For those people who read memes like their Bible, a mental image of the sinking Titanic supported with the violinists solemnly playing \u2018Nearer, My God, to Thee\u2019 probably flashed in your mind, with absolute havoc ensuing in the background. ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/studyblog\/files\/2019\/12\/safiyas-pic-514x1024.jpg\")
The qualities attributed to this havoc, however, would be more of students panicking about an upcoming exam, other students rushing to hand in a paper that\u2019s due in an hour while a whole different set of students nonchalantly walk around whilst raving about not having a clue what is even going on.<\/p>\n
I, so far, have been all of those students. Allow me to let you in on a not-so-secret secret in order to avoid being part of the havoc: possessing a work-life balance. GASP.<\/p>\n
Yeah. Pretty obvious. But no matter how many times you will hear it, actually maintaining a work-life balance will, surprise surprise, make a massive difference. I have yet to abide by several lessons that I have learnt from my experiences, but from what I have conjured so far, these tips will prove to be extremely valuable.<\/p>\n
Pay Attention:<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s a lecture, seminar or lab class that you\u2019ve decided<\/strong> to attend, the bottom line is that you\u2019re there, so you might as well engage with it as best as you can, even if you\u2019re not feeling it. You never know what you may learn, whom you may meet, and you may even surprise yourself with what you discover you can do.<\/p>\n Work on the Commute:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re a commuting student as I am, in the words of Ross Geller, you\u2019ve been \u2018given the gift of time.\u2019 Yes, it\u2019s far easier to whip on your headphones and let your imagination run wild, but it\u2019s far more useful to whip out your books, regardless of whether the old lady sitting across from you is judging you for how many pens you\u2019re using to write your notes (true story). You\u2019ll thank yourself later.<\/p>\n Take a Break:<\/strong><\/p>\n It isn\u2019t selfish to look after yourself. Taking good care of yourself will allow you to also take care of others later on. Work, alongside personal life experiences, can often become overwhelming. It\u2019s not easy to stay away from home and adjust to completely different environments. It will take time to adjust. Look after yourself. Talk to those close to you. Trust the process. You\u2019ll soon start to see your experience blossoming.<\/p>\n Embrace the Clich\u00e9:<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s only after we\u2019ve experienced certain things that the cheesiest and most clich\u00e9 phrases will be profoundly impactful on us. But don\u2019t shy away from them. Many clich\u00e9s only exist because many people before you have experienced the exact same thing. You\u2019re never alone in anything, always be conscious of that.<\/p>\n Pray:<\/strong><\/p>\n Pray, meditate, whatever tickles your fancy. Ignoring the havoc around you and focusing on your inner self, even if it may only be for five minutes, will relax your internal state in a way that no satisfying video will be able to.<\/p>\n Essentially, we\u2019re always going to have a lot going on. Academically. Professionally. Personally. But we have the power to choose. If you want something, according to the wise words of Nike and, more contemporarily, Shia LaBeouf: Just Do It.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Safiya (Student blogger: BA English Literature) Essentially, it may well be true. Only many of us students may feel that Susane Colasanti\u2019s \u2018We\u2019re all sinking in the same boat here\u2019 is far better attributed to us. For those people … Continue reading