How to Spend Summer in Leeds

Jennifer Machin on 8 May 2023

Tired of constant deadlines and exam revision? Well, summer is approaching and there is plenty to do in Leeds. Here’s a comprehensive list of fun things to look forward to this summer to get you through exam season.

FREE ACTIVITIES

If you’re strapped for cash but still want to get out this summer,  here are some ideas for you. 

If you’re still on campus and want to get some fresh air,  go and sit by the pond, next to the Roger Stevens Building, relax and watch the ducks! Campus is also inhabited by plenty of bunnies to brighten your day. 

Alongside this, picnics on Woodhouse Moor are the perfect summer activity. Grab some friends, a speaker and a blanket and sit and relax. Add drinks, snacks, and games for more fun. Alternatively, grab a blanket and book and sit there peacefully alone. Kirkstall’s Armley Beach is also the perfect spot for this, and even has somewhere to dip your toes in!

On a more miserable day, check out Leeds Art Gallery or Leeds Museum as they are completely free! Leeds museum has some amazing exhibitions and even showcases a 3000-year-old mummy. The art gallery is stunning and contains plenty of different periods and types of art for a relaxing day trip. Similarly, Kirkstall Abbey is an enjoyable excursion and is free for all Leeds Residents – but you do need to provide proof of address. Leeds Armories is also free and holds fun battle events!

DRINKING

The sunny weather means one thing…beer gardens! Or why not go all out and try one of the city’s rooftop bars at Belgrave or Headrow House?

If you’re wanting to avoid the busy Otley Run crowds, Summer is the perfect time to round up your friends, get dressed up and give it a go, particularly on a weekday. There is less chance of getting caught in the rain, and beer gardens mean more seating available. 

With the approach of summer, keep an eye out for the University of Leeds society balls, which will be taking place across May and June. Plenty of Societies are announcing tickets right now and provide tickets for non-members too. Plus, lots of them provide free drinks!

ACROSS THE CITY

Leeds has plenty of things going on this summer, with comedy shows, theatre performances and club events every week! Alongside this, there are plenty of festivals to attend in Leeds this summer: from the popular Leeds Festival to Live at Leeds, and festivals to celebrate the 2023 year of culture. There are even opportunities to attend non-music festivals, such as food festivals!

Kirkgate Market is also a fun and exotic place to visit, with all sorts of products on sale. Summer is the perfect time to visit, so you can enjoy their indoor and outdoor stalls simultaneously! They also often have fairs to attend, such as record fairs. Kirkgate Market is also right next to the Corn Exchange, which contains many small businesses and cool finds.

If you’re wanting a good view of the city, try out Leeds Water Taxis. It only costs £2 per person and is a unique experience for a sunny day.

Looking for something close to home? Hyde Park Picture House is due to reopen in the next few months and showcases indie filmmakers, alongside being a fun rainy day activity!

SPORTS

Leeds is a city full of sporting events to attend. 

For cricket fans, there are regular summer events at Headingley Stadium, with a great atmosphere and opportunities to dress in costume! The Ashes is being held there in July, alongside lots of T20 cricket and The Hundred.

Alongside this, there are plenty of home games at the Leeds Rhino’s rugby stadium for the Rugby fans as well as Leeds United games to attend for the football fans.

Leeds is also a city well placed for travel to many race courses, for example Wetherby Racecourse and York Races! These are fun events for many non-sports fans too, with a chance to bet responsibly and have fun with your friends.

Ways to Support International Women’s Day 2023

Lottie Passmore on 8 March 2023

Even if you aren’t aware now, you will be on 8th March when your entire Instagram feed consists of the following:

  1. Groups of girlfriends on a night out
  2. Celebrity women, probably Beyoncé, perhaps the Kardashians
  3. Someone’s mother doing amateur modelling in the 80s

All will be unified by something resembling “my women #IWD”. Once upon a time, International Women’s Day became nothing more than an opportunity to show your otherwise apathetic followers that you too are a girl-power loving, feminist queen. For one day a year, if you don’t post anything with the eponymous IWD hashtag, you are a woman hater and may as well join an Andrew Tate fan club. With the stakes this high, chances are you will come across a post of a girl you know full well to have famously and consistently slandered her friends, now aligning herself with the upper echelons of feminism. Herein lies the fallibility of ‘clicktivism’ and why a hashtag does not make you a supporter of International Women’s Day. Instead, you can show your support all year round and avoid becoming victim to an, albeit annual, micro internet trend.

Despite the above, there is obviously no problem with honouring your friends online, IF you are going to love them on the other 364 days as well. University can be a tricky time for comparison, when others are getting internships and job offers, and you seem to be faced with rejection after rejection. Excitement for them can sometimes be overshadowed by your own disappointment but it is really important, both for them and for the longevity of your friendship, if you can give them the praise they deserve. Equally, when you’re enshrined in success, don’t forget about those that are not having the best luck.

If we consider feminism to be the raising of women to reach an equilibrium with men, then it is essential that women are bolstering one another along the way. Not putting other women down to elevate yourself and being nice to your friends are things we should be doing every day, regardless of whether you are posting about it. The International Women’s Day campaign theme for 2023 is #EmbraceEquity, a hashtag with an impact. This year there is a push towards equity for inclusivity amongst all genders, with an emphasis on the fact that feminism that isn’t intersectional, isn’t feminism.

LGBTQ+ women are subjected to a double burden of sexism and sexual-orientation discrimination. A 2021 University study, conducted by Stonewall, showed that nine out of ten LGBTQ+ students have a positive or neutral Uni experience. As a reader of The Gryphon, the likelihood is that, in one way or another, you contribute to Leeds student culture. Think of your words and actions as the microbiome of the university environment and continue to make a conscious effort to make everyone’s Uni experience the best it can be; be vigilant, call out offensive jokes, challenge stereotypes and confront bias. Although LGBTQ+ experiences tend to be far improved than they once were, there is still a long way to go, so if you are wondering whether we still need International Women’s Day, the answer is YES. And if your annoying male housemate asks, “when’s international men’s day?” you can tell him it is the 19th November.

Building Healthy Habits in 2023

Jessica George on 22 February 2023

At the start of the New Year, it is typical for most people to create New Year’s resolutions in the hope of making the new year better than the old. These News Year’s resolutions are often overly complicated, and it is always disappointing when inevitably you fail at keeping them. Rather than create these resolutions, I would like to offer a few simple healthy habits that you could introduce into your life to build a better 2023.

1.Creating a good sleep pattern

The first healthy habit to introduce into 2023 is a healthy sleeping pattern. Sleep is one of the most important things to keep your mind well and to encourage good habits during your day. While getting the full 8 hours of sleep is not typical for a university student, there are a few good habits you can introduce to your life to get the right amount of sleep, to be both rested enough but also in the right mindset to start your day. Setting an alarm every morning is a good first step to take. Waking up at the same time each morning gets your body into a good routine and helps create that healthy sleeping pattern.

2.Eating well

Eating a balanced diet is important for both the health of your body and your mind. While eating five fruits and vegetables per day may seem daunting, introducing just a few healthier foods into your diet can make all the difference. Replacing just one snack per day with a fruit or vegetable is a good way to start and can make all the difference! Starting small and then building up is the best way to introduce healthy habits into your lifestyle. Another helpful step, to make food easier, is to meal prep and make multiple meals at once to help ensure that you always have dinner available even after long days of studying!

3.Planning

One habit that will make 2023 so much easier is to have a weekly plan. This includes writing down classes, study time, nights out with friends and meal plans. Having everything written down is a simple way to take the stress out of the week and make your life easier. It also means that you will not forget any important assignments or tasks because everything is written down. This is a healthy habit that can make life at university much less stressful. Producing a daily checklist means you can plan a reasonable amount of work to get done every day by setting achievable targets.

4.Taking time for yourself

The most important healthy habit to introduce into 2023 is taking time for yourself. Making sure you schedule time to do the things you love – whether it be reading, watching television, arts and crafts – is important to a healthy balance in your life. Carving out time during your busy schedule to just simply do something you love is a healthy habit that everyone should be introducing to 2023! In my opinion, taking care of yourself is the most important habit that you should keep this year.

50 acts to make someone’s day on Random Act of Kindness Day 2023

Felicity Haslin on 22 February 2023

Following ‘Random Act of Kindness Day’, we can all think about one small way to show kindness to those around us, our environment, and ourselves. It doesn’t necessarily mean going out of our way, but the smallest act could make somebody’s day – or even change their life. Here are 50 ideas; pick a few you think you could swing and make a difference today.

  1. Compliment a stranger
  2. Litter pick
  3. Pay for someone else’s thing
  4. Text someone that you haven’t heard from in a while
  5. Give flowers or chocolates to someone
  6. Get a vegan dessert – trust me, they’re hard to find
  7. Make a meal for your flatmates/housemates
  8. Bake something for your neighbours
  9. Tell your friend something you admire about them
  10. Offer to body double for someone struggling with exams
  11. Leave a nice note
  12. Give your favourite person a hug
  13. Tip the server that’s working hard
  14. Give to a charity shop
  15. Play the UN’s vocabulary game at freerice.com to help feed those in need
  16. Send a care package to someone who needs it
  17. Remember something that bothered you about the system at university or work and draft a proposal to change it
  18. Lend your ear to a colleague having a tough day
  19. Download the Finch app and send your contacts some anonymous support from an adorable bird!
  20. Offer to give someone a lift
  21. Tell someone that you’re thinking of them
  22. Send a handwritten letter or postcard
  23. Arrange a potluck dinner with friends
  24. Bring water, tea or coffee to people working or studying with you
  25. Send a jigsaw or book you’ve finished to a family member or friend
  26. Download the ‘Thought Catalog’ app and use CBT techniques to tackle your negative thoughts
  27. Send a thank you card to a medical professional or surgery that helped you out
  28. Email an old teacher that inspired you or made a difference
  29. Tell your lecturer that you found their lecture interesting
  30. Pick up a piece of litter as you pass on the street
  31. Sign up to donate blood
  32. Re-rack weights lying around at the gym
  33. Give snacks to mail carriers and delivery drivers
  34. Write a kind comment
  35. Order an extra side next time you get takeaway and give it to someone struggling financially
  36. Help people feel less alone by interacting with the community on the HeadHelp app
  37. Check on elderly neighbours
  38. Let someone know you support them when they’re experiencing a conflict
  39. Be a courteous driver
  40. Put a kind sticky note on a mirror in a public bathroom
  41. Leave a message in a library book
  42. Leave a pack of sanitary products in a public bathroom
  43. Smile at an anxious-looking stranger
  44. Download a Kindness Calendar for daily ideas 
  45. Make an extra portion of dinner for someone you know who is feeling overwhelmed
  46. Start a candid conversation with your mates about mental health
  47. Learn what goes in your recycling bin
  48. Get yourself some of your favourite food and share it with friends or family
  49. Take 30 minutes for yourself today
  50. Ask someone how they’re doing – really

A small act of kindness can go a long way. So, why not give one (or more!) of these suggestions a go today, in honour of Random Act of Kindness Day 2023.

Valentine’s Day: The Practice of Self-Love 

Hannah Pickett on 14 February 2023

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, couples all over the country are being sucked into the commercial pull of roses, teddy bears and dinner reservations. But in this push to declare your love for someone else, there is often little regard for loving yourself. It’s 2023 and it’s time to expand the narrative. 

Self-love is one of the most valuable practices to keep, but it is often one of the hardest. As someone who has recently started a journey towards self-love and self-compassion, here are my go-to tips to get you started on your own journey. 

Invest in a good journal

For me, writing is a form of release. With that, something that has massively helped me become more in tune with myself has been journaling. Taking a few minutes out of each day to jot down any thoughts – positive or negative – allows me to unclutter my mind and feel much less clouded. Along with that, I have found that practising gratitude can be invaluable. In documenting daily achievements, no matter how small, can really help give a positive spin on life. 

Challenge yourself to have a digital detox 

Do you find yourself glued to your phone most of the time and scrolling endlessly on social media? I do too and if anything, it makes my self-esteem worse. It wasn’t until I started introducing digital detoxes into my life that I really realised how addicted to my phone I really was and how damaging that can be. I’m not saying that you should get rid of your phone completely, as these devices can be really great tools. However, if like me, you find yourself slipping into comparison behaviours with others on social media in a negative way, it could be useful to factor in some time out during the day by leaving your phone in a different room. 

Run yourself a soothing bath 

Nothing screams self-care more to me than a hot, steamy bubble bath. I must admit, the bath is probably my most treasured home comfort. But not only that, it is a great place to simply take some time out by yourself and really relax. I personally find that lighting a candle and turning the lights off, does wonders for stimulating the senses and I always come out feeling reams better than when I got in. What’s not to love?

Buy yourself some flowers 

In keeping with the Valentine’s theme, why not treat yourself to some fresh flowers the next time you’re in a supermarket? You don’t need to wait around for someone else to buy them for you, or you may be waiting a while! If, like me, you spend a lot of time in your bedroom, I find that having a bunch of fresh flowers in the corner really helps bring some colour and life to the same four walls and really puts a smile on my face. 

Breathe!

This last one may seem like a given, but I cannot stress this enough. One of the most powerful things that we, as human beings, can do is to take a moment and focus on our breath. Deep breathing really helps to reduce stress, and bring us back to the ground, especially after a difficult day. Even if you simply take one deep inhale and exhale just before you go to sleep, this can really help you to relax. If you’re interested in going a bit further with some longer mindfulness and breathing techniques, there are some brilliant YouTube videos and apps, such as Calm, that are dedicated to guiding you through this process and helping you find your inner peace. 

It can be far too easy to get so wrapped up in loving everyone else that ultimately, you end up forgetting to love yourself! So, this year, let’s dedicate Valentine’s day to loving ourselves and to treating ourselves with all the love and kindness that we truly deserve.

A New Year’s Guide to Journaling

Amelia Averis on 9 January 2023

To reflect, remember, and be creative. Easy ways to ease yourself in journaling in 2023.

‘Journaling’ can sound pretentious, exclusionary, and convoluted, so forgive me. It does, however, seem the fitting word to combine a daily-happenings-and-routine-diary, with rants, song lyrics, and missing chunks – and it’s becoming popular.

Sometimes, all it need be is a list of memorable bits from the week prior, functioning simply to separate moments from monotony in retrospect. Each year, however, a journal will accidentally become more developed and complex as we do more and desperately want to remember it all. Nonetheless, starting the snowball can seem like work.

These are easy ways to ease yourself into full-blown, obnoxiously religious journalling.

Start with a sentence a day

What happened today that separated it from any other day? What is a weird memory you’ll pick out in a year? Not ‘I ate breakfast’ or ‘I went to the gym’. ‘Called mum and spoke about a specific job interview’, ate a meal you don’t usually eat, and someone’s dog came to stay.

Furnish memories

I still so clearly remember an economics lesson that I wrote about because I retold a joke one of the boys made. By writing down that joke, I captured the whole lesson in my memory. You can do this with anything. Pick bits out of conversations, or mental images you’ll want to remember, which table you sat at in the pub, outfits you wore, specific games you played at pres; you’ll be surprised what your brain can remember when it is told to.

Soundtrack

An easy way to journal and capture moments in time is to leave notes to yourself on the music you’re liking at the moment. Just let yourself know, jot it in the margin, it’s an easy time capsule.

‘Things I’ve thought about recently’ and ‘stuff I liked’

…and you don’t have to elaborate. If you don’t want to sit and ‘ponder’, don’t. Podcast wisdom that you liked, a TikTok quote, a realisation you had about your hobbies, ‘I’ve got so much closer with x recently’, I’ve been really liking 70’s music, eating so many olives. You’ve journaled without the faff.

Photos without photos

Capture where you are writing from by drawing your view, or just describe the moment in detail. ‘I can still really taste the garlic from the bruschetta I made, I can hear a house alarm and my incense smells nice’.

Everything goes in

Quotes you like, write it down, receipts, tea-bag packets, notes people left you, fleeting tattoo ideas. Stick in writing you did on other pieces of paper when you had the chance like on the train, copy out stuff you wrote in your notes and when you wrote them.

Let other people do it for you

On holiday I often give my diary to my friends. They write about the day or just say hey, but they sign it and write that they are excited or drunk or tired and it captures a moment without having to recall it the next day.

You can miss days out and then do or don’t binge-write. Don’t be afraid to have chunks missing. Using a blank notebook rather than a diary makes this easier. Just don’t stop! Bullet point the missing chunk in moments you can remember, and carry-on writing.

Seasonal Book Recommendations

Jessica George on 9 January 2023

When the weather turns cold, there’s nothing better than curling up on the sofa with a good book. So, these are my favourite untraditional seasonal book recommendations to get you in the festive spirit!

  1. Just for December by Laura Jane Williams

 This book is the ultimate winter-themed romantic comedy for the season! It’s the perfect fake-dating scenario, where two actors working on a Christmas movie together are forced to pretend to date outside of the set. If you love Christmas movies such as The Holiday and enjoy the fake-dating trope, then this book will be a great read for you.

2. The Christmas Wedding Guest List by Susan Mallery

This book is a great read this Christmas as it includes not one, but two romance stories. It follows two sisters as they navigate finding ‘the one’ while participating in their parents’ vow renewal.  If you love reading about returning to your first love and unexpected relationships, then this is the book for you.

3. Murder at the Theatre Royale by Ada Moncrieff

I always enjoy reading a crime book, and a Christmas-themed thriller is even better! It’s the opening night of A Christmas Carol at the Theatre Royal when ‘Scrooge’ dies onstage, and journalist Daphne King is determined to uncover the truth. This book is set in the 1930s, so it’s the ideal mix of historical fiction and crime thriller, making it a uniquely festive-themed book to read this winter.

4. The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict

When Lily returns to endgame house, where her mother died 21 years ago, her aunt presents her with a game. If Lily solves 12 clues to find 12 keys, she wins the deed to the Manor House and her mother’s killer. The games turn deadly, and Lily soon realises that she is not only fighting for an inheritance…but for her life. This book is a page-turner who-dun-it that will keep you gripped until the very end.

5. The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

This book follows two sisters as they try and save an old bookshop that is on the brink of closing down for good. This book gives all the festive feels, while also focusing on the family relationships between sisters. The stunning descriptions make you dream of a trip to Edinburgh at Christmas time. Ultimately, this book will give you an instant festive feeling which makes it another perfect read for this time of year.


6. Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

This book is a hilariously funny and relatable read this Christmas season. Lucy is determined to get a major piece of business from Ross Miller, so she turns up at his house to deliver her proposal. However, things take a turn when she gets snowed in for Christmas with a family that isn’t hers! The Miller siblings are desperate to avoid their parents’ questions and keep their secrets, and Lucy ends up getting caught in a big family blow-out.

Five Staple Winter Warmers for the Festive Season

Livia Garrod on 9 January 2023

As I am sure we’ve all noticed, the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are really dropping. But, let’s romanticise these cosy evenings in with five staple winter warmer meals to get us through the colder months!

These meals are all centred around utilising seasonal fruits and vegetables, to limit costs and to try to limit our carbon impact. With this in mind, these meals can all easily be adapted into vegetarian or vegan options.

First up, we have a warming butternut squash soup. This is something that really takes me away from cold, damp Hyde Park, and transports me back to my cosy family home! I love the roasted flavour, with a touch of chilli to add some heat and all it takes is a simple stick blender. In my opinion, some crusty bread is a must with any soup. Why not support a local business and take a wintry walk to @leedsbreadcoop (on Instagram) to pick up some freshly baked sourdough to elevate the soup!

Nothing quite says comfort like pasta. Why not try a creamy mushroom pasta or push the boat out a bit with a pumpkin and kale pasta bake with, of course, lots of cheese! Fill your kitchen with the smell of a baking garlic baguette for optimal cosy vibes.

On a similar note, although it might be lengthy, a lasagne is always worth the time! I make mine using quorn mince and add marmite to enhance the “meaty” flavour. In true Yorkshire (and not very Italian) style, I also add a splash of Henderson’s relish. If you’re a Southerner who has never heard of this sauce, you can thank me later! I prefer to make the bechamel sauce using oat milk to add extra creaminess.

Mash and gravy… need I say any more? Sausages and mash with some peas on the side to add some vibrancy is an easy hit and sure to give you all the wintry feels.

And finally, unsurprisingly, we have the roast. Undoubtedly better had in a pub on a Sunday after a long walk and accompanied by a pint, but nothing beats the satisfaction of making your own. A dried stuffing mix comes in at under a pound and couldn’t be easier and the vegetable prep shared between friends just adds to the wholesome environment. Roast potatoes should only ever come golden and crispy. Make sure to boil them in salted water and shake them up to make them nice and fluffy, before moving them to a tray of hot oil to get the ultimate crisp! 

So, whether you’re cooking for one or clubbing together with housemates, you’ll be sure to warm up your soul with these tasty, and, surprisingly nutritious recipes!

An essential guide for grabbing coffee on campus

Emily Parker on 2 November 2022

We have all been in the situation when you are walking to that dreaded 9am lecture and you realise that you are in desperate need of a morning coffee to get you through the day. So, whether you are new to university or have known campus for years, this list will point you in the direction of some of the best places on campus for coffee, so you will always be equipped for the day ahead.   


1. Café Nero – Business School

Scattered around campus you will find a selection of Café Neros, which means that wherever you are on campus you are never far from caffeine. However, a personal favourite of mine is located in the Maurice Keyworth building, within the Business school. If you are walking through Hyde Park, this offers the perfect early morning coffee so that you never need to attend a lecture without a coffee in hand. Not only this but due to its 19th century architecture, this is one of the prettiest buildings on campus and a mesmerising place to study. When sitting here, sipping at a warm drink, it is difficult to not feel like the main character in a historic movie. Students also get 25% off with the Café Nero App!

2. Common Ground

Located in the heart of Leeds University Union, Common Ground is potentially the most apt spot for a midday coffee. This spot caters for all needs, whether you’re in need of a quick coffee before darting off to your next lecture or looking for a cosy spot to set up for a productive study day. With its pastel walls, Common Ground breeds a positive atmosphere which makes it the perfect spot for those gloomy days on campus. If that wasn’t enough, Common Ground (alongside its partner Balcony) provides one of the cheapest coffees on campus so is the perfect everyday coffee stop.   

3. 1915

This is tucked away on the East side of campus, within the Sir William Henry Bragg Building, which makes it a perfect first stop off from Woodhouse. With ivy trailing down its walls, it provides a calming atmosphere, perfect for studying on those stressful days. Furthermore, this also features a swirling light feature to lose yourself in  – just make sure to not get distracted!   

4. Hugo’s 

One of the most unique places to get coffee on campus is Hugo’s café. This is a must for any Leeds student because, let’s be honest, you don’t see campervans selling coffee every day. With its bright blue walls, this café can’t be missed on campus. However, if you are still unsure about its whereabouts, Hugo’s can be found opposite the Union. Around here you will find many chairs and benches which makes this a perfect outdoor spot to meet friends for a coffee on sunny days. Or, if it is less sunny, this is simply an ideal place to pick up a coffee in a rush, whether on your way to a lecture or as you walk towards home. 

How to cope with Autumn anxiety

Mia Stapleton on 2 November 2022

As the winter months draw nearer, we start to lose some of the British summer sun.  People begin folding up their sunbeds, packing up their barbecues, wrapping up warm, and spending a great deal of time indoors.

Many experience a feeling of anxiety in the Autumn, which can be down to reasons such as: changing of the seasons, the loss of ‘summer,’ and nerves towards the festive season. You may feel anxious, irritable, and tired. Know that you are not alone, as these are all very common things felt by those struggling.

These feelings often go unspoken about, as we only ever hear about seasonal depression in the winter and summer months.

Here at The Gryphon, we have compiled a few ways that you can support yourself, and others, through this time (including some funky and creative ways to spend your time!).

1. Getting more sun

 Just because we are missing the warmth of the summer, does not mean that it is healthy to always stay inside. Even though it sometimes may feel difficult, exposure to sunlight or even fresh air throughout the entire year is one of the best ways to maintain mental and physical wellness. Sunlight boosts your serotonin and vitamin D, a lack of which has been proven to be one of the biggest culprits in seasonal blues. If you feel up to it, try and get outside today, even if it is just a walk to the shop.

2. Take yourself on a solo ‘date’

As the saying goes, you are often your own best company. If you’re wanting to spend some time alone, or your friends aren’t around, don’t feel like you have to stay indoors. There are plenty of things to do solo!

  • Grab a quick coffee at one of Hyde Park’s many cafes.
  • Buy a new book from Waterstones, from fiction to biographies, they have it all.
  • See a new film at the Hyde Park Picturehouse.
    (if you’re short of ideas, the University of Leeds Union Instagram uploads places to visit around campus, daily.)

3. Go pumpkin picking with your pals

What better way to celebrate autumn’s arrival than  by visiting a pumpkin farm! Take a day trip to pick out a pumpkin, and return home for a night of carving, seasonal films, and your favourite snacks. Even better, it is often a relatively cost-effective day’s worth of entertainment, what a bonus!

4. Have a cosy movie night

Staying at home doesn’t have to feel sad. Grab yourself your favourite food, whether that be home cooked, ready made, or a takeaway, and have a cosy night in, Whether it be your favourite comfort films or listening to a podcast. Lift your spirits by taking some much-needed R+R.

5. Take a walk

It may sound simple, but choosing to stretch your legs outdoors can really boost your mood. If you usually take the bus, consider walking instead.

Some of our Leeds’ favourite walking spots relatively close to campus include:

  • Hyde Park
  • The Meanwood Valley Trail
  • Ilkley Moor (one of Yorkshire’s most famous walks, if you’re willing to travel) take the X84!

6. Enjoy a drink

If you’re a fan of a drink every now and then, consider going to a pub, or perhaps a winter beer garden. It’s a great way to socialise, meet new people, take off some tension, and relax.

Most importantly, do not feel afraid to reach out if you are struggling. Sometimes, it is not as simple as getting out of the house, even though the challenge may be beneficial for you. Speak to others about how you feel, and if necessary, contact professionals.

Never struggle alone.