University is exciting, inspiring — and sometimes exhausting. Between lectures, assignments, part-time work, and trying to maintain a social life, it can feel like every hour already has a task attached to it. That is why more students are starting to think differently about productivity. Instead of pushing non-stop, they are learning how to study in a way that is sustainable.

But what does that actually look like in practice? From booking a personal care appointment to rediscovering a creative hobby or simply stepping outside for a walk — there are more ways to recharge than most students realise. In this article, we cover the most effective strategies for building real recovery into your university routine, and why doing so might be the smartest academic decision you make this term.

Ways to Recharge and Reset During Your University Week

Taking time away from academic life is not just about rest — it is about actively recharging through experiences that remind you there is more to life than deadlines. Here are some of the most effective ways to reset during the week, each easy to fit around a busy university schedule.

1. A Visit to a Hair or Beauty Salon

One of the most effective ways to create a clear boundary between study mode and recovery mode is booking a personal care appointment. Stepping into a calm, professional environment — away from your desk, your screen, and your campus — gives you a defined window of time that belongs entirely to you. For Londoners, PIED-DE-POULE Salon London offers a range of hair, skincare, and grooming treatments in a relaxed setting that makes it easy to genuinely switch off. An appointment takes one to two hours, fits easily into a weekend or a lighter study day, and provides exactly the kind of structured, off-campus break that resets your focus.

2. Sport and Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is one of the most accessible and effective ways to clear your head. Whether it is a gym session, a group fitness class, a swim, or a casual kickabout with friends, movement shifts your focus away from academic pressure and gives your mind a genuine rest. Most universities offer affordable or free access to sports facilities, making this one of the easiest habits to build into a weekly routine.

3. Walking and Time Outdoors

A walk does not need a destination or a plan to be effective. Even 20 to 30 minutes in a park, along a canal, or through a part of the city you do not usually visit can significantly reduce mental fatigue and restore a sense of perspective. For students in London, the city offers an enormous variety of green spaces, riverside paths, and quiet neighbourhoods that are easy to reach and completely free.

4. Creative Hobbies

Engaging in something creative — drawing, photography, cooking, journaling, playing an instrument — uses a different part of your thinking and provides meaningful relief from the analytical demands of academic work. Creative activities do not need to be productive or goal-oriented to be valuable. The point is engagement with something that has nothing to do with your coursework.

5. Social Time With No Academic Agenda

Time spent with friends away from study talk is one of the most restorative things a student can do. A shared meal, an afternoon in the city, or a low-key evening with people you enjoy — with an unspoken rule of no deadline conversations — restores a sense of normality that intense academic periods quietly take away.

6. Cultural Outings

Museums, galleries, cinemas, markets, and live events offer a complete change of environment and a genuine mental reset. Many cities, including London, offer free or low-cost access to world-class cultural spaces that are easy to visit on a student schedule. Even a couple of hours in a different environment can shift your mindset more than an extra hour at your desk ever could.

7. Digital Detox Time

Sometimes the most effective reset is simply stepping away from your screen. A screen-free afternoon — no phone, no laptop, no notifications — removes the low-level background stress that constant connectivity creates. Paired with any of the activities above, it significantly deepens the quality of your rest.

Taking time away from study is not something you earn after finishing your work. It is something you build into how you work. Whether it is a booked salon appointment, a walk through the city, an hour at the gym, or an afternoon with friends, the form matters far less than the habit. Students who protect their recovery time consistently find that they return to their work with more focus, more motivation, and a clearer sense of direction — and that is an advantage worth building into every week.

Building a Sustainable Self-Care Routine

Self-care works best when it becomes habitual rather than reactive. Waiting until you feel overwhelmed before taking a break means the break is already overdue. A more effective approach is to build recovery into your week from the start.

A simple framework that works well for students:

• Daily: At least 30 minutes of unstructured, screen-free time
• Weekly: One activity that takes you fully off campus — a walk, a social outing, or a personal care appointment
• Monthly: A slightly longer reset, such as a day trip, a creative workshop, or a full day without academic work

This does not require a significant financial investment. Many cities offer free parks, museums, community events, and social spaces that provide genuine mental relief.

Why Self-Care Is Part of Academic Success

Success at university is not only about working harder. Increasingly, students and wellbeing professionals recognise that balancing study with personal time makes the overall experience more sustainable, more enjoyable, and ultimately more productive.

The students who perform best over the long term tend not to be those who sacrifice the most. They are those who have developed the self-awareness to know when to push and when to step back. Building that skill during university is one of the most transferable things you can take into professional life.

FAQ: Self-Care and Student Wellbeing

Q: I feel guilty taking breaks when I have deadlines. How do I manage that?

A: Schedule breaks in advance like any other commitment. Planned rest feels intentional rather than stolen, and it is a proven part of effective study — not a distraction from it.

Q: What are the signs that I need a proper break?

A: Watch for difficulty concentrating, persistent low mood, disrupted sleep, or loss of motivation for things you normally enjoy. If several of these apply, rest is not optional. These are signals worth taking seriously.

Q: Are salon or spa visits actually helpful as a student break?

A: Yes. A booked appointment creates structure, removes you from your study environment, and gives you a defined window of time that belongs entirely to you — which is exactly what many students are missing.