Student Life | Issue 41

Studying in Lockdown
BY THOMAS HEATHWAITE
When I think about studying during
the pandemic I think of the words:
low motivation, boring, stressful,
procrastination, 4-walls, mundane.
Here, I outline my daily routine
and discuss the challenges I have
faced whilst studying as a year 2
University of Suffolk student during
the pandemic.
MY ROUTINE:
07:00: I Wake up and have breakfast
whilst looking at any news of
interest.
08:00: Have a shower and make the
bed. Making my bed is an important
step I find as it gives your brain
satification that you have done your
first task, and that motivates you to
complete more tasks.
09:00 till 12:00: Spend the day doing
work, and/or join lecturers (we have
live lectures). I always come away
from my room and downstairs to
make tea during a comfort break
during lectures. I have found this
remotivates you and makes you
more productive.
12:00 till 13:00: Have lunch. I always
escape from my room as I spend
enough time engulfed by the 4 walls
of my room. Having a break from
the room remotivates me for the
afternoon work.
13:00 till 17:00: Complete more work
(yes, it never ends!) or continue with
lectures. One of my main challenges
to overcome has been being confined
to 4 walls. My main strategy to
overcome this is to get exercise
every day and to take regular breaks
from being in my room. Doing this
ensures you get out of the house,
which is good mentally. Exercise also
energizes you; gives you a boost
mentally; allows you to come back
refreshed and makes you more
productive.
17:00 till 18:30: Make and eat tea. To
me, making tea is very therapeutic
and allows the mind something else
to think about.
18:30 till 21:00: This is my relaxation
time! I will often play cards with
my sister and Dad; build Lego for
an hour; or make my own Lego
creations. One thing I always ensure
is I don’t look at devices. This helps
me to relax and allows a better night’s
sleep.
21:30 till 07:00: sleep! Getting a good
night’s sleep (for me I need at least 9
½ hours of sleep) is critical to having a
good day the next day. A bad night’s
sleep = a bad tomorrow.
Another challenge has been the lack
of socialisation. To overcome this, I
facetime my Grandad and friends.
It’s not great, but it’s the best I can do
currently.
57 57 •• MARCH ISSUE 2019 41 •• STUDENT LIFE LIFE