If you’re like me, then coming to Warwick as the first in your family to tackle higher education has been daunting, stressful and… stressful. Although Warwick has many great programmes, societies and initiatives to make people like me feel welcomed, I couldn’t help but feel like I stood out like a sore thumb. This is only what I have learnt, everyone is different, but here are my tips for fitting in, whilst staying true to yourself, as a widening participation student.
Being at university means we have to study (no matter how you frame it!). But have you ever stopped to think about what is the best way to study, and are you doing it most effectively? This week, Krishna takes us through the best studying techniques.
Anxiety flourishes in the face of uncertainty. Fuelled by the ever-changing environment COVID has thrown us into this past year, we face a final challenge. Returning to before.Hear from blogger Iona about her best tips for handling back-to-normal.
We’re almost halfway through Term One now (already?!) , and discussions about assessments are starting to creep in. Worried about where to begin? Read this post from blogger Hannah for tips on where to start when thinking about assessments.
Here at The Library, we’re keen on mindfulness and staying healthy during study. At a recent mindfulness session we had, we noted down some top tips for mindfulness. And as we descend into the academic term, we thought we’d share them with you. Take a look below.
By Ellie King, Ana Kedves and Dr Dean Howes
One: Stick with what you know
If a coming to university for the first time is a new and unnerving experience, maintaining some constant is great. Continue doing something that you’ve enjoyed before, as it’s a natural source of mindfulness.
Two: Try something new
However, university is a great place to try new things, stress and judgement free. There are so many activities around campus for you to enjoy, from sports clubs, exercise classes, pub quizzes and even food tasting events. It’s a great way to meet new people and will help you take that well-earned down time after a hard day of studying.
Three: Notice your surroundings
Warwick campus is a really beautiful place, and there are so many hidden woods and nature areas. Try and slow down a little and notice what is around you. Explore the campus, try working in a new building, visit some nature once in a while.
The University Campus is a great place to explore
Four: Get Organised
Staying organised is easiest when you start organised. Buy that planner, colour code your timetable, write down your due dates. The more we are organised outside of us, the more organised we will feel on the inside.
Five: Find your calm place
University can be full on, so find a place that’s peaceful for you and develop a habit of going there when you need some calm. This may be an outside spot, your bedroom, your favourite café. Associating it with feeling calm and mindful will help you get through those tough times.
Six: Plan to Slow Down
It’s easy for your schedule to get filled up very quickly, and it can be tempting to keep working to stay on top of things. It’s so important to build in some time to slow down and balance out all that hard work, even if it’s just half an hour.
Seven: Practice Wellbeing Techniques
Practice wellbeing techniques during less busy times. It’s a bit like training for a marathon, you want to start early and in more neutral situations and then build up gradually. This will bring strength to tackle challenges later on.
Eight: De-stress in the Day
You might be inclined to practice your mindfulness at the end of the day. However, it’s important to destress during the day. Don’t leave it until the evening as it may affect your sleep or ability to relax later on.
Nine: Sleep Well
Sleep is important, so look after it. Try to find a healthy sleep-wake rhythm that allows you to do what you want and feel well throughout the day
Ten: Self-care
We all handle our self-care in different ways. Commit to whatever it is that helps your mental health, whether that be reading a book, having regular coffee and cake with friends, or going for a nice walk. Try building a routine early on and develop those habits early.
If you’re keen to get involved with mindfulness, why not check out our Study Happy programme full of events to keep you studying, well, happy! Similarly, if you are struggling with things, it’s really important that you talk to someone. The University’s Wellbeing Support Services are always on hand to offer the support you need, in whichever way you need it.
What do you do to stay well? Leave a comment below or tweet us @WarwickLibrary
In response to student feedback, a ~£4m project to refurbish the main Library took place over summer 2021.
The project focused on Floors 1 & 2 of the main Library building, updating them to create a contemporary, comfortable, work-inspiring environment. The two floors were reconfigured to provide over 10% more study spaces, and completely new spaces were developed to facilitate new approaches to teaching and learning, and support student wellbeing. On a practical note, the toilet facilities on Floors 1 to 5 were also updated and refurbished, and essential maintenance works were carried out throughout the building. Find out why the refurb project was so important, and what improvements have been made…
Starting the university year is always a big change. If you’re someone who likes a routine, term beginning can ruin the structure in your weeks. Uni life can be full on with lectures, seminars, society events, and what can feel like endless nights out. Blogger Hannah gives her advice on creating your new-term routine.
Whilst the library is in its final stages of refurbishment (it should be fully open in a couple of weeks!), our blogeditor Ellie gives you the lowdown on all the alternative study spaces around campus that you might need to hit during the first few weeks of term.
Welcome to Warwick! Studying in the UK as an international student can be a very exciting and rewarding experience, and equip you for working and living in a multicultural society. We realise, however, that it can also at times be challenging and stressful as you adjust to the UK academic environment and develop your study skills while working in a foreign language… by Helen Ireland and Helen Riley
So, you’ve made it to Warwick. Congratulations! The first week at Warwick is known as Welcome Week, where you have a chance to settle in, find your feet, and get to know all of the best bits of Warwick. You’ll have heard this everywhere, and about how Welcome Week is the best week of your life. But here at the library, we know that not everybody is as keen to jump in, start a conversation with every person you walk past, or join fifty different societies. If you’re a bit of an introvert, the idea of moving to university and getting stuck in with Welcome Week may be the stuff of nightmares. But we’re here to help. Take a look at our top tips from our resident bloggers and mentors about having the best Welcome Week, even if you’re a bit of an introvert.
Flying the Warwick nest for your year abroad can seem quite daunting, as you leave behind the networks you have established since your first day on campus. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to remain firmly lodged within the Warwick bubble while you’re away!…By Ciara Brodi
Finishing an undergraduate degree can leave you with extremely mixed feelings. Pride over your achievements, heartbreak over leaving such a big part of your life behind, and anticipation over what will come next. Many students really struggle in the first year after graduating from their undergraduate degree. It can take a lot of adjusting to get used to what has been perhaps unkindly dubbed ‘the real world’, particularly when many students feel like university was the best reality they ever had. However, it’s not the end of the world, and there are lots of things you can do to make the ‘break-up’ with university life easier. Check out the advice below and start down the path of accepting that the end is only just the beginning!
Whether you’re a returning student or have just enrolled in your first year at Warwick, the weeks leading up to Welcome Week can often feel daunting, as you try and prepare for the impending academic year. Blogger Fay, entering into her fifth year at Warwick, shares some helpful tips on things you can do in these final few weeks to prepare for the next academic year at Warwick.
It’s over halfway through August, and the new university term is looming closer on the horizon. It’s time to start thinking about returning to full-time education! Except…the summer has been long, and it’s become increasingly difficult to pick up that reading you were supposed to work through. Here, blogger Hannah explores the difficulties in trying to rediscover your academic mojo.
The summer break: it’s what most of us spend the entire year looking forward to, and a chance to have a well-deserved break. However, after the end-of-year celebrations begin to die down, and with COVID restrictions still making travel during the vacation period difficult, students can begin to feel sluggish, as their productivity levels are significantly lower than during term-time. While it’s still important to have a break from long study days and endless reading lists, there are many ways students can stay motivated and productive while they take a break from studying. This blog post sets out some ways that blogger Fay is staying productive during the vacation, as well as some quick productivity-fixes to boost your motivation.
Congratulations! If you’ve reached the stage of preparing for university, you, first of all, should be very proud of yourself. You are about to embark on what is probably the biggest change in your life so far. The transition may be unfamiliar, but fun and exciting nonetheless… get ready for Warwick!…By Ciara Brodi
Whether you’re a fresher finding your way around library spaces or entering your final year, Study Happy programme is designed to help you make the most of your student experience. Read on to discover what we planned for the new year… By Ana Kedveš
Are you a distance learner? Whether you’re in Brentwood or Benidorm, you’ll know that studying off campus can be hard. So catch-up with the Library, learn about our top tips and be absolutely fabulous!… by Oriane Boulay
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