How to make going back to university a little less stressful.
We all know that dreaded feeling. And it hasn't gotten any better. You probably still remember the unwelcome “Back to School” ads from grade school, just managing to spoil your mood when you were fixated on an episode of the Simpsons. The time has come where the fresh university semesters begin. It's time to pay your uni's in exchange for your loss of sanity and social life. What a time to be alive. Although the old “Back to School” slogan was feared among our younger-selves, it doesn’t mean going back to university should be the same. Here are some ways to make going back a bit easier.
1. We get it; you just spent your holidays basking up the sun in some European country. Or maybe just snuggled up in bed looking at photos of beaches in Greece and Phuket that your friends have spammed your newsfeed with. Either way, you probably want to be anywhere else but University for another semester. This is why I’m going to talk about how important it is to have things planned - to keep you sane. Whether it’s a little get away to your friend’s place, or a coffee date with yourself and a nice book. It’s important to have other things to focus on besides worrying whether you accidentally plagiarised or not.
2. Next thing you’re going to want to try - is working out a way to remember all your assessments. Sadly, university has this way of swamping you with things to do. And unfortunately, it’s not like when your mother calls you eight times in the day to remind you to take something out of the freezer; chances are you won’t be reminded, and the consequences are just as bad as forgetting to get the chicken out for dinner. Most likely a lot of extra unneeded stress and the possible chance of being shunned. This is why it's vital to keep track of what’s due and when. If you’re the hipster type and still have an actual paper calendar, get that out and write the due dates on that. If not, there are a bunch of countdown apps that are super helpful in reminding you when you need to get your life together.
3. Ever heard the expression - A clean workplace is a happy workplace? Well, if you always thought it was just a lame quote from Dr Phil. You're wrong. Jefferey Campbell, from Brigham Young University did some research and found that people felt like their productivity, concentration, and learning was compromised by uncleaned spaces. So, if your desk currently looks like a war-zone, tidy it up a little bit. No harm is done in getting rid of that old magazine you said you would eventually read. If you want to further this, why not also get some nice stationary for yourself? Go to Office Works and pretend you’re excited about the sale on highlighters. After all, university is all about making yourself believe you're having fun.
4. Before the storm begins, organise your readings. Depending on what degree you’re doing, you may not have to worry about that. However, if you felt like googling “Can I die from reading too much?” last semester, then this may become handy. Before you start, find one to two hours of time for each subject to read up or google the things you didn’t understand in the lecture (we’ve all been there.) It could be on the train home, or just you go to bed. I know this isn’t fun, but it will help you understand what was going on in your lectures. And let’s face it, we all need that extra help.
5. Finally, stay calm. University can bring out the worst in the best of people. The stress of the assessments, passing subjects and enjoying university life can be incredibly overwhelming. It’s completely okay to feel that way, most students do. That’s why there are a bunch of services at universities to help with this. If you’re struggling with something at university, there is most likely someone who can help you with it. Whether it’s help with exam preparation or counselling, just do a nice little search on your universities website, and you’ll find someone to help you. In the end, university doesn’t have to be as stressful as deciding on your lunch order before the morning canteen closed.
