Take time for yourself: 3 quick tips
Let’s face it, finding the off switch during mid-semester break is hard. And while breaks are something to look forward to, getting there isn’t always the experience you expect.
Finding yourself still operating in go mode, particularly if you have amped up your working hours, are doing some study on the side, and catching up on socialising, is normal. However, this comes at a cost when you get back into your studies at the start of semester 2 feeling like you haven’t really left.
By making some micro-adjustments to your routine you can reduce stress and prepare yourself for a more relaxed entry into the next study period. Here are 3 quick tips you can use to cultivate intentional free time and balance out tension.
- Scheduling free time – get out of your head what you need to get done.
Does writing a to-do list make you feel lighter? If the answer is yes, then organising your time by scheduling out your day can help you gain more control, and hopefully more time back.
Put times against your tasks, if you have work from 10 am – 3 pm, enter the times outside of this so that you can get other things done. What will you do between 6 pm and 8 pm? Is this the time to schedule in taking a break?
When you can see what you need to get done you’ve instantly achieved better time management and reduced stress. At its core, time management is planning — any of the two billion-plus YouTube videos will tell you this, and you’ve already saved time by reading the basics here 😊.
- Try an effective screen break.
Free time is one thing, how you are spending it is another question. While we use social media to connect with others it’s helpful to give yourself the occasional reality check about what you are looking at. When our feed is full of perfectly curated posts it can cause us to compare ourselves and our lives with what others are doing for a few moments of the day. What about all the other not-so-perfect moments in their day such as missing the bus and getting a bad grade? Experiencing ups and downs is normal, however, feeling stressed by scrolling on the regular because of what you see others doing is not normal and can have a snowballing effect on your stress levels. Making time to catch up with people is more rewarding because you are sharing real-time emotions and experiences. Read the study.
- Introduce a fitness routine to soothe your mood.
Regular exercise is a brain-changer that can reduce anxiety and produces all those feel-good moments that sometimes last for hours. One of the ways the brain does this is by releasing the stress-reducing neurotransmitter GABA during exercise. Therefore, walking to the next place you need to get to, or creating a fitness routine you love can help protect your brain and give your mind a break from stress and anxiety. Can you fit 30 minutes of exercise a day into your schedule?
We found a lot of research and information for this, here are some of the articles; Medical News Today, ZME Science, CBS News.
In your final year of study? Here’s how you can prepare for a graduate position during the break.
Entering your final semester of study is getting to the pointy end of the year when you can act to start planning and preparing for graduate positions. During the break, take advantage of the tools, people, and resources available to help you shine bright and reach your goals.
Starting out by considering what you want to achieve and the positions you will go for will help focus your thinking for targeting your applications. Is there is a role you are aspiring to in the long term, or a role that will get your foot in the door in the short term? If you answered yes to either of these, then you are ready to get organised and be seen by potential employers.
The following steps will help you get started with resources:
Step 1: Research graduate positions in your field by checking Career Hub and getting to know large organisations that offer these roles.
Step 2: Write your resume with assistance from Resume Builder. Then, check your content and structure with VMock and test run it through an Applicant Tracking System used by hiring managers.
Step 3: Create a cover letter using Cover Letter Builder and learn how to give your best first impression.
Step 4: Become more confident with interviews. Meeting strangers and talking about yourself can become easier with practice. Try answering some questions using the video interview simulator Vieple and practise your interview technique and get feedback from Interview Trainer.
Step 5: Speak to one of our highly experienced Career Educators for advice, tips, and feedback about your plans.