The triple threat of freshers’ flu, homesickness and looming deadlines can hit hard during Semester 1. With the FOMO of nights out, new societies and a mountain of lecture notes adding to the stress of it all, burnout can creep up before you realise. From walks in the Peaks to realistic to-do lists, here’s how to make it through the chaos without burning out – or resorting to eating a whole bar of Dairy Milk during another Harry Potter movie marathon.
It’s easy to throw yourself into every night out, becoming Foundry’s most loyal customer and never saying no to a photo with Roary. However, soon enough, deadlines appear out of nowhere, and you might realise that pacing yourself would’ve helped. On the other hand, shutting yourself away to chase perfect grades at the expense of your well-being isn’t sustainable either. University isn’t about choosing between work and fun – it’s about learning how to juggle both. The saying work hard, play hard was never truer – university is a real balance of both. And don’t forget finding time for self-care to really hit the sweet spot.
Image credits: Unseen Studio (Unsplash)
Keep it simple. Google Calendar goes a long way, and, with all the tech we have at our fingertips, gentle reminders are readily available to help you flourish in both social and academic worlds. Setting aside time for focused revision allows you to do more with the time you have, rather than endlessly staring at a screen hoping you’ll magically absorb the information.
Start light. Quizlet is a godsend. If you make flashcards after each lecture, you’ll have an entire portfolio of notes by the time exam season rolls around – your future self will thank you! Semester One is a marathon, not a sprint. If you’ve come straight from college or sixth form, where half-term holidays were your safety net, it might be tricky to adjust to that luxury disappearing at university. However, the upside is that weekends can become your mini-holidays instead.
Self-care isn’t just face masks and nails – looking after yourself from the inside out makes all the difference. A quick walk around the Botanical Gardens, a run through Endcliffe Park or a hike in the Peaks can work wonders for your mental and physical health. The hardest part of exercise is having the courage to start; once you’ve done that, you’ve beaten everyone on the sofa! When you start appreciating what your body can do for you, exercise might become a mental reset button that clears away academic stress and helps you breathe again.
But exercise is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you prefer winding down with a hot chocolate and watching Traitors on a Wednesday, then try to stay on top of your work to allow yourself a block of chill-out time in the evening. Or if your Wednesday nights are more neon face paint and VKs, then make sure you drink all the Berocca you can to get to your Thursday lectures on time. Not to sound too Disney, but you really can get the best of both worlds. And, let’s be honest, if those nights at Foundry mount up, Freshers’ flu is inevitable. If you’re not already stocked up with Lemsip, cough sweets and Calpol… what are you doing? But if you do end up feeling under the weather, let yourself rest, drink water, and binge your comfort show guilt-free. Missing a lecture or two won’t ruin your degree, but burning out might.
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Homesickness can sneak up on you too, even if you thought you’d be fine. It’s completely normal to miss home, whether it’s cuddles with your dog, having a home-cooked meal, or just the familiarity of being in your own patch. There’s no one-size-fits-all method, but FaceTiming your friends and family or flooding your room with photos and fairy lights can help Sheffield become your new special place.
As for exam stress, keep going. A small, regular review of those Quizlet flashcards will help your brain to actively digest the information more efficiently, so you can avoid cramming it all in right at the end. And if things feel too much, remember the university has support services that are there to help you deal with these issues. You’re never the only one feeling that way.
Your first semester will be chaotic, messy, and completely unforgettable. You’ll get sick, you’ll get tired, you’ll probably eat pasta for a week straight, but you’ll also find yourself more patient, resilient and grown-up after it all. Find your balance, pace yourself, and don’t let the pressure to “do it all” steal the fun out of it. Remember: balance doesn’t mean doing less, it means doing what matters most to you.
