There are always phases during one’s studies when students have to manage everyday life at home. Whether it’s preparing for examinations, revising in the semester break or working on a final thesis, maintaining social contacts or adapting to constantly changing daily routines can pose a real challenge. The following practical tips and suggestions can help you strengthen and maintain your mental health in your current situation.
Social contacts are unarguably a basic human need. Especially during extended phases of working alone, it’s important to maintain social contacts in a way that benefits you. Even during semester breaks when most students head back home, telephone dates and video calls can help bridge the distance to one’s fellow classmates. It can be helpful to arrange a concrete date and time in the same way you’d make plans for a normal meet-up. Letters and postcards are an old-fashioned but wonderful way to show your friends you’re thinking about them. Creative solutions like game nights and video call reading groups can help dispel boredom and reconnect with other people. When it comes to staying in contact, there is no limit to your imagination.
Especially during semester breaks, you might suddenly find yourself lost without your daily routine of going to classes. Numerous scientific studies have shown that having structure in daily life is very important to one’s mental health. That’s why it’s necessary to think of ways to integrate an alternative structure into your daily life. Eating meals, doing hobbies or working in a home office at fixed times can help you utilise your time at home in a more meaningful, satisfactory and healthier way. This also applies to your sleeping rhythm. Waking up and going to bed around the same time every day not only gives your day structure but also increases the quality of your sleep. Keeping a daily schedule can be very helpful. After just a few days, most people get used to their new schedule and make it a habit.
Studying can be stressful, and after classes there’s a real risk of falling into a slump. Before passivity gains the upper hand, why not try something completely new? Psychological studies have shown that mastering new challenges can be beneficial to one’s mental well-being. For example, you could learn a new language, try a new sport or take up a creative hobby. These are often things you might have been wanting to try for many years. Maybe now is exactly the right time to do it.
Psychological stress can also manifest in other forms – such as heightened muscle tension. In this case, relaxation techniques can be quite helpful. Whether you apply autogenic training, meditation or Jacobson’s progressive muscle relaxation, it’s up to you. As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating! Most health insurance providers offer free (online) courses to introduce you to these methods.
If a relaxation technique doesn’t immediately provide relief, don’t get frustrated. Many times – especially in the beginning – our thoughts keep going around in circles, which is why some practice is usually necessary.
To help you get started, you might want to try some short exercises for in-between (PDF) [de]. There are more advanced online programmes and University Sports courses on health and relaxation with exercises on mindfulness, meditation, autogenic training and progressive muscle relaxation. With a bit of trial and error, you will be able to determine which methods are personally best suited to you.