6 tips for getting back into the swing of things in January

Returning to university in January is never easy, especially with the looming deadlines and dreary London weather. Perhaps you’ve returned from your winter break feeling like you did nothing and now you feel guilty. Or maybe you spent most of the time working or studying and feel like you need another holiday. Whatever the reasons, if you’re in a post-holiday slump, below are 6 tips to get you back into the swing of things:

1. Make a plan of action

January is a new year and time to reflect on what the year ahead brings. It is likely that you have upcoming deadlines and possibly exams, so it is the perfect time to get yourself organised. Firstly, make a list of all the deadlines and/or exams you have this year. Then, put these into a calendar or diary - having all of this illustrated in front of you can help you make realistic revision and study plans. When making plans, think about how much time you will need and what resources you’ll need (e.g. a certain book from the library).

2. Re-vamp your study space

January is the perfect time for fresh starts and a good place to begin is your study space. Why not clean your desk, organise your desktop and throw out all those pens that don’t work. Maybe you need to buy new stationery, notepad or plant and stick up some motivational quotes - do what you need to do to re-inspire yourself!

3. Arrange an appointment with your Personal Tutor

Every UCL student is assigned a Personal Tutor and they are a great resource to have. Many tutors have “open office hours” or you can book a pre-scheduled appointment to speak to them over MS Teams or email. If you have any niggling academic questions or concerns, why not bring this up with your tutor or your lecturer if it is content-related. Although it may not seem like it, your professors and tutors used to be students too and may be able to offer some invaluable advice on getting through your degree. Many students get to final year wishing they would have connected more with their lecturers and personal tutors earlier and didn't try to do it all alone - start now and you will thank yourself later!

4. Plan a self-care day

Self-care is important, no more so than in the month of January – the weather is bad, funds may be running low and the holidays are over. Maybe your New Year resolutions are already broken or you’re struggling to keep up with them. Why not schedule a self-care day? This could mean anything from setting time to meet up with friends online or spending the day in bed watching movies. If you’re not sure what your self-care day would look like and booking yourself a massage is out of the question, check out our article on 11 simple ways to practise self-care for some inspiration!

5. Make plans with friends

With a lockdown in combination with the less-than-pleasant January weather, make sure to stay in touch with your friends. Even though you can't necessarily see each other in person, why not drop them a message and catch up, schedule a virtual movie night together or do a cook-along from the comfort of your kitchens?

If like many other students, you haven’t quite found that group of friends just yet, you are not alone! Maybe you could join a society this January and meet like-minded people? This is a good place to start and you can look on the Students' Union UCL Clubs and Societies Directory for more info.

6. Be kind to yourself

It is easy to feel like you carry the weight of the rest of 2021 on your shoulders this month. Try to remember that it is normal to have huge January ambitions and goals and it is okay not to achieve them all straight away. It's also hard to look ahead to 2021 when there is so much uncertainty and it's impossible to make concrete plans. So cut yourself some slack!

If you have already given up on your New Year’s resolutions – forgive yourself and recommit to them (if you still want to) or let them go and shift your attention from guilt to focussing on what is important to you today. January is about slowing it down so you can get back on track and build strong foundations for the year ahead! Give yourself credit for how far you have already come, get lots of rest and look after yourself!

UCL Student Support and Wellbeing, January 2021