You've experienced the initial buzz of the new term, you've sort of worked out where your lectures are and you've just about moulded to your timetable - but what's this? Misery? Lack of motivation? Stress? Welcome to the 'Fifth Week Blues' my friend. And no, this isn't a new genre that you need to look up on Spotify; it's the ugly sister of 'Post-Freshers' Blues' and the weird cousin of 'Freshers' Flu'. But despair not because Christmas will draw closer and you will get yourself sorted. Below we've got some helpful advice to help you survive the 'storm'.
1. Take some time to relax
There is no point trying to function when you're feeling worked up and overwhelmed. If your workload is just hitting you, take some time to sit down, get comfy and breathe. You probably can't completely clear your mind at the moment, but try to distract yourself with just an hour of mind-numbing TV while you calm down.
2. Get organised
By now you've hopefully calmed down a little and are able to think clearly. Now is the time to grasp the bull by the horns, face the music and dance and err, work out how you're going to tackle the coming weeks. Lists are a great way to start; calendars and diaries are a good a visual aid, but you should already know what works for you. Once you can easily see what's coming up, yes you can panic a bit, but you can also plan coherently.
3. Be realistic
Do you really have the time (or money) to go out on Wednesday and Friday? Do you need to go home this weekend? We're not saying don't do fun things, but if time management isn't your strong point, have a look at how realistic your commitments are compared to how long you'll have to complete that all important essay.
4. Go to your classes and do your reading
Just do it. You know you need to and finding the time to improve your attendance is of the utmost importance right now. Once you've sorted your attendance you can work on completing your weekly work on time, and tackle those looming assessments. Plus, reading week is just around the corner.
5. Attend office hours
Speaking to your lecturers can be a massive help. Firstly it removes some of the social divide between you as you'll realise that they are also human beings. Secondly, they can offer invaluable advice about how to manage your time better, tackle your workload and offer suggestions as to where you should cut back.
6. Speak to people
Not going out doesn't mean you shouldn't socialise. Hiding away in your room - even if you dislike people - won't help when you're feeling low. Allocate a small portion of each day to watch some TV with your housemates or meet a friend for a coffee on campus to perk yourself up and realise that you aren't the only one feeling rubbish this time of year.
7. Get some sleep
When you're pushing yourself to meet deadlines and removing yourself from social situations, you need to leave yourself some time to sleep. A lack of sleep directly affects your cognitive processes meaning concentration is barely possible and your mood will worsen.
Hopefully we've provided some useful advice on how to get through the 'fifth week blues', but ultimately it's down to you. University is a very challenging and rewarding time for the majority of people, but look how far you've come already - you're bound to get through it.
