Charley’s unsolicited takes on the uni topics no one dares to mention…
Hello: happy midterm season! It’s officially mid-November and I know we’re all drowning under deadlines, so lets get through it together! No, this isn’t going to be a typical, make a to-do list or use anki flashcards: this is the real stuff that’s going to save your grades and your mental sanity.
- Figure out exactly what you need to do: a basic one but the only starting point. Read your assessment briefs: take note of wordcounts and make sure you understand what is going on before the night before the deadline. Even just noting down the details and initial ideas will make you feel so much better, even if it does only take five minutes.
- Think of it all like a game: if you do this well, you’re on the next level. To be fair, that does mean end of term exams and even more stress but that isn’t the point. You are one step away from a night out or a pint at the pub- all you need to do is write that silly little essay, its not too bad! Think of each stage of your assignment (planning, drafting, referencing etc..) as levelling up each time you complete it. You don’t want to be stuck on level one for a month, do you?
- Reward yourself! Even if its something as silly as a dance around your room, an energy drink (or a cigarette if you’re naughty) after every paragraph. For bigger milestones like finishing drafts, treat yourself to a takeaway, or a night out with friends. Therefore, you feel like doing your work actually leads somewhere, and you still get somewhat of a social life.
- Don’t do 10 hour study days unless that’s the only way you can manage uni work: you will get burnt out and forget your name at the end of the day. Half an hour of work a day for a few weeks is going to give you so much more clarity and focus, both in yourself and your work, and it feels effortless.
- Limit group study sessions until you’re working on the last stages of your assignment. Yes, it is more fun working with friends, but if you’re like me, you’ll go on a rant about a very irrelevant topic for an hour and will forget the essay even exists. Save these sessions for tidying up references, proof reading and formatting: they’re easier to multitask and the conversations won’t distract you from the main body of your work!
Yes, they’re not the cute insta reel friendly tips you want: but they work, and you wont feel absolutely defeated when everything’s done: you’ll still feel like you: an even more clever and productive version of you that finally knows what they’re doing. Don’t worry if you dint get it all right this time: a submitted assignment is always better than no assignment handed in at all.
Come back next Monday for another column from your favourite oversharer!
Image Credit: Unsplash
