By Sean Lawrenson, Deputy Sports Editor
As December rapidly approaches, the growing stresses that come with the exam period may start to have an effect. With Christmas being right around the corner, it might not feel immediately comforting as deadlines stack up, but it is still possible to balance your workload with the many opportunities that the Christmas period offers. Taking time to socialise and explore Bristol during the Christmas season can help ease pre-exam nerves and provide a much-needed break.
Bristol has a vast number of activities taking place over the next month that should get you feeling festive without taking up too much of your time in the process. For instance, the switching on of the Christmas lights in Clifton takes place on Wednesday 20th November. The event starts at 6 pm alongside carol singing, with the switch on itself taking place at 6:30 pm. This type of event is great for those who want a quick switch off from studying and a breath of fresh air in the evening without breaking the bank.
Another option is to visit Bristol’s Christmas Market in Broadmead, which offers a host of festive attractions to explore. Taking place until the 23rd of December, the market includes bars and food stalls all along Broadmead strip. From sweets stalls to locally sourced cheeses, the market is a great option for anyone looking to get those Christmas presents in early, or for those who just fancy a look around. Local musicians will also be dotted up and down the strip to provide the necessary festive tunes.
Looking a little closer to university, if you have a spare evening why not try out one of the Bristol University Music Society’s (BUMS) Winter Showcase Series? The Chamber Choir concert is taking place on Monday 25th November at All Saints Church in Clifton. This two-hour showcase of what promises to be a fantastic demonstration of student singing is sure to get anyone into the Christmas spirit. With tickets priced at just £3 for students! It’s an affordable alternative for those looking to enjoy the season on a budget.
Also on offer is Spotlight’s production Lost Mary: A Bristolian Christmas, presented by the University of Bristol’s student writing society. The show will be performed at the Alma Theatre on Monday, November 25th, and Tuesday, November 26th. Promising a ‘Love Actually-inspired romantic comedy,’ the show is set to be an enjoyable option for all theatre-loving students.
Taking time away from your studies is not just a nice thought or sentiment, it’s vital. Studies have shown that working for seven days a week, even for as little as four hours a day, can exhaust the body physically and put someone under considerable mental strain. By now, it has been well established that the best way to study is in thirty-minute increments separated into 25 minutes on, and 5 minutes off – this is commonly known as the Pomodoro method. It is thought that 85 per cent of what you read after that twenty-five minute period will be lost, so allowing yourself that break to process information is necessary. Also, it is generally considered best practice to separate the spaces in which you work and have your break. Simply standing up and going outside for those five minutes helps create a conscious barrier between work and rest, enabling you to feel more focused when it is time to resume.
Don’t be tempted to supplement an unproductive day with a late-night study session, either. Whilst there is research both for and against, studies have consistently shown that studying late into the night can have a detrimental impact on your sleep schedule, and hinder your productivity the following day.
Equally important as determining the best way to master your breaks is knowing how to tailor your study sessions to what works best for you. Visual learners, for example, learn best when their surrounding environment is clean, typically finding it harder to focus when distractions lie over their desks. If you are more of an auditory learner, discussing what you have been revising with a flatmate or someone on your course can be greatly beneficial. Why not revise by listening back to lectures or, even better, record yourself talking about your notes? Kinesthetic – or tactile learners – are found to focus best when they move whilst revising; whether that be pacing, or even the simple act of chewing gum, movement can help ground your focus for a long study session. These methods are not extensive, but will hopefully nonetheless provide a tailored starting point for you to begin getting to grips with studying for the upcoming exams.
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The Christmas holidays are nearly upon us. Students can (temporarily) forget about the stresses of the past few months – the relentless study days (and occasionally nights), last-minute cramming and looming deadlines. Exams, regardless of what anyone may say, are undeniably challenging. However, with the right approach and enough festive respites, it is possible to endure this difficult period at university so as to succeed without sacrificing your sanity. And while the competitive nature of university can often make it feel as though students are at odds with one another, it is necessary to remember that this need not be the case. As clichéd as it may sound, there truly is light at the end of this exam-laden tunnel.
Featured Image: Epigram / Harriett Sanderson
Find links for tickets to the shows mentioned:
