Some things to consider going into Term 2 (and 2021!)

Now that the annual festivities are drawing to a close (though Christmas this year didn’t feel quite as normal!), we’re looking towards a new term and a new year. However, the days are still cold, the evenings dark, and with a new term comes added pressures and challenges – on top of the current pandemic we’re all living in. In this blog, I’ll be taking you through some things you might want to consider, prioritise and reflect upon, going into this new year.

Set some (realistic) aims for yourself before Term 2 starts: I don’t mean anything huge, remember, we are still in a pandemic, so it’s important to not put too much pressure on yourself! Perhaps there are some things you’d like to incorporate into your daily routine next term, or some long term goals you’d like to work towards. For me, I am going to book a driving test to have it to work towards, complete my Masters application, and conduct some interviews for my dissertation. These are things I want to do in January. Having some brief goals to aim for helps to keep me motivated and moving forward in what feels like quite an unmoving time.

Prioritise your self-care: No, I don’t mean getting a fancy massage, I’m talking about the really basic stuff. Whether that’s making a promise to yourself that, come the new term, you’ll try getting more hours of decent sleep, eating well, exercising more, seeing friends, taking time to wind down, or even being careful to notice when you feel your stress building up, so that you can take measures to prevent a burnout. These are all things that can help us to manage when things get really tough. Don’t neglect your own health and wellbeing! As students it can be all too easy to neglect our own wellbeing due to all the deadlines and academic pressures we face. I’m going to try and look after myself more this year.

Reflect on how this year has been: Arguably, it hasn’t been a great year! I think it’s still important to reflect on how you, as a person, have been this year. How have you treated others, how have you treated yourself? Take time to applaud yourself for areas you have worked on, and think about things you might want to continue working on and managing into the new year. Remember that this year has been unlike any other, so don’t feel disheartened if you feel quite underwhelmed looking back at the events of this year. Reflection opens up room for change, and it’s never too late to change anything that is bothering you in your life.

Consider others: Yes, our own wellbeing is vital to keep in check. But it’s important to remember that everyone is going through this pandemic, and everyone will face different challenges. Make a promise to yourself that you’ll reach out to mates, ask if people are OK if they don’t seem ok, and be mindful of your general attitude towards others.

So, here’s to a new term, and a (hopefully) better 2021!