Studying is hard work – especially when you’re balancing it with work and a social life – and it’s normal to feel tired and unmotivated as you reach the mid-way point.
Don’t worry, we’ve put together some tips to help you smash the second half of term at uni so you don’t spend all semester feeling exhausted and uninspired.
Look after your body
You will not perform well in your studies if you’re unhealthy, which is why you must take good care of your body at uni. Start by making sure you are nourishing your body with healthy foods. Here at Glide, we advise you to ditch junk food for brain-enhancing foods like fatty fish, blueberries, broccoli, peanuts, and coffee. These foods will give you more energy while you’re studying, whereas junk food will make you feel sluggish.
It is also important to keep your body moving. Regular exercise has loads of health benefits and it will also reduce stress and lift your mood by pumping ‘feel-good’ endorphins around your body. Most gyms offer fantastic student discounts so take advantage of these to get fit for less. You can also do fun exercise classes at home with your friends – there are loads of free workout videos on YouTube and Facebook.
Take a break to relax
Taking a break might be the last thing on your mind when you’re feeling stressed and bogged down with uni work. However, it’s one of the best ways to prevent burnout and boost your productivity. Giving yourself time to relax will reduce stress and help you stay focused on your assignments, you’re well into the swing of living with your housemates and splitting utility bills.
Schedule regular study breaks and make sure you have some downtime every day. You can relax by listening to music, watching TV, exercising, or going for a walk. If you feel like you need a break, then take one before you feel stressed or overwhelmed. According to UCL, regular breaks will enhance your memory, boost your energy, lower stress, and improve your health.
Get lots of sleep
Getting eight hours of shut-eye a night can be difficult when you want to enjoy yourself and get involved with all the fun social activities on offer – we get it. Statistics reveal that uni students average between 6 – 6.9 hours of sleep a night and 50% of students experience daytime sleepiness.
Running on a few hours of sleep might not seem like a big deal, but it will harm your health and studies in the long run, so you need to make sleep a priority. If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, then here are five tips to help you sleep better at night:
- Transform your bedroom into the ultimate sleeping environment e.g. buy comfortable bedding, install blackout curtains, and reduce light and noise.
- Get into a regular sleep schedule – go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time.
- Don’t look at blue-light emitting devices for at least an hour before you go to bed.
- Avoid consuming caffeine later in the day.
- Limit the amount of alcohol that you drink.
Prioritise your learning
The second half of term is usually busier and more stressful as you will have coursework deadlines to meet and exams to revise for. You must prioritise learning and organise your time well to make sure you meet your deadlines and smash your assignments.
Socialising and having fun are a big part of the uni experience, but you might need to limit how often you go out as the term progresses. Focus on your studies and remember that you can party and celebrate once the term is over. It will be much more enjoyable when you don’t have any coursework deadlines looming over you!
Ask for help
If you’re struggling with a particular topic or assignment, then now is the time to ask for help. Don’t wait until the last minute or it might be too late to get the support you need. Speak to your tutor or reach out to your peers. If you’re struggling, then it’s likely that other students are too, so you shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask for help.
Summary
If you feel tired and unmotivated as you reach the middle of the term, then you’re not alone! Most uni students feel this way and it’s completely normal to find the second half of term more difficult. Take regular breaks, look after yourself, and prioritise learning. You survived the first half of term, so now get out there and smash the second!