University can be a time of great opportunities, but it can also be very stressful. Many students need to support themselves financially and may be living away from home. Students are also under constant deadlines and, if in their final years, need to prepare for life and work after uni.

My colleagues and I research how students can succeed and thrive in their studies.

So, as classes begin for semester one, how can you be proactive about your wellbeing and find a healthy balance between work, study and friends?

Academic and personal wellbeing

There are two interconnected parts of life that are particularly challenged at university. These are academic wellbeing and personal wellbeing.

Academic wellbeing is about your learning and achievement, and how motivated and engaged you are with your studies. Personal wellbeing is about your mental health, self-esteem, life satisfaction and sense of meaning and purpose.

This is where “buoyancy” – sometimes called everyday resilience – comes in. Buoyancy is students’ ability to bounce back from challenges, difficulties and setbacks. It helps them navigate the ups and downs of university life, from competing deadlines, to exam stress and the demands of paid work.

In our research, we have identified psychological and interpersonal ways to help students maintain their academic and personal wellbeing. We call them “the 6 Cs of buoyancy”.

We have found students who believe in themselves to do what they set out to do tend to respond well to difficulty. Boosting self-belief, or confidence, involves two important things.

Focus on the positives: recognise what knowledge and skills you already have. Avoid........

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