Your 2026 reset: Positive changes to try this year
New year, new term. This is a great time to make a positive change for your wellbeing.
Whether you’re looking to build healthier habits, try a new hobby, or overcome something that’s been weighing on you, there are loads of resources across UoB to help you make meaningful, manageable changes in 2026.
Here are a few ideas for kicking off the year with confidence – plus the tools and support to help you stick to them.
1. Get active in a way that works for you
If ‘moving more’ or ‘getting fitter’ is on your 2026 list, there are plenty of options.
Try home workouts for free
The Wisdom app has tonnes of workout videos, yoga flows, guided stretching, and beginner-friendly fitness programmes you can do anywhere. It’s ideal if you want to ease into movement at your own pace.
Coincidentally, you can also access the UBHeard live chat through the app. Find out how to download the Wisdom app for free.
Join the gym
UoB Sport & Fitness offers student memberships, classes, and the free Wellness Service, where you can speak to trained staff who’ll help you achieve your health and wellbeing goals. Find out more from Fitness and Wellness Manager, Peter Antonio.
Make your exercise a social event
If you’re in Uni accommodation, Active Residences are free weekly activities like basketball, dance fitness, and badminton that are great for keeping moving and meeting others. You can also explore sports groups with options for both beginners and competitive players. It’s a great way to keep fit while also making friends!
2. Look after your mind
By building calming, reflective activities into your routines – even if it’s just 10 minutes at a time – you can improve your focus and ease stress and anxiety.
Meditation, journalling, and breathwork
The Wisdom app has meditations, sleep audios and grounding exercises that take just a few minutes. The Science of Happiness podcast also has a helpful episode on a breathing exercise proven to calm your body and lower stress and anxiety.
Journalling is another great way to give you a private space to process emotions and make sense of your thoughts and what’s going on in your life.
Try the Wellness Service at Sport & Fitness
The supportive Wellness team can help you explore movement, mindfulness, and wellbeing routines that build resilience. If you’d like to try meditation or mindful practices, this free service gives you a real person to help you put those habits into your everyday life.
Find stillness on campus
The Multifaith Chaplaincy in St Francis Hall (next to the Guild of Students) offers peaceful spaces for reflection, prayer, quiet, or simply taking a breather between lectures.
They host a variety of regular events including meditation, yoga, and Friday prayers, which are open to all faiths and none. Sign up to the Multifaith Chaplaincy newsletter to find out more.
3. Build healthier habits
When University life is busy, sometimes the basics can be forgotten – like getting enough sleep around an assignment deadline!
Giving yourself daily or weekly goals and using a tracking tool like the one in the Wisdom app, can really improve your health and wellbeing. You could even make a habit ‘non-negotiable’ for yourself, meaning you prioritise completing it every day.
Some ideas include:
- Enough sleep (sticking to a regular bedtime and waketime helps!)
- Water intake (always remember to bring your refillable bottle when on campus as there are plenty of filtered water taps)
- More movement (if you’re looking to get more steps in, try the campus mile in a break or wander around Winterbourne gardens)
- Daily fresh air and daylight (even just 15 minutes can have a positive impact!)
- Limited caffeine (cutting out caffeine from the afternoon onwards can help improve your sleep)
- Limited doom-scrolling (no explanation needed)
- Fruit and vegetables (you could try two portions of fruit and five portions of veg each day)
4. Try a new hobby or creative outlet
Sometimes the best wellbeing boost is doing something fun just for you!
Pause@UoB craft sessions
Weekly craft drop-ins are perfect for trying something new, switching off, and meeting people in a calm space. Social connection does wonders for our wellbeing and the Pause team are trained for emotional support if you need someone to talk to.
Guild societies
Whether you’re into baking, board games, Bollywood dance, or environmental activism, there are Guild societies for almost everything and joining one can boost your mood and sense of belonging – plus you never know where a new skill might take you!
5. If 2026 for you means overcoming something tough, support is here
The new year can bring motivation but also reminders of challenges you want to work through. You’re not alone.
Finding support for a problem is not a sign of weakness; it’s a brave step towards a healthier, safer, more hopeful version of yourself.
Better Than Well: an addiction recovery community
Better Than Well is UoB’s support community for students in recovery from drug, alcohol, or behavioural addiction. Hear from the programme lead Luke Trainor, and find support from those with shared experience.
Pivotal Recovery for problematic porn use
Pivotal Recovery is a free, confidential online programme for problematic porn use. Find out more about Pivotal and how it can help you in this interview with Pivotal founder, Dr Paula Hall.
UoB’s therapeutic service
If you’re looking for professional support, UoB’s therapeutic services offer confidential counselling to help you work through whatever’s on your mind. You can register at any time and get matched with support that fits your needs.
However you want to grow this year, you don’t have to do it alone
Birmingham is full of opportunities to feel healthier, more connected, more confident and more you. So try a small change or explore a new activity.
The best way to make sure your New Year's resolutions stick is to make use of the community around you; we’re here to help you through.