How to stay motivated during the winter season
Written by Mia and reviewed by our team. Mia is a Kortext student ambassador at the University of Leeds.
Seasonal blues
As the dark nights draw in at 4pm, it can be a struggle to stay happy and motivated. The winter season, especially November, is the dreaded deadline season for university students across the country.
The cold mornings and endless assignments are all reasons we, as students, can struggle to stay motivated. However, there are so many ways we can beat the seasonal blues and find excitement during the winter season!
Winter and Christmas activities
One of the best things about winter is the range of Christmas events and shopping opportunities that are unlike any other time of the year.
University towns and cities will hold their fair share of Christmas markets and themed events, with fun displays and decorations to enjoy. Make the most of student discounts, January sales, discounts and cheap prices at Christmas markets to buy the perfect winter gifts.
University student unions will also put on fun events that will spread the Christmas cheer around the university. Universities do an amazing job at making their campus look festive so go and check out what your campus looks like now.
The library
The library is a trusty resource at your university that is always there for you. Library study sessions are beneficial for reading and consolidating your learning. It’s important to schedule trips to the library during your week, as it’s somewhere you can work with no distractions.
During winter, it can be hard to want to head to the library on dark evenings or gloomy mornings. But the best way to get into the winter studying spirit is to make your library sessions fun. You could grab a warm beverage like a hot chocolate, listen to a Christmas or winter-themed playlist or go with your friends to make your experience more enjoyable.
Sleep schedule
Sleep schedule is very important during winter now the clocks have gone back, and the days get shorter. Common habits like waking up late can mean you have less time to be in the sunlight. As stressed students we discover what we have been truly missing out on: sleep.
Prioritising a consistent and decent sleep schedule can help us get the most out of the limited daylight during winter. Being awake a few extra hours earlier mean we have more time to get the most out of our day and busy schedules.
To tackle the struggle of waking up in the mornings, find ways to spend mornings doing productive and motivating things such as going to the gym or the library, going shopping, running errands or meeting a friend.
On nights where you know that the next day will be super busy, create a calming atmosphere to allow you to relax and have some good quality sleep. Making yourself a nice cup of tea, cuddling up with a cosy blanket in your favourite winter pyjamas and reading a book or watching a joyful winter movie all sound like the perfect student stress-relievers.
Exam season on its way…
University exam season slowly creeps in for most students in January as soon as we are still calming down from the Christmas chaos.
Maximise your time before the winter break to read and revise so you can spend more time having fun with friends and family. Start bringing together and organising all your lecture notes, consolidating the knowledge that you need to succeed in exams.
Kortext is a great platform that you can use on the go when you are travelling home from uni or to any exciting destinations over the break. On Kortext, you can create revision flashcards of lecture content, read any essential readings on any device, and make notes to prepare you for your exams.
The excitement of winter break
After all the hard work and fun of semester one, we all deserve time to rest and unwind from a gruelling winter. It can be so exciting to go back home and catch up with your family and friends. Make sure to treat yourself during this time and enjoy the well-deserved rest ready for another semester back at university in January.
