De-stress for success

Events and resources to help you manage exam stress

Join us for free on campus and on demand events to help you relax and destress during exams.

With exams approaching and assignment deadlines just around the corner, we're here to help you take a moment to pause, breathe, and recharge.

De stress for success is about hitting pause on the daily study grind and prioritising your mental health & wellbeing. Find us on campus and online from Week 10 and onwards for a full line up of activities, freebies, and more to help you destress during exams.

Weekly activities

The Student Life team will be running a series of events before and during exam season to help you destress, recharge and get the best out of your exams.

Wednesday 21 October @ CC

Mystery Box
Pottery

Ask a Study Coach | 11am – 2pm | @ CC

Got a question about Assessment 3? Wondering how to prepare for your final exams? Come and chat with a friendly study coach!

Yoga Class | 12pm – 1pm | @MUSAC

Stretch, move and reset with a relaxing yoga session at MUSAC, including a free yoga mat.

Thursday 22 October @ CC

"Beer" Pong
Pipe Cleaner Flowers
Face Painting : Add some colour to your day with free face painting on campus.

Marquee activities

Visit our purple Student Life stall for games, giveaways, wellbeing resources and relaxing activities to help you unwind between study sessions.

Activities include:

Mystery Box
Pong Challenge
Reaction Test
Ring Toss
Food and drink refreshment

Creative and relaxing activities

Take a study break and unwind with our booth activities at our marquee stalls. Designed to help you relax, get creative and recharge during exams, these activities will be available throughout the day:

Pottery – for a calming, hands-on creative break
Tote bag painting – to unwind and express your creativity
Pipe cleaner flower making – for a simple and relaxing craft activity
Slime-making – for some hands-on creative fun

Other resources

Sensory Space – Waranara Library

Macquarie’s Sensory Space, located on Level 2 of the Waranara Library, is a dedicated place for students who may be feeling overwhelmed or anxious. It offers a calm environment to relax, decompress and manage sensory overload.

Please note that this space is available exclusively for Macquarie University students.

MindSpot Big 5

MindSpot are collaborating with Macquarie University Student Wellbeing to give students access to the Big 5, an online quiz and SMS based tool that helps you manage your mental health.

Try the Big 5 Quiz

The Big 5 Wellbeing Messages gives you daily SMS nudges Monday to Friday for 6 weeks to help you increase your Big 5 and manage your mental health through university life.

Access the Big 5 Wellbeing Messages

Also, check out the Big 5 Self-Assessment and Journal for more ideas on how to better manage your mental health.

Please note the Big 5 is not a treatment, if you need professional support please reach out to Student Wellbeing or your doctor.

Mental health check

When you’ve been stressed out and not feeling quite like yourself, it can be difficult to know what to do. Check your levels of stress, anxiety or low mood and see if you might benefit from learning specific tools to improve the way you feel with This Way Up’s free and anonymous Take-a-Test Tool.

Take a test

External Health & Wellbeing Resources

Managing university stress is easier when you support your body and mind with evidence-based habits. These free, trusted tools are funded by the Australian Government and national public health charities to help you find balance during high-pressure semesters:

Mental Wellbeing & Stress Management

Healthdirect: Relaxation Techniques for Stress Relief — Learn practical, quick-acting strategies to calm your nervous system, including guided breathing exercises, visualization techniques, and progressive muscle relaxation. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief

Beyond Blue: Keeping Active & Mental Health — Explore the direct link between active movement and stress reduction, featuring tips to improve your sleep, sharpen your focus, and lower your risk of burnout. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/wellbeing/keeping-active

Physical Activity & Fitness Standards

Healthdirect: Fitness and Exercise Guide — A beginner-friendly starting block for running, swimming, walking for fitness, or joining low-impact community exercise groups safely. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/fitness-and-exercise

Department of Health: 24-Hour Movement Guidelines — Look up the official Australian scientific benchmarks for balancing daily cardiovascular movement, regular strength building, and minimizing sedentary sitting time. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity/24-hour-movement-guidelines-for-all-australians?language=en

Balanced Nutrition & Simple Cooking

LiveLighter Australia — Dive into an extensive library of fast, budget-conscious, and delicious recipes designed to help busy students skip the junk food and cook healthy meals with ease. https://livelighter.com.au/

Eat for Health Portal — The home of the official Australian Dietary Guidelines, offering nutritional calculators and clear advice on choosing foods that keep your energy levels steady while studying. https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/