Happy January! I’m Scarlet and I am a third year War Studies student here at King’s. As someone who typically completely ignores my wellbeing during exam season, I thought it would be a good time to write about the things I have done to help me take some time out and focus on myself. Sometimes you just need a person to tell you to stop and take a break whilst you are powering through a 24-hour library sesh on 2 hours sleep, so you can think of me as that person!
Taking Time Out
University life and exam season can be incredibly demanding. We need to take breaks every so often to give our mind and body a reset, allowing us to do our best and recharge our overall wellbeing. Lucky for you, the Wellbeing Team at KCLSU have arranged the Take Time Out initiative, running from the 8th – 12th January, aiming to encourage you to schedule in some time, away from your studies, to boost your wellbeing, take a break and connect with the King’s community.?Visit the events page to find out what’s on.
Acknowledge when too much is too much
You want to make sure you are setting realistic expectations for yourself. This could be by breaking your tasks into small chunks, and doing a few of those rather than the whole task (no more essays in one day!). The most important part is to acknowledge when your mind is at capacity. Reading the same text over and over again without absorbing any of the information will not help in the revision process, it will just increase anxiety and make you feel worse. When you feel like this, try one of our self-care tips for exam season, such as deep breathing or getting out in nature.
Ask for help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are struggling academically, you can reach out to your personal tutor for help. If you just feel you need to talk things through, try reaching out to a friend or family member. Having a good support network at challenging times can make all the difference. The Wellbeing Hub has a whole host of resources that can help with supporting your wellbeing, and direct you to others who can. Finally, you can see KCSLU Advice caseworkers for help, including mitigating circumstances and academic misconduct.
Reading student news
Both Student Services and KCLSU have a variety of articles that offer advice for supporting your wellbeing. King’s Student News has many student-written pieces in the wellbeing section, such as this article on prioritising wellness throughout exams. The KLCSU website news section also has articles on a range of different topics, from hobbies you can take up in exam season, to guides on work life balance as a student.
I hope these tips are useful, and encourage you to take some time out this exam season. Best of luck!