I’ve noticed a lot of posts lately about uni stress, exams, burnout, and feeling unsure about why we are even at uni in the first place. I just wanted to share some advice I received recently, in case it helps someone else.
I spoke with a very accomplished and established psychologist who has experience across podcasts, research, publications, and clinical work, and one thing she really highlighted was the importance of journalling. At first, journalling can sound a bit simple or cliché, but she explained that it can actually be a really useful way to slow your thoughts down and process what you are feeling, especially when everything feels overwhelming.
When we are stressed, it is easy for thoughts to pile up in our heads and feel bigger than they actually are. Writing them down can help make those thoughts feel more organised and less intense. It can also help you notice patterns, like what is triggering your stress, what you are avoiding, or what you actually need support with.
Journalling does not have to be aesthetic, perfectly written, or something you do every single day. It can be as simple as writing a few sentences about how you are feeling, what is worrying you, what you are grateful for, or what one small thing is that you can do today. Sometimes even writing “I feel overwhelmed and I don’t know where to start” is enough to create a bit of space between you and the stress.
Something I found helpful from the conversation was the idea that journalling is not about solving everything immediately. It is more about checking in with yourself and giving your mind somewhere to put all the pressure, instead of carrying it around constantly.
So if you are feeling stressed, unmotivated, or unsure about uni right now, maybe try writing things down, even just for five minutes. You might be surprised by how much clearer things feel once they are out of your head and on paper.
You are definitely not the only one feeling this way, and sometimes the smallest habits can make things feel a little more manageable.
