It can be pretty rough in November, especially when it comes to mental health, but here at the Students’ Union we have some tips that could help you this Winter. It’s okay to be not okay.

November at University is always a hard month to go through. It's the time that students are starting to feel down. It's normal to feel like this around this time. Assessments are due, you're feeling home sick, freshers week seems like ages ago it's colder and to top it off, it always seems to be dark.
It might seem hard to pick up your mood so here are some of my tips to help bring up your mood whilst at university in November 
 

Christmas Markets

The Christmas markets all around the UK usually start up mid November. Walking around the markets with a few friends to grab a hot chocolate and looking at the weird and wonderful stalls that are on offer really help pick up your mood. It reminds you that Christmas holidays are only around the corner, you don't have long to wait until you get to go home and catch up with your old college and school mates. The Christmas period also brings ice skating rinks. I personally am not a fan of ice skating but I go along and watch my friends make a tit out of themselves with a brew and an extra woolly scarf. The markets offer a different setting to the library, your halls or your house which will help you feel like you have had a proper break outside university life.

Keep busy

It's important that you don't let yourself get consumed when feeling down. Keeping active no matter what it is, helps a lot. Even just making sure you get out of the house, even just for 10 minutes will help your mood a lot. It's easy to waste a day in winter. You start making excuses to why you don't want to go out, why you want to stay inside. Try fight the urge to do this. Personally for me I found that when I stayed inside all day it defiantly effected my mood a lot. I found that if I stayed in all day I would feel like I've wasted a day, that I missed out on doing something which would result in a possible 'spell'. 
Even just going down to the students' union for tea, or a drink with friends will help you feel better. Just getting out and about just helps so much. Fighting the urge to stay inside because it's freezing will be hard but will help a massive amount with your mental health. 

Being Organised

It might be a little late for this tip but if you've just finished your first assignment and spent the couple of days leading up to it not sleeping because you left your assignment to the last minute, it's a lesson for next time. Whenever I did an assignment I always gave myself an early deadline. For example if it was due on Friday, my deadline was Monday, this meant I had a few days after my deadline to finish it, if I needed to. This will help reduce feeling really stressed when deadlines are coming up.  Being stressed about assignments will definitely influence the way you feel around November. We all know students are rubbish at getting assignments in on time. Just remember to try keep on top of it. Give yourself reasonable deadlines, try not be that person who keeps it till the hour before the deadline submission time.

Notes

Linked to deadlines is notes. Keep your notes organised, having organised notes really helps when it comes to assessments, you'll know what folder to look in, what notepad a certain reference was in etc. Don't make it a 'future' me problem, try dedicate some time to sorting and writing notes. Personally I found that I was most productive once I got home from a lecture. Keep on top of it now and you'll thank yourself later. A bonus of keeping organised usually means that you get to buy some cute stationary too!!

Keep going to societies!

As I said in a previous blog, I cannot emphasise enough about societies. They really help when it comes to making friends and giving you a routine of getting out of the house. Most societies welcome new members any time, so contact the chair of the society and see if you can pop along to a session. You will probably find you will be welcome with open arms. If you're too nervous to do it now, try in January. Most societies get intakes of new members in January, so if you feel like you're too anxious to do it now, try again in January.

Cinema & Theatre

I found that in November, a lot of movies come out. To encourage yourself to get out and about in November go to your nearest cinema and go watch some films! If you're like me and love theatre, do the same with a show, you can usually get last minute tickets for shows, or see if there are any theatre deals for students (most theatres do!) Watching a film in the cinema or something at the theatre can be a great way to get out the house, you can go on your own or with a friend or two. But I defiantly recommend it! (It's also inside so you don't need to worry about the cold!)

Take a trip home

Most people are feeling a little home sick around November, so try see if you can plan a trip home for some time in November. Rail cards are only £30 and give you really good savings on tickets which can help you get home when you're feeling down. I recommend trying to go home at some point in November, it's the perfect time (and you can always take some washing that you are definitely behind on!)

Some helpful links

Rafiki Peer Support

Denizen Halls Reps

Counselling & Wellbeing Service - 0161 295 0023

You can also find the number for Nightline, a student mental health helpline on the back of your student card.