Times have been tough since the pandemic started last year, in 2020. Due to many campuses closing throughout the various lockdowns, students have had to learn how to fully commit to distance learning and getting inspired to keep going, even in these tough times. Working from home comes with its challenges too. The distractions are endless, people’s mental health tends to be worse than before, and staying organised and creative can seem impossible.
Though
things have been extremely difficult, there are some steps you can take to give
yourself the best chance at successful revising and general homeworking. Below
we have listed some of the ways that you can help yourself stay on top of
student life, instead of letting it overwhelm you.
Stick to a Routine and Study Plan
Our
brains are programmed to do well when sticking to a routine, so try to recreate
that with your home study. Though it might seem silly to always wake up at the
same time, and finish work at the same time, the structure of a routine is
likely what most people need, particularly in a year without much structure.
Losing
your daily structure can massively impact your ability to retain information.
Having a routine will not only give you purpose, but it will also make you feel
inspired and driven. You could also try setting various goals for your
revising, projects, deadlines etc. Scientifically, by meeting goals and having
‘successes’, no matter how small, your brain will get empowered and you are
likely to feel more motivated to keep going.
If
you are having a hard time with a particular project, try switching it up to
something you know you could succeed at. This will help get your brain back in
the game and feeling creative. And don’t forget to get plenty of sleep too! Lack
of sleep will make you feel groggy and less energetic, which can make revising
and working so much harder.
Give Yourself Space and Time to Rest
Particularly
during this strange and hard year, it is likely that your mental health has had
some major peaks and valleys. It can be tricky to balance your working schedule
with your relaxing schedule, particularly if you are stuck at home for most of
the day anyway. Though you don’t have to live by a strict work and rest
schedule, it’s ok to give yourself a break when things are getting too
overwhelming.
You
won’t be doing your best work if your stress and anxiety is skyrocketing, so
give yourself time to rest, meditate, breathe, and take the space you need.
Giving yourself a break when you truly needed is likely to get your head in a
better state, and will improve your focus and your work.
And
if you start lagging in a project, try changing it up and working on something
else. If you can get inspired working on a different section or project
altogether, you are likely to return to the previous project feeling inspired
and energetic.
Don’t Forget to Take Breaks
Though
it may seem obvious, breaks are crucial to effective study, but it’s very easy
to forget about them, or simply decide not to take them. Long term, this is not
likely to improve your mental health and instead could make you stuck and
resentful. Plus, giving yourself distance away from work will not only give you
a fresh perspective, but it also allows you to mess around and procrastinate on
your designated breaks, instead of your designated work time.
It’s
also important to remember that it’s ok to work late sometimes but try not to
do it too often. If you set a time to finish, try to stick to that time.
Sometimes we feel the need to ‘make-up' time when we have easily gotten
distracted throughout the day, but don’t make yourself guilty. You could quite
easily work the extra time, but be too tired to do anything productive anyway!
Get Frequent Fresh Air and Exercise
Yes,
we know this has been said so much over this last year, but let’s not forget
it! Even just taking a step outside could be the difference between you feeling
revitalised and ready to keep going, and completely giving up. Fresh air is
good to clear the mind and can also help to give your brain the space it needs
to recover and get back into gear.
You
could try doing indoor exercises too. Mini workouts, yoga or even simple
stretches throughout the day can help break you out of a funk. By getting your
physical body moving, your brain will also start moving.
Maintain a Tidy, Peaceful Working Environment
This
could be tricky for some, but having a more minimalistic working space is
likely to help your brain focus more. The more things you surround yourself
with, the more distractions your brain then has. Even if the only thing you
keep tidy is your desk, it is still worth it! Our brains can retain more
information when there are fewer distractions around and that includes less
mess.
Stay in Touch with People
As
many of us have probably learned this year, the isolation this pandemic has
brought has been incredibly hard. Even for more introverted people, the lack of
human contact can still make everyday life and tasks harder to do. Try to stay
in contact with friends, family and housemates as much as possible.
You
could even try getting a study buddy that you video chat and study with
throughout the day. It’s important to not let loneliness and isolation get the
best of you, so don’t forget about your social life, even if it is limited.
Remove Stress by Finding Your Student Accommodation
Here
at Unihousing, we want to help students find a good fit for University housing.
Having your own space that fits your needs, wants and budget will help with not
only your mental health but with your whole student experience. Unihousing is a
top letting agency in Selly Oak, and whether you are looking for a shared house
or a student studio, we have a variety of properties for you to choose from.
Contact our team today to view our properties and register your interest.
