Living well
Living Well
There are many ways in which you can care for yourself to maintain a healthy body and mind.  For example, eating well, keeping active and sleeping well can contribute towards that inner balance, helping you to get through those rocky periods.
However, if you find yourself struggling to cope in some way, whether it be with anxiety, depression, stress, drugs and alcohol or relationships, there are ways in which you can get support.
Eating well can have the most significant impact on your wellbeing, by allowing you to sleep better, have more energy, as well increasing your concentration and ability to think positively and creatively.
When you are feeding your body you are also feeding your mind and your mind's ability to function under stress and deadlines. While it might be tempting to stock up on ready meals and buy takeaways, with just a bit of forward planning you can find a healthy diet that works for you without too much time, effort or expense.
If you are struggling to prep food or don’t know what to make yourself, Bucks Students’ Union offer The Big Bucks Meal Deal, providing free hot meals (including a vegan option) on Tuesdays and Thursdays (from 5:30pm) and Sundays (from 6:30pm).
The SU also run ‘Monday Monthly Meals’, funded by Bucks Council. Where students can sign up and pick up a fee bag of pre-measured ingredients and a meal prep guide for those ingredients. For more information and to sign up visit the .
There are lots of reasons why physical activity is good for your body – having a healthy heart and improving your joints and bones to name a few – but physical activity is also hugely beneficial for your mental health and wellbeing. Keeping active throughout the week helps to reduce stress, boost your mood, improve self-confidence and increase mental alertness.
A great way to meet people and stay active is by joining one of our sports teams or getting a membership to the Gateway gym. You can join a at any time throughout the year as our clubs love to get more members involved. So, even if you’ve never played the sport before, or you’re a long-term fan, there is always a space for you. Just have a look on the to find a team and apply through their page.
The Gateway Gym at BNU is fully equipped with the very latest training equipment and fully qualified Fitness Coaches on hand to assist. There are a number of different membership options available, so take a look at the website to see which suits your needs best.
Sleep balances your mood and can make you happier: lack of sleep can contribute to depression and other mental illness. It is essential for studying and learning, creativity and boosts the immune system. 
To get a better good night’s sleep try to go to sleep and get up at the same time everyday. Limiting caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and big meals at night and creating a restful and calm environment for bedtime can also help you fall asleep easier.
If you are finding it difficult to get enough sleep, the following resources are full of useful information and handy tips.
Your journey through University can be an amazing time of change in your life. But you may also experience challenges and difficulties. If you ever feel like you need a bit of extra support, there are many support services at BNU that help.
At BNU our Counselling and Mental Health Service comprises two distinct provisions: counselling and mental health support, it’s all confidential and completely free too. You can find out more about the Counselling and Mental Health Service on their page.
Bucks Students’ Union can also help if you are struggling. They have a wonderful team of Mental Health First Aiders, who are a point of contact if you are experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. They are not therapists of psychiatrists but they can give initial support and signpost you to appropriate help if required. You can find out who to contact on the .
Being at university can be one of the most exciting times in your life, yet it can also be very stressful. There are many resources available to help you manage your stress levels.
People often get stressed when they feel that they’re running out of time to complete tasks or have important exams and deadlines coming up. Time management techniques can help you feel more relaxed, controlled and focused. Try creating a written work schedule. Look at your deadlines and break down tasks into manageable chunks. Divide your work into urgent and non-urgent tasks, and important and non-important tasks.
Make sure your plan includes frequent study breaks, time management is about achieving high-quality work, not high quantity.
If your stress levels are proving too hard to manage by yourself, and you have tried other resources, you can contact the Counselling and Mental Health Service or visit your doctor.
Coming to university could be the first time that you are in an environment where alcohol can play a big part in your social life. However, drinking excessively and binge drinking, often throughout the week, can create a lot of health and social issues amongst students. Being well informed about drugs and alcohol can help you to best look after yourself and others.
Be mindful of when alcohol or drugs might be playing a role in your life that might be concerning. It’s fine to enjoy a night out and blow off some steam however, if you or someone you know is starting to become dependent on drugs or alcohol to relax you may want to seek some help.
Services like and can offer support and advice about reducing you alcohol intake and dealing with drink or drug problems.