October and November can be a very stressful time here at UBC and, on top of that, the rainy weather doesn’t exactly help with mood. Sometimes, the stress can get very overwhelming, but here are a few tips to help you stay positive and productive in this rainy time!
1. Pace yourself!
- It’s really easy to get caught in that cycle of studying too much, feeling more stressed because your concentration level isn’t what you want it to be and, therefore, become more stressed. Yes, midterms and exams are right around the corner, but ensuring your own personal mental and physical health needs to come first. If you’re not feeling great, it will impact your work ethic. In order to help with the stress, find a way that will work for you to ensure you get everything accomplished by still taking care of yourself.
o Here are some tips on how to pace yourself:
i. Make a schedule. Write in, for every hour of the day, what times you’ll be in class and what times you’ll be doing everything else. If you know how much time will be taken up with cooking, cleaning, class, homework, and studying, you can also schedule some personal time like watching your favorite show. By doing this, you don’t have to feel guilty about taking some “me” time.
ii. Remember that you are human and need basic things. For instance: sleep, food, and social time. It’s probably a good idea to not have too much of those things, because yes, that midterm is right around the corner and you need to study, just remember that you need those social times as well.
iii. When you’ve accomplished what you need to in order to be prepared for this test and/or paper and/ or assignment, take a well deserved break! Let the information sink in, and then look it over later. It is unproductive to read the same thing over and over again in one sitting. So take a step away, sleep on it, and then go back to it!
2. Work in Clean and Tidy Spaces
- If your room/ study space is cluttered, your mind will be as well! Take some time to tidy up before studying, or go to the Library. Untidy spaces can also encourage procrastination because cleaning your space may override your desire to study and you might take time to do that instead of focusing on the work that needs to be done.
3. Eat right and Exercise!
- If you keep yourself healthy, you’ll feel better and will have more energy to keep your mind alert. Keep your regular exercise schedule in tact, if you have one, and stay active. Exercise is a great way to battle stress so if exercise isn’t directly incorporated in your lifestyle, that’s totally fine, perhaps simply break pout that colorful umbrella and walk to the Library. That will give you some time to think about things other than the midterm or assignment, and when you have to sit and study for long periods of time, you will probably feel better at the beginning of that long devotion to studying.
4. Happiness is Important!
- Continue to do things that make you happy! Even though you have a lot going on, and it’s raining, make sure you schedule in time for watching that movie, seeing those friends, knitting that scarf, playing that instrument, or whatever else you enjoy doing. Midterms and assignments are tough to get through and need time devoted to them, but you are not a machine and spending time doing what you love will, in the end, help you be more productive.
These are just some of my own personal tips, and they may not work for everyone, but perhaps take time to reflect on your own lifestyle and what works for you to battle stress before taking on your next assignment.
Also, remember, UBC has many resources in Irving K barber and other faculties to help with studying, stress, and other concerns you may have, and if you need them, be sure to check them out!
Hope this helps!
Blog Post by Maddie Johnson.