something you genuinely enjoy each day can make a real difference.

What counts as rest varies from person to person. For some it means reading, watching something, or being creative. For others it means spending time with friends or family. The key is that it switches your focus away from study completely.

Study in a different room to the one you sleep in

This is one of the most practical and most overlooked tips for managing study stress, especially for online learners who study from home. Your brain forms strong associations between places and mental states. If you study and sleep in the same room, your brain can start to associate your bed with work, which makes it harder to switch off and harder to sleep.

If you can, set up a study space in a different part of your home. Even moving to a different chair or table can help. When you sit down in your study space, your brain gets the signal that it is time to focus. When you leave it, that focus can stay behind.

If space is tight, try to make a clear physical separation. Pack away your study materials at the end of each session rather than leaving them out. Small rituals like making a cup of tea before you start and tidying up when you finish can also help your brain distinguish between work time and rest time.

Eat well and exercise

When you are stressed and busy, eating well and moving your body are often the first things to go. But they are closely linked to how well you think and how well you cope with pressure.

Research consistently shows that regular physical activity reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. You do not need to run a marathon. A 20-minute walk, a yoga session, or a bike ride a few times a week is enough to make a difference. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood-lifters, and it gives your mind a break from the mental load of studying.

Food matters too. Skipping meals or relying on caffeine and sugar to get through a study session tends to make concentration harder and mood lower, not better. Eating regular meals with a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables keeps your energy steadier throughout the day.

Sleep is the third part of this. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep to function well. Staying up late to cram rarely improves exam performance and significantly increases stress. Protecting your sleep is one of the most effective things you can do for your academic performance and your mental health.

It’s OK to take a break once in a while

There is a difference between resting and giving up. Taking a break when you are burning out is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you understand how your mind works.

If you have been pushing hard for several weeks and you are starting to notice the signs of burnout, such as difficulty concentrating, feeling detached from your work, or dreading tasks you normally find manageable, that is a signal worth listening to. A short break, even a day or two away from study, can reset your focus and make the next few weeks more productive.

Build regular, planned breaks into your study calendar rather than waiting until you are exhausted. Knowing a rest period is coming makes it easier to push through a hard stretch. It is also worth checking your university’s policies on extensions and support, as most institutions have processes to help students who are struggling.

Talk to someone

One of the most common patterns in student mental health is suffering in silence. The same Student Minds research found that 1 in 4 students would not know where to go for mental health support at university if they needed it. Not knowing where to turn can stop people from getting help they genuinely need.

Talking about stress does not have to mean formal counselling. It can be as simple as telling a friend or family member that you are having a hard time. Being heard and understood reduces the emotional weight of what you are carrying.

If you feel you need more structured support, most universities offer counselling, wellbeing services, and academic support for students who are struggling. For online students, these are often available remotely. Your personal tutor is also a good first point of contact. They can signpost you to the right support and, in many cases, advocate on your behalf if you need more time on an assignment.

If you are in crisis or feel you cannot cope, please contact a mental health helpline. Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 116 123. Student Minds’ Student Space also offers specialist support for students.

Form a study group

Studying alone for long periods can make stress worse. You lose perspective on how you are doing, small problems feel bigger than they are, and there is no one to check in with. A study group changes that.

Studying with others, even virtually, creates accountability. You are more likely to show up and do the work if you know others are doing it alongside you. It also gives you a chance to talk through ideas, ask questions, and realise that other people are finding things difficult too. That last part matters more than it might sound.

A study group does not need to be large. Two or three people who are committed to the same goal is enough. You can meet regularly to discuss material, share notes, set each other questions, or simply sit and work in the same virtual space for a couple of hours. For online learners, this is a particularly good way to build a sense of community that can otherwise be hard to find.

Good communication and a shared commitment to the group’s goals are the main things that make study groups work. Agree on when you will meet, how long sessions will last, and what you each want to get out of them. Keep it simple and keep it consistent.

You do not have to manage stress alone

Managing stress while studying is something every student deals with at some point. The strategies above are not a cure, but they are practical and they work. Start with one or two that feel most relevant to your situation and build from there.

If you are an Arden student and you are struggling, please reach out to our student support team. We have a range of resources and services available to help you through difficult periods. Your success matters to us, and we want to make sure you have the support you need to get there.