How to combat third year stress
6 secrets to make your final year at university more fun
Third year: laughed at by first years; dreaded by second years. But when you finally make it to third year its way worse than you possibly could have imagined!
The constant juggling of deadlines, readings, exams, part time work, thinking about the future and trying to cram in some sort of social life can be incredibly stressful.
Luckily for you, there are some things you can do that should make your third year much more bearable.
Study with Friends
Studying together can be great, it makes sure you get stuff done and can encourage each other. Plus, its way more fun than sitting at a desk alone, and actually can be quite social and enjoyable.
Stop studying (for a bit)
Okay, I’m definitely not saying don’t study. Definitely do study.
But try find your peak working time and dedicate that time to studying every day, then once that session is over the rest of the day is free just for you.
Finding a time that works for you and sticking to it everyday will make sure you don’t suddenly discover you’ve done nothing all term and you’ve now got deadlines, presentations and exams flying at you.
Most importantly why this works is because once you have finished your allotted studying session for the day, you should relax and take the rest of the day for you, which you can choose to use in any way you like.
Plan, plan and plan a bit more
Figuring out exactly what you’ve got to do and by when really puts your workload into perspective, and it makes it seem less daunting. This breaks down your tasks and really focuses what you need to do each day.
Make the most of uni workshops
Universities have tons of different workshops and events, which will make you feel more prepared.
They have career ones, taking some of the ‘I don’t know what I want to do after uni’ stress away.
They have de-stressing workshops, like last year Birmingham brought in guide dogs to pet which was a very welcomed revision break.
They also have essay writing workshops, giving you a little helping hand and making you feel more prepared to start writing.
Get Exercise
Yes, it’s a cliché but there are scientifically proven things that show exercise is a great stress reliever.
It releases endorphins, making you feel happier and refreshed.
There are also so many sports to choose from! Whether you’re the team-type or if you’d rather do some Yoga yourself, universities offer so many sporting activities you’re guaranteed to find something to get you moving.
Don’t feel guilty for having fun
You’re only at uni once (unless you go mad and do a PhD). Since it’s your last year here you want to make the most of it.
Spending time doing things you enjoy is a great stress reliever, and you definitely shouldn’t feel guilty for not spending 24/7 toiling over your text books.
Whether you like shopping, playing games or going out partying, definitely take ‘you time’. Taking these fun breaks from work will also give your brain a rest and when you do come back to work, you’ll be able to look at it again with fresh eyes, ready to tackle it.
The trick to combating stress is all in the preparation, which should give you then a nice balance between work and a lot more fun stuff.
By Charlotte Booth