One of the hardest things about the Christmas period is that whilst there are so many deadlines and January exams to study for, this is also the time of year with the most festivities. It seems impossible to get it right; on the one hand, staying in and studying means you are doing your best in your degree. However, on the other hand, knowing friends will be getting mulled wine from the Christmas market while you sit inside on a dark, cold evening is enough to make you lose interest in working completely. With seasonal changes in light affecting mental health and overworking meaning you can be at risk of burnout or anxiety, getting the balance right is vital.
Here are some tips which Iāve found helpful in keeping on the right track.Ā
1. Make sure that when you are studying, you are doing it effectively, and right
Understand the way that you work best. For me, waking up at a regular time and working in the morning is easiest ā itās when I have the greatest amount of energy, clarity and focus.
2. Establish a routine at the beginning of each week
Use a weekly planner – free online with a quick google search ā and decide when you are going to work, what you are going to work on, and when you are going to stop and relax.
3. Donāt be overambitious
Be realistic about what you can actually get done in a day.
4. Pomodoro your way to greater focus
Human beings are incapable of focusing for large lengths of time without breaks, so try the Pomodoro technique. Set a timer for 25-40 minutes and work solidly. Take 5-10 minute breaks in between these chunks and step away from your laptop, make some tea, put up some decorations or do something else you enjoy.
5. Start your assignment today!Ā
Weāve all been there; a deadline feels like months away but before you know it there is only a week to go! Donāt be the person stuck indoors over Christmas because of deadline procrastination, get going now!
6. Eat that Frog!Ā
I use Brian Traceyās Eat That Frog ABCD method to prioritise my work starting with the most important, scary tasks ā the āAāsā, things you absolutely have to get done – all the way down to the āDāsā, bits which you could leave until later. You tackle the most horrible things at the beginning of the day when you have the most energy, and then that spurs you on to do the others. It also means if you donāt get the D, C, or even B tasks done, there is no guilt sucking your motivation the next day, and when you stop to enjoy coffee with a friend, you arenāt stressing about work.
7. 10 minute time trick
Struggling to get started? Just put on a timer for ten minutes and tell yourself that you will work steadily for just that tiny amount of time, no matter how terrible what you achieve is. Switch your phone off, close your door and do it. Telling yourself you just have ten minutes removes all the pressure of perfectionism, and before you know it, youāll be pressing repeat on the timer and getting stuck in.
8. Donāt overwork
No matter what you might think, as long as you are doing your best that is enough. We are only human. Donāt completely cut out downtime just to get your deadlines in. Your mental health and wellbeing comes firstā¦
If you need support now or over the holidays, speak to your lecturers or reach out to the Wellbeing team.
Written by Evanna Kappos, studying English Literature.