Key takeaways:
Your time at university can be exciting and challenging. But you may also find yourself facing high levels of stress, especially in your final year. Besides anxiety over your exams, you may worry about entering the workforce and paying off any student debt after graduating.
Whether you're a first-year student or preparing for graduation, these practical tips will help you foster your wellbeing. That way, you can maintain balance between all aspects of your wellbeing and enjoy your time at university, and beyond.
Stress can be brought on by external factors, and it can come and go (much like that presentation you're worried about). Everyone responds to stress in different ways.
Signs of stress can be:
If you're experiencing chronic stress, you may want to look at adjusting your priorities. Studies show that there is a strong link between students struggling with mental health issues and higher drop-out rates.1 It may be worth talking to a professional if you find yourself in need of help.
You'll encounter stressors at school whether you're doing your classes online or in person. Some of the most common causes of stress for university students include:
Slow down and see if there's anything you can change in that moment to improve your wellbeing. Money can be a difficult cause of stress to eliminate entirely, but with the right sort of planning you may be able to curb it. List out your priorities, re-evaluate them and you might be able to save yourself some money.
Worried about paying for college for yourself or your kids? There's more than one way to fund your studies abroad.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by your financial situation, you're not alone. A UK student report shows that almost 3 in every 4 students surveyed have considered dropping out of university – 41% of which stated that this was due to money worries.2
Taking care of your financial wellbeing can help you feel secure and in control of your day-to-day expenses. Without it, our mental health, physical health and relationships may be affected.3
So if you need guidance, you can talk to your financial institution. As a leading international bank, HSBC's global banking capabilities enable us to support your education journey at every step of the way – from pre-departure planning and settling in overseas to returning to your home country after studying abroad.
Healthy habits lead to better financial and physical fitness and improved mental health.
Some stress is unavoidable. But you can learn to respond to it so it affects your wellbeing less. Practise good coping strategies that create healthy habits. These changes will have a positive effect on all facets of your wellbeing.
You'll find that small changes such as getting in some physical activity and eating well can greatly boost your mood. And getting enough sleep will help you with much more than feeling rested. Sleep allows your body the time it needs to repair cells and convert your short-term memories into long-term ones. So hit the pillow after hitting the books for better recall!
Good debt or bad debt? Your brain can't tell the difference. It all takes a toll. According to a recent study on the psychology of debt, the accumulation of debt can build up stress, anxiety and frustration even if you have a plan in place to pay it back.4
Whether you're planning to study abroad or you're already there, consider how you'll manage your money. Think about what kind of bank account suits your needs as a student and how you can use any credit cards you have wisely. Not every financial product is the same in every country, and every student has different banking needs.
It's important to practise strategies for managing stress so they're in place when you most need them. If you need help with your physical or mental health, talk to your college counsellor or a healthcare professional. If you need guidance in creating a financial plan, you can get in touch with your bank.
We offer comprehensive support to international students around the world with our network of 6,000 offices in more than 60 countries and territories.
We can tell you the best way for you to apply for an overseas account. Simply select your current location and where you would like to open an account. We'll then walk you through the steps.
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