Uni and mental health: Managing your finances and workload

Managing finances can be stressful, and it is common to have financial difficulties affect our mental health. In 2022, 22% of those who took part in a survey attributed high levels of stress to debt worries.

Having the tools to help you manage your finances effectively can relieve some of the stress and pressure you may feel about money.

Tips on managing your finances

Setting yourself a budget can guide you towards where you can and cannot spend more. Remember that everyone’s budget will be different as we all favour different aspects of life. Check out Save the Student's budget calculator.
Loans can provide a short-term solution to help you, but remember that they need paying back with interest, which can lead to stress. Make sure to get advice about loans first: check out Student Space's information and advice.
Talking about your financial worries can help. You may learn something useful and realise that a lot of people are going through similar worries to you – you're not alone. Places like your uni’s student services, Money Helpers or Citizens Advice can provide information about options available to you.
Things like food and clothes can drain your money if you don’t learn how to spend smartly. Check out Student Minds information on finance for more spending life hacks.

Behind The Books - Uni and mental health - talk-to-people

Behind The Books - Uni and mental heath - Managing workload tips

Managing your workload

Managing your workload as a student is not always easy. And you may find that the difference in your workload at uni compared to when you were at school and college challenging. If this takes a toll on your mental health, please remember that you're not alone.

Tips on ways to manage your workload:

Keep track of all your deadlines, keep important dates and tasks in one place. You may choose to write them down in a notebook, put everything in an Excel or Word file, set reminders on your phone/ laptop, or even use a notice board.
Trial different time management methods e.g., to-do lists, calendars. What works for someone else may not work for you so it’s worth finding out what works best for you.
Take time regularly to sit and plan out your workload.
Be flexible but realistic with your time. It may be a good idea to schedule which dates and times are best for you to work on an assignment before the deadline.
It’s okay to take breaks and relax. It’s important you look after yourself and are in a good headspace to complete your work.