The last few weeks of university are always crazy. Here are some habits that you can adopt now to make the chaotic final uni deadlines easier.
Whether you’re an obsessive studier or an “I’ll do it tomorrow” kind of person, university deadlines are no joke. However, studying doesn’t have to mean that you let your self-care slide, and it’s the same in reverse – looking after yourself shouldn’t mean that your studies suffer.
Carve out time for yourself
One of the best habits that I picked up at university was carving out some time for myself. This didn’t necessarily mean going for a one-hour run every day, or doing a mindfulness exercise (although it could!), but also planning weekly events. Heading to the cinema, my local park or even volunteering at my local theatre.
The most important part of this is that you need to make this an environment where you can entirely detach yourself from university. Get into the habit of putting away your phone while you do this.
See also: How To Best Organise Your Student Workspace
Use a planner/to-do list
Particularly if you’re in your second or third year of university, you know how chaotic things are about to get. If you want to make those final uni deadlines easier, planning is key.
Get into the habit of having a list on your phone notes, or a notebook beside you at all times. This can include anything from ‘finish that essay’ to ‘do the food shop’. During exam season, I often became so snowed under with work, I had to remind myself to eat.
Identify your peak productivity times
Are you a morning person? Or do you get the most work done in the evening?
If you are able to, the best way to find out when you are most productive, is to not use an alarm clock for a few days. By doing this, you aren’t forcing yourself to study at 9am if that isn’t your natural wake up time.
Finding your rhythm can take days, if not weeks, but by planning your day according to when you are most productive, you will eventually get more work done in a shorter space of time. This leaves you with more time for everything that isn’t studying: eating, sleeping, relaxing.
See also: How To Give Yourself A Clean Slate For The Spring Term
