6 Tips On Surviving University

You're in the middle of your semester and feel the pressure to pass everything? 

All of your deadlines are approaching and you feel overwhelmed? 

Your group project is freaking you out?

Don't worry, we all feel this way! 😅

Scroll down to read about our 6 tips on surviving this semester! 

1. Find your support system

 A pal is someone you'll go and have drinks with at the end of the semester. But a friend? A friend is someone that'll support you during the crisis! 

Find yourself a few study buddies! 

We're all in this together, so find someone that can soothe your worries and have each others backs!

And when you freak out at midnight and your assignment is due on the morning, chances are that he'll be in the same situation! Surprisingly, it is very soothing to see that you're not the only one (sometimes, your study buddy will even be so late that you won't worry about yourself anymore 😉)

And when the sun decides to start shining, that you feel free as a bird, have your buddy remind you that your dissertation is due by August 9th... So organise yourselves some nice study sessions, go to a coffee shop together, and appreciate having someone to work alongside!

2. No more last minute

 I'm not delusional, I know that you've probably said to yourself in early January "Ok, this semester, no last minute. I'm gonna start my assignment as soon as the class start, finish them early, I'll even have time to go to the gym!". I'm gonna break it to you: 

You are not fooling anyone! 

But seriously though, save yourself from the last minute stress, you already have enough stress on your plate with your assignments, your dissertation and worst of all your big group project (AKA Marketing Works for us Marketing people...)

3. Keep notes of everything you read

A very practical tip is to take notes of everything you are reading for your assignments. It will help you keep track of your references.

Just make yourself a Word table with three columns: 

• One for the authors and the year (you won't loose time referencing anymore)
• One with the article title (not the most useful, but it can be sometimes!)
• One with every bit of useful information from the article. 

By doing so, you won't have to go back to your 15 articles trying to find something that you believe you read somewhere. And when you're finished reading, you just have to make your assignment plan using it, it is wayyyyy quicker. 

4. Don't compare yourself

We all get those thoughts: Why am I doing this? Why am I here? I am not enough...

Well let me remind you: If you are here, you are enough. 

You won't have to have the same writing style as your study buddy, or have the same expectations as him, and it is ok. Your main goal should be to always give it your best. If you do so, then you have every reason to be proud of you, no matter your marks.

5. Have some YOU time

DO NOT feel guilty if you are not studying every hour of every day, nobody is. If you want to produce quality work, you also need to find a balance. Just like you schedule your study time, schedule your free time (and importantly: allow yourself not to follow every minute of it). 

Plan your breaks, it will help you focus. If you know that you are not efficient in the morning, then make us of it by doing something that feels good to you: go to the gym, make yourself some pancakes, watch the last episode of your favourite show, or just lay down and do nothing!

6. Think ahead: it will be over soon

Right now, we all feel the same way. But hang on: yes it is intense, yes it is stressful, but one undeniable thing is: it will be over before you know it.

Time flies. And soon, we'll be at the office saying "I wish I was still a student.".

So our best advice: ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN

And you, what's your best tip for us? Comment it down below! 📚