Starting your final year at university can be intimidating. On top of the usual assignments, there’s the ‘this is it’ mentality, and a dissertation to complete – but remember, you’ve got years of university experience behind you, so you’re more prepared than you might think.
What’s important is you give yourself plenty of time to get organised and make sure you look after yourself along the way. To help you with this, recent University of Stirling graduate Ciara Spillane has shared her top tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance during your final year.
Reevaluate your current commitments
It’s important to recognise that your final year needs a lot of time and effort. To make sure you have enough time to study, it might be worth looking at cutting back your working or volunteering hours where you can.
If you’re not sure about dropping some working hours due to money worries, speak to the University’s Money team. They can help you with budgeting and can also let you know about any financial assistance you might be entitled to.
Create a study plan
Studying with no clear time of when to stop can make you dread doing any work at all.
My advice would be to create a schedule where you mark down the times you’ll be studying each day. Having a clear block of time for studying can help you stay motivated, knowing that once it’s finished, you can get back to your free time.
I liked getting up early and studying as it meant I had the rest of the day to relax.
If you need a hand finding a study plan that works for you, Student Learning Services can help. You can make an appointment by emailing ask@stir.ac.uk.
Designate a study-free day
Having at least one study-free day a week means you always have something to look forward to. Your study-free day could consist of going out with friends, shopping or just chilling in bed all day! Having these designated days will keep you motivated and protect your wellbeing.
Separate your study and living spaces
Have a designated space where you can study. This could be in the library, a cafe or even at your kitchen counter. It’s important you don’t study somewhere like your bed or in front of the TV, as these are places you relax. That way, when you’re there, you know you can totally switch off.
Sleep is non-negotiable
Sleep is so important for your wellbeing and your studies. Getting enough sleep helps you feel refreshed, manage stress and keep your mood and energy levels up. It also helps you concentrate and remember what you’ve learned.
While you might think you’re being productive staying up all night to submit work before a deadline, you could find that your work isn’t up to your usual standards – and the following days will be tough because you’re tired.
The ‘Create a study plan’ tip goes hand in hand with this, as if you manage your time properly, you won’t need to do all-nighters.
I hope you find my tips helpful, and good luck with your final year!
Ciara is marketing graduate from the University of Stirling. Don’t forget, if you need any support, you can reach out to your personal tutor or the Student Support Hub anytime.