Welcome to another instalment of the UniSkills Focus On blog, where we will be taking a look at a resource that we have recently started subscribing to, MedicinesComplete.
Hi, I am Emma, one of your Student Advisors and I am studying on the MSc Physician’s Associate course. I like to try and stick to a routine and a schedule to give me some structure to my day and make things less daunting. I make my own revision timetable so that I focus on a module rather than a topic, as some topics can be quicker than others and therefore it is less stressful than only allocating time to a particular topic. One key point for me is to take regular short breaks away from my desk to ensure my brain is able to have a ‘reset,’ before the next session. Drinking plenty and eating well is also very important to fuel a long day of revision, alongside trying to do some exercise. So please read on to find out what a typical revision day is like for me.
7am: Up and get ready for the day. Then it’s time for breakfast and coffee! I try to have a breakfast that will keep me full and fuel me for the day so this could be overnight oats, porridge or Weetabix. If I have time, I might go for a brisk walk to wake myself up or try and book an early exercise class or do a YouTube fitness video.
8:15: I head to my study space and get set up for the day.
8:30-12:30: This is my morning study session and how I like to revise is by module, and to get through as much as I can for that module in this time. I like to read over my notes and add any details that I feel are lacking. I also have some paper where I add key details from my notes or areas I am not as confident on, to create my crib sheets. These crib sheets then make part of my pre-exam night routine and are what I will read on the day of the exam/last minute cram before the exam. I also have a pack of sticky notes and will write down key definitions/quotes/ formulas/ drugs and doses and stick these in my room or on the fridge so I can test myself on these throughout the day and also read these on the way to an exam. Each hour, I tend to take a 10 minute break to make a drink and one of these breaks I will take a bit longer (20-25 minutes) and go for a short walk. It is important on these breaks to ensure that you leave the room you are studying in.
12:30-13:00: Lunch – I try and meal prep the night before so I don’t have to spend too long making food and can enjoy watching a half an hour tv episode or YouTube video to switch off from revision.
13:00-18:00: Afternoon revision session – this can be on a different module or the same module and will be very similar to the morning session in terms of making crib sheets and flash cards/post it notes. If the crib sheets have already been made, I tend to either just go over the notes again and again and often will speak these out loud or sing them! If there are past papers available then I will do these too. As with the morning, I will take a break for about 10 minutes every hour and one of these will be slightly longer to allow myself to go for a walk.
18:00-19:00: Dinner time – leading up to exam season I try to meal prep as much as I can so I can have healthy nutritious meals without the effort of having to cook from scratch each night. I find that curry, chilli, spaghetti bolognaise, taco mince and fajitas fillings and some tomato based pasta sauces freeze very well. At this time I get out my meal for the next night and make my lunch for the next day. This is the time when I will spend a bit of time on my phone and switch off from revision.
19:00-21:30: This is my final push for the day and often will involve me doing prep for my practical exams which can include watching videos of examinations and clinical skills practising examinations, refreshing myself on skills or going over any mark schemes I have for practical exams. It can also be a time for being quizzed by housemates or family or using Quizlet to test my knowledge on clinical conditions. Nearer the end of this session, I tend to find myself starting to lose focus, so this is when I will either go over crib notes I have made as a refresher or go over a topic I know I am strong at or have a good knowledge of already. The night before an exam I will be focussing of the content of the exam the next day.
21:30 onwards: This is my downtime and when I will shower, chat with my friends and family or watch some TV and wind down for the night. I try to get a good night’s sleep during exam season to ensure I am well rested for another day of revision! Ideally, I like to be in bed and asleep by 11:00pm.
Student Advisor Emma
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about how I spend my study day. You can find more information about revision and exam techniques on the Exam Preparation web pages.
Exam season is a time of focus and long hours in the library. It’s essential to remember that maintaining a healthy personal life is just as important as acing exams. In this blog post, we’ll explore strategies for mastering the balance between academic success and personal wellbeing during the challenging exam period.
It is crucial to recognize that maintaining a healthy personal life is not a luxury but a necessity. Neglecting self-care and personal relationships can lead to burnout and compromised mental health. By prioritizing balance, students can optimize their performance while also nurturing their overall wellbeing.
Effective time management is key to balancing exam preparation with personal life. Creating a study schedule that allows for breaks, exercise, and outside activities can help maintain productivity. Additionally, adopting effective study habits, such as using active learning techniques and minimizing distractions can maximize study efficiency and free up time.
Amidst the long hours of study, self-care often takes a backseat to academia. However, prioritizing self-care is essential for maintaining your health and happiness. Simple practices such as getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, staying hydrated, and engaging in regular exercise can help alleviate stress and improve focus. Maintaining meaningful relationships and social connections is vital for combating feelings of isolation and maintaining a sense of balance. Whether it’s a study date with classmates or a coffee break with a friend, nurturing relationships can enhance overall happiness and academic performance.
It’s essential to celebrate progress and successes, no matter how small. Acknowledging achievements, whether it’s mastering a difficult concept, completing a challenging assignment, or maintaining a healthy work-life balance, can boost confidence, and morale. Finding balance between academic responsibilities and personal wellbeing can seem like a difficult goal to achieve. However, by prioritizing self-care, nurturing relationships, and setting reasonable goals, students can navigate the challenges of exam season successfully. Doing well in exams is not just about mastering content but also about nurturing the holistic well-being that fuels academic achievement and personal fulfilment.
Lawrence O’Shaughnessy: Year 3 BSc. Business and Management
Hi, I’m Lawrence, I’m a current Business and Management student and one of the Student Advisors within the UniSkills team. This blog is designed as a day in the life; but as a current third-year student, making the final push in the last few weeks of my course – most of my days currently revolve around studying. Writing a dissertation is no joke!
I’m a commuting student, so I typically head to campus for around 9am, after I’ve walked the dog and grabbed some breakfast, then it’s straight to the catalyst! Over the three years, I have tried a lot of different ways of studying, but working on campus is the most effective for me, making use of the Second, quiet floor in Catalyst or if it’s deadline day – the silent third floor!
Typically, I spend the first few hours of the morning proofreading what I have written the day before, it’s amazing how many mistakes you spot when you look at something with a fresh pair of eyes! After this I’ll move on to finding sources on Discover More and reading journal articles and textbooks I’ll need to reference later on.
However, when you’re studying it is so important to schedule in some study breaks: the longer you’re staring at a screen, the less productive you can become. Normally I like to take a mid-morning break around 11am and head to one of the various coffee shops on campus for a well-earned caramel latte and a brief change of scenery!
After a coffee break I’ll normally move onto the academic writing process either working on my dissertation or one of the other assignments that’s due soon. I’ll normally work through this for a few hours until around 2pm then head to one of the food outlets on campus for some lunch and if it’s sunny, have a walk around campus to clear my head and take in some of the fantastic views at Edge Hill – if you’re lucky you might even spot some of the campus wildlife!
After lunch is the perfect time to change up your workspace and pick somewhere different in Catalyst to work. Usually, I like to find a computer with two displays at this point so that I can work on referencing what I’d written before lunch – having two displays means I can have the Harvard Referencing Guide or Harvard Referencing toolkit open on one display and my work on the other!
Keeping on top of the referencing is so important in ensuring every source is added to your bibliography, accurately. I like to save this until the end of the day so I can work through something a little easier before heading home for the day around 4pm in between the school traffic and rush hour. I always like to play an uplifting playlist on the way home to help unwind after the day!
I find studying on campus helps achieve a good study-life balance, meaning I can switch off when I arrive home and stay away from the laptop for most of the weekend, making more time to spend with friends and unwind. Even when I have a full week of lectures, I prefer this way of working!
I’d recommend completing a revision timetable to help see your current study life balance, find any gaps to maximise keeping accountable to a schedule – it can seem daunting at first without one.
We hope this blog has been insightful into a day in the life of a second and third year student. Remember to check out the UniSkills website for your free revision timetable templates, advice and toolkits!
