By Jessica Kear
Like thousands of students around the world, I’m currently in the horror of my final year at Lancaster University. So far, it’s consisted of multiple breakdowns; the latest occurred when I found out someone in the flat had used up the last of my milk, meaning I couldn’t have a cup of tea.
I’m not going to lie to you, final year can be an exhausting, emotional, painkiller-ridden hell. This term, however, I’m determined to rid myself of all illness and get on with work as stress-free as possible. Here are the tips I’m following to ensure my survival to July (and graduation, yay!).
Plan your studies
We’ve all been there. One minute, you’ve just started back after the Christmas break. The next, you have four essays due all in the same week, and you’re sat wondering where the time went. The key to a successful academic year is to plan, plan, plan. Plan your time out by keeping a calendar or planner to store all your important deadlines. Start them all early, and you’ll find it helps heaps with those stressful last weeks of the year.
Make use of all available resources
You’ll never enjoy easier access to such a vast range of free resources as the ones available to you at university, so really make the most of it. Go to the library, read and take out as many books as is humanly possible, ask staff for help, go to drop ins, get career support, the list goes on. There are people there to help and support you, all you need to do is accept it.
Eat healthily
This is a big one, as having a nice meal can really make all the difference. I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to food. I never buy in frozen food and tend to spend hours in the kitchen making fresh meals for me and my housemates. For some (like me), cooking can be a real stress release, and a time to take a break from constant work.
If you don’t like cooking, or simply don’t have the time, just be sure to eat healthy. Eating unhealthily can really make you feel 10 times worse.
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