Our Tips!

1. Quit the comparisons.

‘Tis the season for celebratory social media posts! From pics of fancy food and drinks, to reels with all their details of cosy catch ups—it can be hard to avoid the festive cheer. This can be tough, especially if you’re not feeling the same. If you’re finding it all a bit too much then why not take a holiday from social media too? And if that’s not an option for you, always remember that things are never quite as they seem. Socials posts are often full of everyone’s filtered best lives and 'perfect moments,' and you never really know what's going on off-camera. Nothing can ever be that perfect!

2. Enjoy the eating and drinking…in moderation!

It’s the time for all those ads to show off all their limited-edition seasonal specials. It’s time for your friends to invite you for your third meal out in a week. It’s time for just one more drink, just one more mince pie, just one more chocolate out of that tasty selection box—enjoy it! All of it! You deserve it. But in between the snacking and big social occasions, try to remember to add in a bit of balance with some healthier choices like fruit and vegetables. For a more inclusive and guilt-free occasion, why not try out some delicious alcohol-free recipes for festive drinks instead? Too much alcohol or rich food over an extended period of time can increase your likelihood of feeling irritable, having low moods and getting into those dreaded family disagreements. No one wants that!

3. Keep a routine.

This one may sound hard to do when everything that normally structures your day has gone. No lectures, no sports or society meets, fewer people around.. but things like exercising regularly and sleeping properly are still really important to maintaining good mental health. Why not structure yourself a new routine for the holidays that includes a regular six to eight hours of sleep and a bit of exercise each day? This could be a brisk morning walk in the winter sunshine, a dance-off with your housemates to your favourite festive tunes, or taking part in an online workout session. Be creative with it and have fun!

4. Take some time for yourself.

The winter break can either be full-on with everyone wanting a piece of your time, or perhaps a little bit lonely instead as everyone who is normally around you goes to spend time with their folks back home. Whether you're spending the holiday alone or have a busy social calendar, always remember that you matter. Be sure to schedule in some time for self-care and make the effort to plan something that’s just for you. Whether it’s a day browsing the boxing day sales or some time to curl up with a good book or movie, this is your time; enjoy it!

Further Support

We understand that for some, this can be a particularly difficult time of year. There is even a form of depression specific to winter called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is thought to be brought on by the lack of sunlight during the autumn and winter months. If you are worried about any unusual symptoms of low mood, or feel you need more professional support whilst Uni is closed for the winter break, there are people who can help:

Your Local Doctor (GP). Appointments at your local NHS surgery will still be available throughout the winter break to help with severe symptoms relating to mental health and to let you know what support and treatment is available for you. Not sure if you have a GP? Find out all about how the system works and how to register by visiting Your SU’s wellbeing page about the NHS here.

Spectrum.Life. A free, student-exclusive mental health support service: 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Spectrum.Life offers personal, confidential support, including live web chat, a phone helpline, wellbeing advice and resources, counselling sessions, and other personalized support to help you stay on top of your mental health. To access the service, simply head to the Spectrum.Life webpage and use your university login details with the organisation code ‘CovUni’ to sign up.

Your SU's Wellbeing Support Hub. While the SU advice service is closed over the holidays, try checking out Your SU’s Support Hub: a searchable, comprehensive page of links to organizations, resources, and other forms of support across a huge range of topics.

Safezone. If you're staying on the Coventry or London campuses over the holiday and feel like you are in crisis, you can access wellbeing support through the Safezone app.

Stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy your holidays no matter how you spend them!