Where to Find Purpose at the Start of Term

If you’re anything like me, the start of Term 1 feels a little bit like swimming through mud. Classes haven’t started, society events are few and far between, and there aren’t any assessments to worry about yet. There’s only so much time you can spend socialising with new (and old) friends – you can’t possibly expect them to occupy 100% of your day. This time can often feel like you’re living in limbo, waiting for one day to tick over into the next before term properly starts. Although this feeling hasn’t completely disappeared in my third year at Warwick, I’ve picked up some useful tips to help the start of term feel like less of a chore.

Get out of the house

To some this might sound stupid. But after nearly two years of lockdowns and restrictions, leaving the house feels like a much bigger deal than it used to. Some days I can get so preoccupied with Netflix, readings, or job applications that I forget to leave the house altogether. My advice is to make sure you leave the house at least once every day – and with purpose. Even if your purpose is just to buy a pint of milk at the shops, or to visit the refurbished Arts Centre, or to find the room where your first seminar will be, leaving with a task to complete creates that sense of achievement, and helps motivate you to actually get outside.

Try a taster session

You know all those societies that you’d never join, but run free taster sessions for the first week or so of term? Well try one! Even if you have no intention of ever joining that society, taking advantage of the free sessions can be a fun way to spend your time, and meet new people! What’s stopping you from squeezing in four taster sessions a day, and never returning to any of them? You never know, you might find a new hobby in the process.

Get off campus

It’s so easy to get trapped in the university bubble, making you forget that there’s a whole world outside! Buses are really easy to get into Coventry or Leamington from campus, and there are loads of great places to explore. I particularly like the War Memorial Park for a nice walk, or heading to the shops in Leam. Escaping campus can make the routine of university feel less all-encompassing, and can force you to interact with the wider public!

Visit the Sports and Wellness Hub

I love booking a class or two at the sports centre. They happen so frequently, that if you find yourself with a spare afternoon or evening, you can be sure there’s a class available that you will enjoy. Personally, I much prefer the more relaxing classes like yoga or body balance to help me unwind after a stressful day. Even if you don’t fancy a class, the cafe inside the hub is a great place to work, read, or just people-watch. I particularly recommend their warmed cookies and a diet coke!