Our Tips for Getting Over That Mid-Semester Break Slump

Staying productive as your study schedule gets packed… again 🥲 

You’ve had your mid semester break and while it was great, now it’s time to buckle down and get back into your uni schedule.

Trust us when we say we’ve been there and we know how hard it is to get back into being productive when all you want to do is crawl back into bed and avoid every 9am lecture.

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our tips to make this semester just as productive (or maybe even more productive) than the last.

First things first, your grades aren’t everything.

While it may seem like the most important thing in the world at the moment, it’s a good idea to check in with yourself and remember that your exam and assignment marks don’t define you.

It’s totally okay to take a breather and defer the semester or drop a unit or two if you feel like everything is getting a bit too overwhelming. Make sure you make time for yourself and  you’re not putting marks above your mental and physical health.

Set up a timetable.

Ever wondered the best way to eat an elephant? Not in one go, but in pieces.

Which is what you can do with your study load and personal time to ensure you don’t miss out on anything in your social life but also don’t feel bombarded by exams and assignments.

Use your calendar or a timetable app to set out when you have work, classes and any other commitments so you can find time to study and also rest and hang with friends or the things you love.

A good way to get started is also by using one of our free study planners to get you started and hopefully prevent putting things off to the last minute. Due tomorrow does not mean do tomorrow.

Make sure you're getting enough sleep.

This doesn’t mean you have to immediately buy a smart watch or download an app to track your sleeping habits to find the most optimal time to sleep.

Instead, start winding down earlier and set a time you’re going to go to bed to ensure you get enough sleep.

Try putting your phone on do not disturb to prevent any tempting notifications as you’re about to go to sleep and try to avoid any bright screen lights.

Make your room a cozy place that’s separate from your work area (this means no working or studying in bed), put your devices away, maybe pick up a good book and if you want to you can make a cup of chamomile tea for sleep.

If you’re someone who likes a bit of noise in the background while you sleep, try listening to some ASMR, a white noise playlist or even a podcast like The Sleepy Bookshelf where you can fall asleep to the relaxing sounds of someone reading you a story.

Communicate with people how you’re feeling.

If you find yourself in a situation where getting enough rest with your workload just doesn’t feel do-able, it could be a good idea to talk to your tutors about where you’re at. We can’t say that everyone will be that accommodating but it’s a good idea to talk to them about it and see if you can potentially get an extension or just get some advice on the best way to study for the class long-term.

If you’re feeling really stressed and burnt out, talk to someone about it. Speak to your uni counsellor, a family member or a good friend so you can get a bit of reassurance and hopefully feel less overwhelmed.

Studying and trying to get all your assignments done without burning out after the semester break can be hard work. Hopefully, we’ve made your life a bit easier and the rest of the year won’t feel too hard.