University is a long distance race, not a sprint. Finding ways to study and revise sustainably is important at all times but much more so if you are pushing yourself to catch up or just to bring everything together for a final win during the end of year assessment period. A week can feel like a long time when you are working hard, so pace yourself and get into habits that will sustain you, not drain you, as you forge ahead.
With that in mind, here are my top five tips for surviving and thriving in the run-up to the end of the academic year:
1. Find the right space for you
Find somewhere with a noise level that you enjoy (from near silent to general hubbub). Reusable sound cancelling earplugs are available on request from the Reception Desk that will reduce the noise from nearby conversations to a quiet whisper. Please ask for a pair if you think they might be useful. Check out our guidance on avoiding noisy spaces.
2. Have your water bottle nearby
Staying hydrated is essential to thinking clearly, feeling calm and keeping your body working normally. Drink generously, sipping water frequently throughout the day. Drinking water bottle refill stations are positioned outside the toilet block in Area 2B on the top floor and beside the new Book Nook near the café (replacing the one that used to be beside the vending machines). The Library Café and nearby 24/7 vending machines are available should you need a caffeine pick-me-up or simply fancy a change.
3. Have a plan for when you need to move
Leaving your valuables unattended is never wise, wherever you are, so either have trusted friends nearby to watch your stuff while it is unattended or have a plan to pack away those things you can least do without (such as your laptop or tablet, and mobile phone) and take them with you when you take an exercise break, go to the toilet or grab a snack. As I always tell students: keep your stuff with you, keep it safe.
4. Learn to focus
“A distracted mind is a mind on the path to destruction” my first yoga teacher taught me. It’s true. If you want to get anything done efficiently, you have to rein in your mind when it decides to take off in all directions at once. Having a sustainable routine reduces distractions but you still need to focus in and actually start!
It can help to work in short, focused bursts interspersed with getting up and moving about, having a stretch or doing something entirely different (drawing, origami, colouring, reading a graphic novel – anything that gets you thinking in an entirely different way is good) helps reset and refocus the mind. Everyone is different but somewhere between 20 to 50 minutes of intense concentration you are likely to find you are getting slower and more sluggish. Notice when this happens for you and schedule a regular 3-10 minute break a few minutes before you expect fatigue to set in to keep yourself working at optimal efficiency. This might feel wasteful but the evidence suggests you will get more, better work done overall using this approach.
5. Ground yourself in a healthy routine
What you do outside of the classroom and the library can have almost as big an impact on your student experience as what you do inside. A regular, sustainable sleep schedule, healthy diet, plenty of water, and enough exercise all help keep you fighting fit and can help you both tackle and feel better about yourself, your studies, and everything else in life. Getting enough sleep, healthy food, plenty of water and staying active all help control stress levels and keep you going through the toughest times of the year. Make any changes you think are necessary now and then keep them going at all costs because these are the habits that will keep you going! Check out this blog post for more advice on healthy living habits to sustain your study.
6. Relax deliberately and regularly
It might sound counter-intuitive, but relaxing regularly is important both for your wellbeing and memory. It is much more difficult to remember what you have revised if you are stressed and anxious, so taking mini breaks and dedicating time to look after yourself is very necessary. Click here for more advice and tips on relaxing effectively.
7. Ask for help whenever you need it!
Everyone needs help and advice from time to time. Asking a librarian can save you a lot of time and put your mind at rest. Our team are here to answer the online chat service from 9 am – 4.50 pm Mondays-Fridays (except on Bank Holiday Mondays) and our library skills drop-in office is open from 11 am – 3 pm Mondays-Fridays (again, except on Bank Holiday Mondays). Click here for advice on all the ways you can get help from a librarian.
8. Start with the end in mind
Now you know how to study and revise effectively, the last important thing is what to focus on. Spend your time and energy on those things that really matter and are going to make the most difference to your grades. The Pareto Principle suggests that around 80% of the marks for most assignments can be achieved with around 20% of the total effort you could invest. In other words, be clear in your mind about what good (or at least good enough) looks like and spend your time wisely to bring everything to at least that standard, rather than polishing one assignment and failing the rest. This might sound obvious, but there is a great temptation to try to do the first thing really well and then find it has overrun, drained your enthusiasm and energy, and that there is now more to complete than you can reasonably get done. Avoid this trap by planning your work, starting with the most important thing, and being strict with yourself about overworking on one assignment at the cost of another.
9. Retain perspective
Keeping everything in perspective is a life skill that you need to develop now if you value your sanity. It is all to easy to panic when things go wrong, and things will go wrong on a regular basis. It is very rarely as bad as we imagine. If you don’t believe me, jot down your predictions whenever you believe disaster is about to strike and what the dire consequences will be. Be sure to go back afterwards and check your predictions. Jot down what actually happened. Was it as bad as you predicted? Almost always, it will be much less bad. Doing this helps train your brain to remain calm in a crisis. This takes time because old habits die hard but keep persevering and you will start to get better at this over time. Remember that if you are in distress or feel like you are about to lose the plot, the Student Wellbeing Service is here to help.