We all know that feeling of exhaustion after a long day of lectures, when a full night’s sleep doesn’t quite recharge your batteries. It’s normal to feel exhausted when you’re adjusting to uni life, especially when your attention is divided between multiple responsibilities: attending lectures, studying for assessments, and social activities. This blog post provides you with seven ways of rest to reduce fatigue.
1. Physical rest
Physical rest is more than just ensuring you have a decent night’s sleep, it also means waking your muscles after long hours of studying at a desk. There are simple ways to include physical rest into your routine:
- Setting hourly reminders to stretch your body after sitting at a desk.
- Taking regular periods away from screens.
- Attending a yoga class at the Sports Centre to strengthen your body.
2. Mental rest
Mental rest is needed when you’ve spent the day taking on mentally demanding tasks. It leads to your brain feeling foggy, and you’re unable to concentrate on the simplest tasks or conversations. Luckily, there are ways to combat mental fatigue, and here’s how:
- Listening to your favourite playlist.
- Sitting in silence (yes, sometimes it’s needed).
- Doing mindless tasks such as washing dishes or doing clothes washing.
3. Emotional rest
There are ways to reduce feeling emotionally overloaded and prioritise your well-being. This means incorporating activities into your daily routine that allows you to express yourself emotionally. These include the following:
- Journaling or brain dumping before bed.
- Setting boundaries by scheduling regular “me time.”
- Talking to the Uni Wellbeing Team.
4. Social rest
Social rest is more than just attending social activities; it’s having time with yourself or other people where you’re able to be your authentic self. Here are a few ways to incorporate social rest into your routine:
- Having lunch with a good friend at the Old Fire Station Cafe.
- Spending time alone walking in nature.
- Saying “no” to social events (and not feeling bad about it).
5. Sensory rest
It’s easy to become exhausted from studying in a busy environment. You’re surrounded by bright screens, talking people, the smell of food, and so forth. Sensory rest involves stepping away from an environment that overwhelms you, and here simple ways to do just that:
- Unplugging from technology at the end of the day.
- Taking yourself for a walk around Peel Park.
- Relaxing in a low-light room.
6. Creative rest
Catch yourself feeling uninspired? If you’re someone who solves problems or is creative on the daily, then this type of rest will help inspire you on your next project. Here are some ideas to reconnect with your creative side:
- Taking out a book to read from the library.
- Trying a new hobby at Salford SU.
- Exploring the art exhibition at Salford Museum.
7. Spiritual rest
Spiritual rest is when we feel that we have a sense of purpose, that we belong to something much bigger than ourselves. This doesn’t have to be regarding your career path, it can also be your religion, connecting with nature or having a passion. Here are examples of spiritual rest in action:
Remember that our Wellbeing Advisors are always here to support you if you’re struggling to adjust to uni life. You should never feel afraid to ask for help to improve your daily routine and reduce exhaustion. You can easily book an appointment with a Wellbeing Advisor on our self-referral form.
