Create your own wellbeing box

What is a wellbeing box?

A wellbeing box is your personal toolkit for wellbeing. You fill it with things that relax or ground you, and open it when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

We’ve designed this page for students, to help you to cope with the challenges of uni or college life, but anyone can make one.

Use our interactive feature below to try out some ideas, before making your own!

What goes in a wellbeing box?

We recommend building your wellbeing box around the 5 Ways to Wellbeing.

Just like we look after our physical wellbeing by getting our 5 portions of fruit and veg a day (or trying to!), we can look after our mental wellbeing by doing these 5 activities every day.

Connect: Things to help you feel connected to people

When we’re stressed or down, we can find ourselves withdrawing from friends and family. It’s tempting to cancel plans when we’re not feeling up to it, so try to include something in your wellbeing box that helps you feel connected to others in those moments.

Keep Learning: Things to help you use and strengthen your skills

It might not always feel like it when the pressure’s on for assignments and exams, but learning does wonders for our wellbeing.

It’s the things that make us feel useful and skilful that give us a boost, so try to include something that reminds you of the skills you can be proud of.

Be Active: Things to help you get moving

When we’re feeling down, exercise can be the last thing we want to do but, actually, that’s when we need it most.

It doesn’t need to be a marathon, though. Anything that gets you moving can give you a boost, so try to include something that will motivate you to get on your feet.

Give: Things to help you be generous

You know that great feeling when you’ve done something nice for someone? It’s scientifically proven to be good for our wellbeing, so why not include something in your wellbeing box that will help you give an act of kindness to someone.

And don’t forget that it’s just as important to be kind to yourself.

Take Notice: Things to help you stay in the moment

When the pressure’s on, we can often be drawn into memories of the past, or worries about the future. Sometimes it can feel like these thoughts help us to prepare ourselves, or solve a problem, but remember our brains work better when they’re calm and rested.

Grounding techniques can help us clear space in our brain to think - or even better, to just enjoy the present moment. Try to include something that helps ground you in the present moment.

Want to learn more ways to improve your mental wellbeing?

We’re often asked, how do you know when to access support? The most simple answer is whenever you feel you could benefit from our support. If you’ve found the information on this page helpful, explore our website to find out how we help, and make your self-referral.

We offer a wide range of mental health support, all available free of charge on the NHS for people aged 16+ who are registered with a GP in Hampshire (check our map here).

Our services include:

• SilverCloud: online tools to learn how to look after your everyday wellbeing,
• Managing Moods: Our online course teaching a toolkit of helpful coping techniques,
• Tailored support for living with a long-term physical health condition  
• Specialist talking therapies for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and phobias.

Have you heard about?

Nightline: A number for students to ring for confidential support during the evening and nights.

Samaritans: Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. Call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or download their new self-help app. 

Student Space: One-to-one support for students, to help with whatever challenge you’re facing.

Students Against Depression: A website by students, for students, offering guidance and resources to combat low mood or depression.

Shout! Free, 24/7 support by text. Text Shout to 85258