Now that the whirlwind that was 2020 has come to a close and we’ve entered the part of 2021 where every conversation includes the phrase, ‘do you have any New Year’s resolutions?’ I’ve got a question for you; do you have any academic New Year’s resolutions?

My big goal for this year is to manage my time better! Like most students, I’m so busy with assignments and other commitments that it can be a bit chaotic to try and get everything done on time. It’s not unusual for me to work well into the evening, which isn’t exactly the best study habit to have. Time management is a big source of problems for a lot of students so here’s a quick post to share how I’m going about sticking to my study resolution this year. These strategies aren’t just specific to my goals though, whatever your study goals are, hopefully these points will help you in setting and sticking to your aims.

1.       Break it down

Having a big goal is great but wanting to ‘have better time management’ isn’t very specific. It’s good to have idea of what you’re going to do to reach that goal. For me, that means setting rules such as ‘no working past 10pm.’ It’s much easier to stick to a New Year’s resolution when you know exactly what you need to do, not just what you want as an end result.

2.       Give yourself a time frame

A year is a long time, it can be easy to put things off or lose steam when the goal is so far away so it’s a good idea to give yourself smaller deadlines that are more manageable. I like to set quarterly goals every three months because that time frame is short enough that I’ll stick to it but long enough to get a substantial amount done. What works for you will depend on your preferences, so think it through and choose what is best for you.

3.       Work with friends

If you and a friend both want to improve your timekeeping, why not get together (virtually) and make study timetables together? Keeping each other on track is a great way to stick to your plans and make it more fun. Even if your goals are different, just sharing them can help you stay motivated.

4.       Don’t overwhelm yourself at the start of the year

It can be easy to get carried away with everything you want to do and end up with a mile-long list of goals for the year, but that might not be the best approach. This is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s probably best just to pick a few goals to work at steadily rather than burning yourself out within a month.

5.       Come to a UniSkills session

Start the way you mean to go on by booking on to one of our brand new UniSkills webinars! The Spring programme will be available for you to book on soon and covers a wide range of subjects including academic writing, being critical, Harvard referencing, searching for academic information and much, much more. You can also book a 1-2-1 appointment for more tailored support with our knowledgeable Academic Skills Advisors

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for updates about what we’re doing in the Library and Learning Services department and how we can support you throughout the year. And while you’re here, let us know in the comments what your #NewYearNewUniSkills study resolutions are!

Thank you so much to those who have participated in this year’s #StudyHappyWeek competition, it’s been fascinating to see your creative home study setups and even a few furry friends (we’re looking at you Hank, Rocky and Rio)!

Having gathered all of your brilliant entries across Twitter and Instagram, we’re pleased to announce the following winners:

🏆1st Place: @MissBolton8 winning a £30 Amazon eVoucher

🏆2nd Place: @MissDundon winning a £10 Amazon eVoucher

🏆3rd Place: @MissShakeshaft winning a £10 Amazon eVoucher

And for those still in need of some study space inspiration, we’ve collated a few more of your submissions…

Sim

Sim told us that ‘…regarding students having to transition to blended learning is that it might be daunting and troublesome initially but it is important to adapt to the situation we are in and make the most of the experience using available resources since we are already in this scenario and if need be, do not be hesitant in asking for help if they need it!“

Elizabeth

Elizabeth’s new desk has really helped her productivity and I think it’s fair to say we are all missing campus cat! 🐈

“blended learning [is] definitely a big adjustment but luckily I’ve a support network of great friends and really approachable tutors who are all happy to help me. I do miss face to face teaching though (and the campus cat!)”

Laura

Laura says sweets are essential study companions for student nurses! 🏥🍬

Miss Bolton

“Blending learning has been hard, but taking time to come to the library gets me motivated to keep working!”

Again, thank you all for taking part in #StudyHappyWeek, and for sharing your inspiring #MyEHUStudyHappySpace’s. Keep your eyes on our social media for your next campaign coming in December, as we prepare to keep you motivated right through to New Year 🥳

In a continuation of our Study Happy campaign we decided to extend the #MyEHUStudyHappySpace competition until Monday 16^th November…so you still have time to enter and a chance to win up to £30 Amazon eVoucher!

Study Happy is all about finding the perfect study-life balance for you. Part of that process is your study environment. We know this year has been a challenge for many, so it has been super inspiring to see your #StudyHappySpace’s on social media: Twitter and Instagram.

Hannah (and Hank!)

“At first I struggled with online learning during the end of last semester. However this year I am much more engaged in the blended learning approach. I am thoroughly enjoying the present in person sessions and I am engaging well with the online sessions too. My little puppy Hank certainly helps to motivate me, when he isn’t trying to get my attention! I am enjoying being at home and engaging with the sessions in a secure and safe environment.”

Em

“I think blended learning is good, I like having lectures pre-recorded so I can watch them at my own pace and around other responsibilities. I also like having my seminars in person as it allows me to share my ideas properly and have a good discussion with peers and tutors. I have 1 online seminar though, and I find that good as my teacher makes everyone feel really comfortable and really helps us get our ideas out and discuss using the text feature 😊”

Eleanor

Eleanor claims the benefits of surrounding her study space with plants helps her feel “…calm before I attempt to study, it helps me get in the right mind set 🍃🍃”

Georgia

Georgia is proving size doesn’t matter when it comes to your favourite study space as she “…love[s] to work in the study rooms in the Catalyst 💫”

Jodi (and Rocky!)

“I feel Edge Hill have gone above and beyond in supporting the transition to online learning, I could not be prouder to be a part of the University. All of the teachers have showed amazing resilience and motivated me to do the same, I now feel ready for whatever teaching throws at me! 😄”

If you have been inspired by these entries, get snapping and share your #MyEHUStudyHappySpace with us on Twitter or Instagram. Remember to tag us (so we see it!) and use the #MyEHUStudyHappySpace to spread the important message of Study Happy!

I am really enjoying the move to blended learning, it’s nice to be able to work through study materials at my own pace and direct myself more. If I am reading through presentation slides and there is something that really interests me or something I don’t fully understand, I can go and research and come back to the presentation when I am ready. It has given me a lot more control and responsibility over my studies. My tutors have also been amazing with providing support over e-mail and through online meetings, so I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. There were a few teething problems at first with getting used to new technology but now that everything is settled, I’m happy with my new study arrangements. As I prefer to do most of my studying at home anyway, with blended learning I’ve been spending even more time here, so I have made myself a little study nook to work in. It’s got everything I need to stay comfy and relaxed so I can be as productive as possible. :

My Five Top Tips for Studying Happy

This semester a lot different than other years and we’re all adapting to a new way of learning, blended learning, that combines online and in-person sessions. And it is fair to say that most of us will be spending a lot of time studying at home. So, for this unique Study Happy week, here are my top five tips for staying happy and motivated when working from home!

1. Keep your workspace separated from your recreational spaces

This might be harder for those in halls because your workspace is in your bedroom, but it’s not impossible. When I was in halls, I made sure that my desk was reserved for work and everywhere else was for chilling out. If you can’t allocate a specific space for studying, try to allocate somewhere, like your bed, for relaxing. I find that having designated areas for working and relaxing helps me switch my brain into the right mode. Trying to work in a place where you relax can make focusing harder and trying to relax in a study-zone can make switching off harder too. Finding ways to help you get into the right mindset is important and designating a specific study-space helps me with that a lot, so it’s the first thing I’d recommend for students to adopt now that a lot of us will be studying from home more frequently.

2. Try out a procrastination-beating browser extension

First thing I should mention is that you should always be careful when installing things to your computer and check reviews/ratings of browser extensions before you try them. But if you have trouble managing your time and avoiding distractions, like social media, there are plenty of browser extensions that might help. Most of them work by blocking or restricting your access to certain websites but there are lots of different ways they do this. Some will block all websites for a set amount of time or at a specific time, some let you block or restrict specific sites and some block everything except the ones you add to a whitelist. There’s a lot of variety and they can be a lot of help if you find it hard to concentrate when you’re working alone without anyone to chastise you for watching cat videos instead of finishing that essay!

3. Get in a group chat!

Most people benefit from sharing ideas and talking ideas through together. When you’re spending less time with peers it might seem like you’ll miss out on that, but you don’t have to. Think about joining a group chat or setting up a study group. BlackBoard Collaborate (available on the VLE) allows screen-sharing so you can go through presentation slides together and work with other people. It also allows video and audio chat as well as text chat so you can pick whatever is most comfortable for you. A group chat can recreate some of the environment and collaboration of seminars and working with friends in general can help with keeping motivated. If you’re a more social worker, this might be a good thing to try out!

4. Audiobooks!

My course requires a LOT of reading, and one of the ways I get it done even when I’m not feeling up to it is with audiobooks. I like to listen to an audiobook whilst reading a physical copy/e-book because I find that it keeps me focused. This has come in handy a lot with online learning because it helps me manage my time better (since most audiobooks will say how long they take to listen too) so you can plan your reading more effectively and get through books more efficiently.

5. Talk to your tutors and get support from UniSkills!

Less face-to-face time doesn’t have to mean less support. You can contact your tutors via e-mail if you need help or even ask to set up a virtual meeting if you need to discuss your studies at length. And don’t forget about UniSkills! Although the support we offer might look a little different this year, we’re still here to help! We’ve moved a lot of our support online and have introduced Webinars, online seminars, that provide guidance for all things academic. From referencing to finding online resources, we’re adapting to distancing so you can get the support you need from the comfort of your home to make this year a great one!

That’s it for now! Even though this year is shaping up to be a bit unique, there are ways to make adapting to this style of learning easier. I hope my tips gave you some ideas to try out that will help you Study Happy this year!

I love blended learning! At first, I really struggled to adapt to working from home, with a new puppy and so many distractions it was a really big step away from what I was used to. I was quite overwhelmed over having to go through lectures myself however, I find it so much easier! It allows me to go through these lectures in my own time, which helps for topics I find more difficult. I usually commuted to University, so only being in one day a week makes so much more time to do more research for my modules and start to plan my assignments! Using weekly planners has really helped me to adapt to blended learning, as I provide myself a plan of what to do throughout the week and what goals I want to achieve! This has provided me some stability to ensure I am working throughout the day without getting distracted and also allows me to plan some ‘downtime’, whether this is walking my dog or catching up on Bake Off, which really helps to keep me motivated because I know when I get my next break!

My biggest struggle with blended learning was finding a space to do my studying, I tried to work from bed, but this left me unmotivated, but I moved away from my bed and onto a desk and it has improved my motivation to work! One of the best pieces of advice I could give for blended learning, is separate your sleep space from your workspace, getting out of bed and to a desk or table will make it a lot easier to concentrate on the task at hand! Adding my own personality to the space, with photos and decorations, makes me enjoy getting up and getting to my desk and I would advise everyone to do the same to make it more homely!

MY FIVE TOP STUDY HAPPY TIPS!

This year has led to a very different approach to University due to blended learning, with a lot of work being online it can be quite difficult to get motivated and if you are like me, you can find yourself procrastinating a lot. University is very different this year and can feel overwhelming, however, I have come up with a few Top Tips to make the move towards blended learning a little easier!

1. Make a schedule!

Your University Timetable will look a little different this year, with a mixture of on campus and online learning including live and pre-recorded lectures. Try to make your own timetable – there are resources available on Uniskills which will help you with this. This will help you keep on top of everything you need to do throughout the week, instead of panicking and doing everything before your face to face session. This is also really helpful for when deadlines start to arrive as you can prepare for these in advance.

2. Use the Pomodoro Technique!

This method means you focus your time in short bursts, around 25 minutes, and then take a short break. During this time, you fully concentrate on the task at hand, with no distractions. It helps to put your phone somewhere you cannot access it, such as a drawer in your bedside cabinet and download free apps such as ‘Pomodoro’ to help with this.

3. Keep your space tidy!

Whether you’re working in your bedroom, kitchen or any space in between, keep your space organised. A messy workspace will act as a further distraction! I find keeping on top of my workspace keeps me more motivated. A tidy room really does mean a tidy mind!

4. Get in touch with your course mates!

Speak to your course mates as much as you can, use sites such as ‘Zoom’ and ‘Microsoft Teams’ to have study sessions. These can help answer questions you might have regarding the topics you are studying and are also really important if you have group work. Studying doesn’t have to be something you do alone, having study sessions can make it more fun!

5. Don’t Panic!

Things are different this year and there will be challenges but there are people to help you with whatever you are struggling with. Uniskills is here to help you with any issues you may have about Returning to Learning. All this week you can also join Lauren and myself in our Moving Forward With UniSkills webinars, where we will look at referencing toolkits and guides – book your place today: ehu.ac.uk/workshops

As part of #StudyHappyWeek, we asked our Student Advisors Lauren and Charlotte to introduce themselves and share their experiences of blended learning so far here at Edge Hill. Here’s what they had to say…

Hi, I’m Lauren. I’m currently doing an MA in English after having done my undergraduate degree here too, so I’ve been an Edge Hill student for five years.

I’m also a Student Advisor so it’s my job to provide peer-to-peer support and help other students develop their academic skills. I write posts for the Learning Services blog which is full of useful advice and updates (and which, coincidentally, I ended up on the banner image of!). I also help with the UniSkills webinars; online seminars that provide guidance for all things academic.

There’re sessions for everything from referencing to academic resilience, so they’re a great place to develop the skills you’ll need throughout your time as a student. Student Advisors are available all year to help make university life more manageable and fun.

I’m really enjoying the move to online learning, it’s nice to be able to work through study materials at my own pace and direct myself more. If I’m reading through presentation slides and there’s something that really interests me or something I don’t fully understand, I can go and research and come back to the presentation when I’m ready. It gives me a lot more control and responsibility over my studies. My tutors have also been amazing with providing support over e-mail and through online meetings, so I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. There were a few teething problems at first with getting used to new technology but now that everything is settled, I’m happy with my new study arrangements.

I prefer to do most of my studying at home and with online learning I’ve been spending even more time here, so I made myself a little study nook to work in. It’s got everything I need to stay comfy and relaxed so I can be as productive as possible: scented candle, fluffy blanket, a bit of nerdy decoration and a cuddly Pokémon to keep me company!

Hi! I am Charlotte, one of your Student Advisors working with the Library and Learning Services Team. I am a third year History with Politics student!

As a Student Advisor, I am here to provide support for issues with a range of academic skills, such as how to use the Library Catalogue and how to work TurnitIn and any other questions you may have! At the minute this support is provided virtually through varying different means including Webinars! The Webinars are a really big part of Uniskills this year, I help with these by being a chat buddy to help with any questions you may have! I will also be co-delivering a Webinar which will help you to move forward with your academic skills! The ‘Moving Forward’ webinar will specialise in referencing and proofreading, which will help you to ace your assignments!

Myself and my colleagues in the Library and Learning Services are here to help you! Use the UniSkills webpage to see all the services we offer! Make sure to sign up to webinars and we can’t wait to see you soon! 

I love blended learning! At first, I really struggled to adapt from working from home, with a new puppy and so many distractions it was a really big step away from what I was used to. I was quite overwhelmed over having to go through lectures myself however, I find it so much easier! It allows me to go through these lectures in my own time, which helps for topics I find more difficult.

I usually commuted to University, so only being in one day a week makes so much more time to do more research for my modules and start to plan my assignments! Using weekly planners has really helped me to adapt to blended learning, as I provide myself a plan of what to do throughout the week and what goals I want to achieve! This has provided me some stability to ensure I am working throughout the day without getting distracted and also allows me to plan some ‘downtime’, whether this is walking my dog or catching up on Bake Off, which really helps to keep me motivated because I know when I get my next break!

My biggest struggle with blended learning was finding a space to do my studying, I tried to work from bed, but this left me unmotivated, but I moved away from my bed and onto a desk and it has improved my motivation to work! One of the best pieces of advice I could give for blended learning, is separate your sleep space from your workspace, getting out of bed and to a desk or table will make it a lot easier to concentrate on the task at hand! Adding my own personality to the space, with photos and decorations, makes me enjoy getting up and getting to my desk and I would advise everyone to do the same to make it more homely!

Keep an eye out later in the week for Lauren and Charlotte’s top tips for staying on top of your studies. Plus – don’t forget to enter our Study Happy Week Competition!

#MyEHUStudyHappySpace Prize Draw Terms & Conditions

1. The prize draw is open to all EHU students and staff (except Learning Services staff).
2. The winner will be picked at random from a prize draw at 12pm on Monday 9^th November 2020.
3. The prizes are non-transferable.
4. The winner will be contacted through their Twitter or Instagram account and asked to confirm their EHU student/staff number.
5. The prize will be emailed to the Edge Hill student/staff email address corresponding with the student/staff number given.
6. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not respond before 23^rd November 2020, the entry will become null and void and a re-draw will take place.

Study Happy Week helps you to find a study-life balance that works for you. Whether you’re a first year still finding your feet, returning to learning after a period of time, or juggling your assignments around other commitments, the UniSkills team are here to inspire and support you.

As a completely online event, there are plenty of ways to get involved:

• Catch daily study tips from our Student Advisors on our social media pages
• Win a prize for sharing a photo of your study space in the Study Happy Week Competition  
• Keep an eye out on the blog later in the week to see how our Student Advisors are finding blended learning
• Book on a UniSkills Webinar
• Access a range of useful guides and toolkits on the UniSkills webpages

UniSkills Webinars

There are lots of UniSkills webinars available throughout the year, all of which are designed to help you develop confidence in your academic skills for university and beyond.

From a quick referencing refresh to handy paraphrasing strategies, they are a great way to virtually meet both the UniSkills team and students outside of your course.

They are free to book and there are no limits on how many you can attend. Here is what we have in store during Study Happy Week:

Monday 2 November

Moving Forward with UniSkills: 12:15pm – 12:45pm

Grow Your Academic Resilience: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Tuesday 3 November

Moving Forward with UniSkills: 12:15pm – 12:45pm

How to Action Plan Your Feedback: 1:00pm – 1:30pm

Wednesday 4 November

Moving Forward with UniSkills: 12:15pm – 12:45pm

Returning to Learning: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Thursday 5 November

Grow Your Academic Resilience: 11:00am – 12:00pm

Moving Forward with UniSkills: 12:15pm – 12:45pm

Friday 6 November

Moving Forward with UniSkills: 12:15pm – 12:45pm

Book your place on one, or all, today at ehu.ac.uk/workshops

Competition – share your study space with us!

For this year’s Study Happy Week competition, we’re asking you to send in a snap of your study space. Whether your bedroom or an outdoor spot, with pets or without, simply upload your photo to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #MyEHUStudyHappySpace and tagging @EHULearnService for the chance to win a £30 Amazon voucher, or one of two £10 Amazon vouchers for the runners-up.

#MyEHUStudyHappySpace Prize Draw Terms & Conditions

1. The prize draw is open to all EHU students and staff (except Learning Services staff).
2. The winner will be picked at random from a prize draw at 12pm on Monday 9^th November 2020.
3. The prizes are non-transferable.
4. The winner will be contacted through their Twitter or Instagram account and asked to confirm their EHU student/staff number.
5. The prize will be emailed to the Edge Hill student/staff email address corresponding with the student/staff number given.
6. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not respond before 23^rd November 2020, the entry will become null and void and a re-draw will take place.

Hello from our Student Advisors!

Here’s a sneak peek of just some of the tips from our Student Advisors on how they ‘Study Happy’:

• Keep your workspace separated from your recreational spaces

“This might be harder for those in halls because your workspace is in your bedroom, but it’s not impossible. When I was in halls, I made sure that my desk was reserved for work and everywhere else was for chilling out.”

• Get in a group chat!

“Most people benefit from sharing ideas and talking ideas through together. When you’re spending less time with peers it might seem like you’ll miss out on that, but you don’t have to. Think about joining a group chat or setting up a study group.”

• Try out a procrastination-beating browser extension

“First thing I should mention is that you should always be careful when installing things to your computer and check reviews/ratings of browser extensions before you try them. But if you have trouble managing your time and avoiding distractions like social media, there are plenty of browser extensions that might help.”

Keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels from the 2^nd November for more.

Wellbeing Support

Student Wellbeing have lots of useful resources on their webpages to support you in staying mentally and physically well during your studies. Alongside signposting to a range of apps, websites and tutorials, you can also book in and speak with a member of the team: edgehill.ac.uk/studentservices/wellbeing/

Wellbeing Workshops

Student Wellbeing have also created 2 digital workshops on perfectionism and procrastination that you can work through at your own pace. Complete with captions, these are perfect for those who might be struggling to get things done, or find they spend so much time on one assignment it puts them behind on the rest of their work: edgehill.ac.uk/studentservices/wellbeing/groups-workshops/

Togetherall

Edge Hill University students going through a tough time can now access free online support with Togetherall (formerly Big White Wall). Whether you’re struggling to sleep, feeling low, stressed or unable to cope, Togetherall can help you get support, take control and feel better. You will have access to a 24/7 online community and professional support from trained counsellors. Togetherall provides a safe space online to get things off your chest, explore your feelings, get creative and learn how to self-manage your mental health and wellbeing.

To join, simply go to togetherall.com and sign up under ‘organisation’ with your Edge Hill University email address.

With #StudyHappyWeek going virtual for the first time ever, we look forward to welcoming you to our webinars, connecting you with our Student Advisors and seeing all of your fantastic competition entries. Remember, you can get involved as much or as little as you like!

We know that you’ve all been eagerly awaiting our Autumn timetable and we can announce that bookings are now open!

The UniSkills webinars are delivered by our knowledgeable team of Academic Skills Advisors and are jam packed with the very best advice to help you ace your assignments. Whether you’re just starting out on your student journey, or you’re a postgraduate who need help with your Masters dissertation, there really is something for everyone. There’s everything from academic writing, critical analysis, proofreading, referencing and all the way through to writing your dissertation.

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If you’re new to writing at university level and have your first assignment title but you’re not sure how to get started then Introduction to Academic Writing would be ideal for you. There’s also Being Critical, Become a Paraphrasing Pro and Using Harvard Referencing which can be useful as you approach each stage of your assignment. If you are struggling to find resources for your assignment and want some help finding your eBooks and eResources, we even have bite size sessions such as Finding Online Resources via the Library Catalogue and your Reading List and Finding Electronic Journals in Discover More.

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If you have had a break in your studies, and possibly feeling a little overwhelmed, the Returning To Learning community is a chance to meet other students, chat about your learning experiences, and discover study tips and strategies, as you settle back into University life.

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UniSkills also has loads to offer returning students so you may be interested in Developing Academic Writing further as you move in to higher level writing and our Grow Your Academic Resilience session can help you to cope with the challenges this may bring. If you’re going in to your final year then I’m sure that lots of you are thinking about your dissertation and Writing Your Undergraduate Dissertation can help you on this journey. We haven’t forgotten about postgraduate’s either as the Writing Your Postgraduate Dissertation session will help you consider how to keep a narrow focus and originality of research.

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Also for the first time this year we are offering UniSkills Extra sessions. Find out how assistive technology software can be used to support your studies with the Using Assistive Technologies at University and Harnessing Digital Accessibility sessions or if you want to stop procrastinating Developing Strategies for Learning is ideal for helping you to devise strategies to manage your time better.

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You can check out the full line-up and book your place at ehu.ac.uk/workshops. There are various times and dates to choose from and there is no limit on the number of webinars you can attend. All the sessions are delivered virtually through Blackboard Collaborate and can be accessed on or off campus. Don’t worry if you haven’t used this technology yet as we’ll send you a link to join the session along with a handy technical guide. You can also watch our useful video guide, for how to really get the most out of attending a UniSkills webinar.

If you are unable to attend a session but would like some additional guidance on any of these topics then please get in touch with us or book a 1-2-1 appointment here.

We’re looking forward to seeing you soon!

As we all know, things are going to be a little different this new academic year. But with a bit of planning we can all still study productively and happily 😊

Hi, I’m Claire, an Academic Skills Advisor in the Student Engagement Team. My role is to support students to develop their academic writing skills, but up until recently I was also a student at EHU – having just completed my PGCTHE over the summer. Between March-July of this year, I (like many of you) juggled work and home schooling alongside completing my final assignments. I learnt a lot during this time and can empathise fully with those of you who have been balancing so much these past few months – and may be continuing to do so.

With this in mind, I thought I’d share some of my top study tips..

Study Space

Try and find somewhere comfortable to study. Whilst we might not all be lucky enough to have the space (or funds) to kit out a spare room as an office, there are ways you can make sure that your studying life doesn’t overtake your personal life. I happily spent time in both my living room and bedroom writing assignments; propped up against pillows and blankets with notes all around me will always be my most comfortable place to study! That said however, I made a conscious effort to tidy away the laptop, notes, articles and books each time I finished for the day. Out of sight, out of mind, is a positive here; as you want to be able to switch off when you are not in studying mode. I found a cheap collapsible storage box helped with this.

I’d fill it with all my ‘stuff’ once I had finished and then put the lid on it! So, if you haven’t got a permanent space to study, think about how you can adapt a temporary or flexible space to work in.

Caring Responsibilities

Studying with children around can be hard. As a single mum of a very lively seven-year-old, I know only too well that juggling studying alongside being a parent is not easy, particularly if you are unable to rely on your usual family/friends to help with childcare. For me, during lockdown, I often had to rely on TV and YouTube Kids to help keep my daughter entertained – I now know more YouTubers than I ever did pre-COVID! Whilst parent-guilt can be difficult to deal with when you’re juggling everything – remember it’s never a long-term situation and workloads will vary at different points in the semester.

Whilst working to a deadline, I worried at times that my own stress and anxiety was visible to my little girl. However, I was also showing her the importance of not giving up – even when things were proving difficult. Resilience is something we can all develop and rely on to help overcome obstacles and setbacks. My colleagues and I have put together an Academic Resilience toolkit, which you might find useful if you would like to develop these skills further. You may also want to check out Fika, an app which can help support good wellbeing and study habits.

Remember, Library & Learning Services are here to support you with your study skills but do reach out to a tutor or Student Services if you are struggling to balance your commitments.

Time Management

With so much studying taking place now online, the onus is on you more than ever to be organised and keep to deadlines. If you don’t already, try using your phone calendar to keep track of where you need to be and when. I’d be lost without Google calendar and the ability to colour code all my different activities across the week. Set reminders, not just for final deadlines, but also for targets such as completing readings or making plans.

If you’re looking for tips on how to manage your time or put together a study timetable, our Getting Organised webpages may prove useful. Remember to also take regular breaks from studying, we all need down time and the opportunity to relax 😊

Motivational Support

Whilst studying online, I found staying in touch with friends from my course helpful as we could support and motivate each other. You might find group message chats or online catch-ups useful if you are unable to meet in person.

The Student Engagement Team are continuing to deliver UniSkills (our programme of academic skills support) virtually online. Our team is here to support and motivate you via friendly webinars and 1-2-1 support sessions. Whether you need support with referencing, academic writing or finding relevant literature we can help.

The next few months might be rather different, but there is plenty of study support available. Focus on the positives and plan for any challenges. Finally, good luck to all our new students and those of you returning to your studies – we hope to see you in our webinars and 1-2-1s very soon!

Take care and stay safe 😊