How to Beat the Back-to-School Blues

With the help of your module handbook, pick out key dates in your terms – your exams, coursework deadlines, and revision sessions to name a few – and write them up again on your own calendar.

It can be hard to keep track of deadlines when they’re spread across multiple modules and in different locations, so take time early in the term to collate all your key dates together in one place.

Not only will this help you out when your workload increases, it will give a holistic view of your year ahead with a visual representation of deadlines so they’re never a surprise.

Do you work best alone in silence, or do you buzz off the company and concentration of others around you studying at the same time? A lot of your time will be (not surprisingly) spent studying, so it’s a good idea to get a routine figured out early on.

Issues I Face suggest: ‘Designate a quiet, well-lit area for studying. Don't study in front of the television, or in an area of your home where you're bound to be distracted.” Sort this out now, and make those revision sessions a breeze.

I know how it sounds – but you’ll thank us for it later. When it’s induction week, lectures don’t run as normal, meaning you have no real structure to your days. As tempting as it is to catch up on sleep, try to get into the habit of waking early to prep your body for your normal lecture times in the weeks to come.

If it’s your first year, you want to make a good impression on your tutors – and if it’s your final year, you know the importance of doing well in these semesters, so make the time count, and sort out your sleeping routine now.

If you have trouble settling in and sleeping to begin with, try techniques like listening to as you drift off, and reduce your caffeine intake during the day.

You’re at university to learn, but also to gain a lot of life and social experience. It’s a time like no other, with likeminded people and a vibrant culture, so make sure you make the most of it.

If you’re struggling, ask your tutors and your peers questions, and remember that you’re not alone – thousands of young people over the country are going through exactly the same thing, so don’t keep your worries bottled up. University is a privilege, so remember to enjoy it amongst the stress of the almost-constant deadlines!

Lucy Farrington-Smith writes for Inspiring Interns, which helps companies find the perfect intern and career starters the perfect job, in everything from tech jobs to marketing internships.

Lead image: HackNY.org (Flickr)