How to Look After Your Mental Health This Mental Health Awareness Week

At UniHomes, we know that university can be stressful. Achieving the perfect work-life balance can be hard, and your mental health can easily take a hit if you’re not careful. But with Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 approaching, what better time is there to be kind to your mind?

We’ve put together a list of quick and easy activities you can do this Mental Health Awareness Week to prioritise your mental health and improve your wellbeing while at uni.

When is Mental Health Awareness Week 2026?

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place Monday 11th May to Sunday 17th May this year (according to Mind).

Here are ways you can look after your mental health this Mental Health Awareness Week:

Digital detox 📱

Young adults in the UK spend an average of 6 hours and 20 minutes a day online, according to Ofcom’s 2025 report – and that’s not even including time spent using devices for work or uni. Whether we realise it or not, spending this much time staring at screens isn’t always the greatest for our mental health, and sometimes it’s nice to get off social media for a few hours.

Try challenging yourself to see how much time you can spend away from your phone this Mental Health Awareness Week. There are loads of mindful analogue activities you can replace doomscrolling with, from tidying your room with zero distractions to hosting a craft night with your faves; the opportunities are endless!

Catch up with your besties 🫶

Sometimes a good yap is all you need. Try getting your friends together at some point this Mental Health Awareness Week (whether that’s for a movie night with snacks, a cheeky bottomless brunch, or even just a quick matcha date) and let the world pass you by for a couple of hours.

It’s a wholesome way for everyone to fill their cup and come away feeling grateful for their support networks.

Soak up some sunshine ☀️

Take it from Mind: nature is a great healer, and being outside (even when the sun isn’t shining) can improve your mental health by helping you feel more relaxed and less stressed.

If you’re lucky enough to live in a student city like Sheffield that’s super well-connected to national parks like the Peak District, hop on a bus and go for a mini hike this Mental Health Awareness Week. If not, your local parks are still a fab source of greenery and can be a great spot for a run or a picnic outdoors.

Move your body 🏃

It’s no secret that exercising is good for you. Aside from helping you stay physically fit, moving your body is important for your mental health – especially if you find yourself sitting down and staring at screens all day for uni.

The NHS recommends that adults do 150 minutes of moderately-intense exercise a week spread evenly over four to five days, so why not commit to being active this Mental Health Awareness Week? You could go for a classic fave like running, or try a new sport like padel or Pilates.

Remember that every little counts, so even if you only find the time to exercise once this week then you should still be proud of yourself (we are in the middle of exam season, after all).

Tidy space, tidy mind 🫧

When your bedroom is unorganised and messy, it can really impact your mental health without you even knowing. Visual clutter easily translates to mental clutter, so try taking an hour or two this Mental Health Awareness Week to give your room a quick going-over.

If you don’t know where to start, look for small, easy wins like making your bed or tidying your desk. You can even get all of your housemates involved with cleaning your student house’s kitchen and bathrooms.

Free 24/7 wellbeing support for UniHomes customers 💙

Between studying, socialising, and finding next year’s student home (not to mention sorting out your utilities), student life can quickly get overwhelming – which is why UniHomes has teamed up with Howden Insurance to provide our customers with free 24/7 wellbeing support.

For more information, visit our Help Centre here or go and give our blog post on supporting your wellbeing at university a read.