As the buzz of freshers’ week has begun to die down, it’s common for students to be left feeling overwhelmed with the sudden mountain of work they seem to have accumulated overnight. And having had months off from studying does not help the situation! Coming from a first year student who had a twelve-week summer holiday following my A-level exams, it’s safe to say I made up for the hours studying with days worth of lounging. However now we have all settled in and met new people, it’s time to reactivate our studious side; toning down the cries for more sunbathing and ice-cream. Although it is important that we don’t get stressed, it is crucial that we begin working from the outset, so we don’t struggle down the line. So, here are some top tips for gaining motivation and entering your academic comeback era:
- Surround yourself with focused people – why not take a trip to the library with a few friends? In this environment, the quiet is guaranteed!
- Plan out your day – weekly planners are great for visualising your day and making your tasks seem more manageable. This should help minimise any procrastination!
- Give yourself breaks – nobody would be motivated to start their day if they knew they had zero breaks for a breather. Plan in slots where you stop reading and listen to music, or grab a coffee. These breaks will help you to be more productive in the long-run!
- Get moving – as the weather is beginning to turn, it’s so easy to not want to leave the warm comfort of your covers, but getting out and moving your body is an amazing way to boost your mood and energy and put you in a focused mindset, ready to kickstart the studying.
- Remind yourself of your goals – why did you come here? What is your aim? And how are you going to get there? You could even create a vision board.
- Treat yourself – arrange things with friends or family. Go to the pub on a Friday night, or out for a meal on Saturday. University is a segment of your life – not all of it can be spent with your head in a book. Having these events in your diary should push you to work on the days you’re lacking motivation, as you know on the other side, there will be fun!
Hope this helps! You’ve got this.
Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash.