University is like a gateway to adulthood: you’re nearly there, but not quite; almost stranded between the assurances of childhood and the uncertainties of the future.
Choosing a degree that will probably determine the course of your future seems too immense a burden, especially when even going to university is a privilege our forebears perhaps didn’t have.
We are now responsible for our own academic journey for the first time, beyond the purview of school teachers and headmasters. And, as it gradually extends along our years of study, it all tends to be an overwhelming, inexplicable mass: to over-achieve, to budget expenses, to attend lectures regularly, organizing the washing, not skipping meals.
And you might feel exhausted, choosing not to do certain tasks just to break the interminable routine. I’ve been there; we all have. But those lapses never define our worth. We deserve to be here, and we equally deserve to not hold ourselves back from success.
As a second-year undergraduate student (slowly but surely) working her way through the reading list, a few tricks have helped me not be a ruinous mess over coursework and other daily responsibilities. I feel them to be like little reminders, replenishing ourselves along the way:
Building structure
Rhythm and cohesion syncopates our mind to daily responsibilities. Maintaining a comprehensible structure of what I’m doing on a particular day keeps me compartmentalized, also making time for activities I enjoy besides studying and working. A routine does not become your life – it structures it. Consistency promises health in the long-term, and it does warrant regular breaks too. Sleeping in and eating out once in a while is just as natural as waking up early and exercising. Setting aside time for catching up on lecture notes as well as proper restful breaks doesn’t make us feel that we’re missing out on anything.
The habit of delayed gratification
Treating your readings and assignments as motivated tasks with a reward at their end will gear you towards completing them more promptly. If I have an essay due soon, I fully focus on research and writing it because I know that I’ll be buying myself some ice cream after the due date passes. The reward you give yourself tends to feel more well-earned that way. Some people deem the fear of the looming deadline as an impetus to finish essays sooner – but university work shouldn’t be done out of fear! We’re all here because we want to meaningfully make a mark in our lives.
Mindset shifts
Struggling with isolation at university has opened me to varying possibilities of self-recovery. Instead of losing hope, slight changes such as practising mindfulness in the simplest of activities; for instance, going for a walk outside and letting myself soak in the sun has helped so much. Reminding yourself that solutions do exist, despite the apparent solidity of problems, can broaden your mind to accept healing. It’s a different journey for everyone; and regardless of its circuitousness, the destination is the same: to achieve self-satisfaction in the work we do.
University is one of the only few places in life where we can experiment with different forms of self-expression, take calculated risks, and meet new people in turn. We must never forget how far we have come, and that there’s better things ahead. Enjoying the journey is a part of the experience!
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