Good Mental Health and Studying

Student life is often challenging. Studying involves juggling a lot of different demands and constantly setting and achieving new goals. Many students forget how important it is to look after themselves and take their body signals and emotional moods seriously. However, a stable balance between academic demands and personal well-being strengthens resilience in stressful times. Self-care plays a central role in this.

Some people intuitively have a good sense of their own needs. They respect their personal boundaries even when they are going through difficult times. Others find strength through stress management and relaxation techniques. The concept of mindfulness also helps many students to become more aware of their own thoughts and feelings, and to find serenity and calm. These approaches are often the first steps toward achieving physical and mental balance. Some of the techniques even help to better cope with exam anxiety and performance pressure.

We have compiled an overview of tips and information to help you stay mentally healthy throughout your studies. Learn about different approaches to achieving greater serenity and find contact persons and counseling services at the University of Mannheim and beyond.

Self-Care

Self-care means focusing on one's own well-being and needs. Taking good care of yourself and your individual resources is important in everyday university life in order to maintain a healthy balance.

Stress Management

Stress is a part of student life – this attitude is still widespread. However, when stress becomes part of everyday life, it can be harmful to your health. Here are some tips on how to study without feeling overwhelmed.

Mindfulness

The concept of mindfulness can help you cope better with performance pressure and exam anxiety. But it has even more advantages. We show you what these are, what (relaxation) techniques are available, and where you can find support at the University of Mannheim.

Physical Fitness

Many students find that physical fitness, good nutrition, and enough sleep are essential for balancing the demands of their studies. We reveal why regular exercise helps reduce stress, why healthy eating gives you extra energy, and why getting out of bed feeling refreshed is an advantage.

At times, the demands placed on us can be overwhelming. This can not only disrupt our individual stress levels, but also lead to serious personal crises. Thankfully, there are people at the university who offer support or simply a safe space to talk. You are not alone—reach out for help.

Exam Anxiety

Almost everyone feels some natural nervousness before an examination. This can also have a stimulating effect. For some people, however, such situations are not positive challenges, but very stressful: they suffer from exam anxiety. We explain what this means, what you can do about it and where you can find support.

Addiction Prevention

Lectures and examinations, study-nights and part-time jobs—student life can be very demanding. Not everyone finds a healthy way out of this feeling of stress and mental overload. Read more about how addiction develops, what its characteristics are, and where you can find help.

Help in Times of Crisis

Financial worries, strokes of fate, or mental and chronic illnesses require more comprehensive responses and possibly ongoing (medical) support. We have listed contacts and counseling services that students can turn to for professional advice and support in times of crisis.

Disclaimer: We would like to use these pages to shed light on the topic of mental health and studying. Our staff members in the various departments and institutions of the university are committed to ensuring that you remain physically and mentally healthythroughout your studies. To help you achieve this, we provide some helpful ideas and recommendations on the following pages. We also list contact persons and counseling services offered by the university or external organizations. Please note, however, that the information, tips, and recommendations provided are not a substitute for psychotherapy or medical treatment. For this reason, you will also find information and links to therapeutic services and emergency assistance outside the University of Mannheim.

We would also appreciate any comments and feedback on the pages at onlineredaktionmail-uni-mannheim.de.