By third-year student Saurav

Exam season can be stressful so it's important to take some time for yourself to relax and de-stress. As a third-year student at the University of Manchester, I've had a fair amount of experience with exams. 

Here are my favourite things to do when university work gets a bit too much...

Grab your favourite drink🥤

Grabbing a drink after classes is a great way to de-stress. It's important to reward yourself with little things throughout the week so that you feel motivated to power through. Luckily, there's a Gong Cha right down the road, so when I'm craving something sweet, I grab myself one of their Milk Teas.

Catch up with flatmates 🥘

After a long, tiring week, sharing a hot pot can be a great way to catch up with your friends; getting your own ingredients can also make it much cheaper than going to a hotpot restaurant. It's also a great way to bond with your friends or flatmates, as spending time with others is great for your mental health.

Get outside 🍂

When the weather is right, and you've got some time to chill, take a walk around your neighbourhood!

You notice little things, like how peaceful it is when you (and hundreds of others) aren't hurrying down Oxford Road to your next lecture. You can spot neat, little details, perhaps a little flower patch that's right behind your house that you wouldn't have found unless you explored your area.

Treat yourself 🍽

Trying out new restaurants is really fun! The other weekend I ended up stumbling into this little restaurant in the Northern Quarter called This & That. Going around trying new restaurants allows you to see more of the city. I've already got a few more places in mind to visit soon.

Zzzzzz 🛏

And finally, sometimes, all you really want to do is just get under the covers and catch some extra sleep. Maybe you've stayed up too late trying to finish some coursework, or you had some last minute exam cram sessions; there's nothing like relaxing by taking a nice, long nap.

Finding your perfect ways to de-stress can really help to get through the exam period. 

Good luck!