Self-Care During the School Year!
Good evening, night owls! and maybe a good morning/afternoon to people seeing this tomorrow 🤗
For many students, it's the middle of the semester or approaching that...
What is everyone doing for self-care in between stressful study periods? 🤔
Throwing another question into the mix: what has been helpful for "lower-stress" studying?
aka what helps you study effectively but without getting too stressed out?
Me, personally, I love to see friends whenever I can! Having a strong support system can really help you, especially if they're going through the same/a similar situation! 💪I also love to watch some YouTube (looove me some Try Guys, Safiya Nygaard, etc.) and Disney+/Netflix (any recommendations?)!
Something I've found useful for studying is the Pomodoro technique! For those who don't know what it is, it's essentially giving yourself a break every __ minutes. I've found 40 minutes of only work and 10 minutes of break time to be helpful! Put on some focus music too, the kind of music you would only listen to while working or studying.
Even if this isn't something you're into, REMEMBER: BREAKS ARE IMPORTANT!!
That's enough yapping from me... I'd love to hear from everyone! 😬
Comments
I have a re-run of a body doubling stream in the background foor me, then it has the
pomodoro timer already set up.
I actually just found out about those last year 😠the concept is so smart, I lowkeyyy constantly need a body double because I get so distracted and don't keep myself accountable. I might have to give that a try!!! Thanks for sharing and best of luck with your studies 🌻 take care of yourself!!
Hey @deesseri,
This is such an awesome post! 🙌
Here is what I do for self-care during a busy study period:
- Take regular breaks
- Have a consistent bedtime routine
- Go on regular walks outside
- Make sure to make time for the things that bring me joy, such as reading and cooking meals at home
Some things that have been helpful for lowering my stress across studies have been:
- Being organised with my time, regularly updating my calendar
- Revise my content on a weekly to fortnightly basis instead of cramming a whole lot of knowledge into my brain right before exams or assignments are due
- When my friends are on campus, catch up with them for a chat. Even if it's a super short one
To anyone studying this year, I'm wishing you the very best. I'm sure you're going to do great! 💛
Hey @SteadySteps !
Thank you so much!
I completely agree with your whole post!! It just helps so much to be aware that putting things off or forcing yourself to do things too soon can buuuurn you out. Having a regularly updated calendar and regularly updated notes have been a lifesaver for me, especially this year!
I wish you the best with your studies, I'm so sure someone needed your very well-detailed response for tips! Take care always 🌻
OMG! I was in vital need of a bit of advice like this post!
I'm working on a big uni assignment at the moment and needed some reminders to take care of myself!
I like to try and create a study space outside of my bedroom, or any areas that I usually relax in (like the living room). It really helps my brain understand when it's study time, or relax time!
I also love doing a little bit of exercise before studying, it helps make me feel alert and energised!
I KNOOOOW!! Uni is pretty crazy right now with heavier weighted assessments coming up (with insane word counts 🥴)! I hope you find this thread useful then 🤗
I so get what you mean! Lowkey, even when I don't do exercise before studying, I put some workout clothes on to trick my brain...
It actually really helps HAHAHA ðŸ˜!!
I wish you the best of luck on your big uni assignment! I'm sure you'll do great! 🥰
Make sure to take breaks and reach out if it gets a bit too overwhelming 🌻
Hi @deesseri!
I use the Pomodoro technique as well! I've found it's very helpful in motivating myself to keep studying, as I know that I can have a break soon. I love listening to ambience or ASMR on Youtube while I study as I can get distracted by the lyrics in songs 😆 and it also helps me stay calm.
I get headaches from looking at my screen for too long, and since I study on my laptop, I try to sit outside during my breaks without my phone. Sitting outside helps me not feel cramped while studying inside for long periods. Sometimes I listen to music, but I've found that sitting in peaceful silence is much better for my mind.
Also, I like to make time for little acts of self-care that make me feel better. Things like painting my nails or having an "everything" shower! Even when I feel like I don't have time for them, it always sets me up for a better day the next day. Seeing friends is something that I try to do throughout the semester too, but it can be difficult to find a time where we're both available!
It can be difficult to balance your wellbeing, study, work and life especially when you have big assignments or exams coming up. But as you said, taking breaks is so important! and rest days (where possible) are so amazing to give your mind and body time to rest and recover.
Good luck to everyone with your studies 😊💗
Hi @flower234 !
This is some great stuff! Self-care is sooo important during stress-filled periods like the academic year! I love "everything" showers too, I just feel so fresh and good after. When I don't feel super in control of things, at least I'll always have a good hot shower to help me feel better about myself. 🤪
Best of luck to you with your studies as well!
Take care of yourself 🌻
Love this @deesseri 
Between study I love to leave my laptop and books behind and go for a walk, whether that be for 5 mins around the house or 20 mins around campus. I also like to listen to a youtube video or entertainment podcast as I walk too. I find moving my body always makes me feel better when I'm stuck studying and getting in those extra steps throughout the day is an added bonus.
For me, music doesn't work the best while I'm in the process of studying but I love to use it as a motivational tool in my breaks or at the start of the study session to get myself hyped up and ready to go. And at this point in time, I've found myself not really liking pomodoro and instead putting on a stopwatch whenever I go to study so I can see the timer ticking up as I spend more time studying - for some reason that motivates me way more than seeing a timer ticking down.
And a big thing for me is that if I am not feeling like studying after the first 5 mins I will stop and give myself a break and come back to it for another 5 minutes to see if I feel any better because my body is giving me a message that it isn't ready to study and I've found I work a lot better if I listen to that message rather than ignore it and attempt to force myself to study.
Good luck to everyone who has exams and assignments coming up, y'all got this 🥰
Thanks for the reply, @Appel_banappel 🥰
I love this!! And you're right -- the Pomodoro isn't everyone's bread and butter. I definitely struggled with it at some point during my bachelors but it's been super helpful for my honours 😅
I SUPER agree with not forcing yourself to study when you aren't ready! I've been so tired and drained lately tbh... So I just take a little "me time" (usually a short nap if it isn't too late in the day) and I feel so much better and more clear in the head afterwards. This is why taking breaks is so important also!! We really have to listen to our bodies ðŸ˜
Best of luck with your studies!!
Take care of yourself 🌻
