January can be a hard month to get through at uni, but with a good mindset and some routine to your days, it can all be made a little bit easier.
As a second-year student, last year I found that staying active and busy helped me feel more part of my community and less alone. Maintaining structure to my day or week helped me feel in control and that I was being productive with my time, avoiding a downward spiral.
I also found it super important to check in with my friends, not only for my benefit but theirs too. One point I really want to share with you is that you’re certainly not alone if you’re feeling the post-Christmas lull and the challenge in moving back to uni again after the holidays. You’re only human, so don’t be too harsh on yourself.
I want to share some ideas with you to help get through the first term of the new year but remember, through it all, doing what is best for you is always most important.
Firstly, try to be inspired by new things. As the evenings draw in quicker, and we have more time for watching TV and Netflix, try your hand at a new hobby. It could be that you spend some time drawing or crafting while you watch something, finding a new style you haven’t tried before. Or you pick up a new language for a few minutes every evening over dinner. Be excited and open to new opportunities as a fresh year begins.
It doesn’t have to be limited to what you can do by yourself, either. Make it more social and do it in the common room or your kitchen instead. Or go bigger and bolder and try new activities outside the comfort of your house. Try a new sport, such as visiting the indoor ski slope in Christchurch for a seasonal activity, or join a different society you haven’t considered before.
Use this time to visit new pubs, cafés and restaurants with friends to catch up, too. It’s important to feel connected to your circle through the harder months and it’s always nice to catch up on everyone’s busy Christmas period, so why not do it somewhere new or while exploring something different? Having new opportunities to try will help give you something to look forward to, keeping you occupied and excited.
Secondly, to help beat the January Blues, try get outside as much as you can! The fresh air and open space can really help make your mind a little clearer and your headspace a nicer place to be. The days can be short in the early months, so it’s nice to try and get intentional time outside to avoid feeling like you only ever leave for uni in the dark and get home in the dark.
In my first year, I found it nice to go out for walks at different times of the day – sometimes for sunsets after a day at uni, earlier in the day at the weekends when I had more time and I even braved a sunrise or two on the beach which were beautiful. In amongst getting yourself out the house, I highly recommend doing it in good company too. It’s a great chance to get some meet-ups booked in with friends, maybe even some new people that you have been meaning to connect with, and it gives you something to look forward to.
If you’re looking for ideas of places to go around Bournemouth, I would recommend Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth to Boscombe Pier, Brownsea Island or further afield like Swanage and the New Forest, which are pretty easily accessible by bus or train.
Finally, adapt your mindset to focus on what you can do, instead of what you can’t. I always find myself in the rut of comparing the winter and summer months against each other, always drawing the winter months short. This leaves me feeling low, like I'm ‘missing out’ on experiences and like I'm not living life if it isn't warm and sunny out. However, I found adjusting my mindset to focusing on what was best for me at the time more helpful. Naturally, we need more rest in winter and it’s good to take time to slow down. Focusing on seasonal activities, different hobbies compared to summer, to stay both busy and present with where we are at in the year. It’s always good to prioritise looking after ourselves with nutritious meals, rest, gratitude and self-care. A top tip of mine for adjusting back into university is not being ashamed of saying no, or prioritising what you need or would prefer more.
Coming back to university in the new year can be daunting and hard, but it will get easier and you will find your rhythm again. Remember, last term you may not have even known anyone, or Bournemouth, and you made it through! Not every day will be the best and that’s okay; just remember you can go far alone, but farther together. Enjoy getting back into your studies, make the most of getting outside and catching up with friends, and focus on what your body needs in the slower season. All in all, you aren’t alone and everyone wants to support you.
