My recommendations for when deadlines pile up

Now that the Easter break is over, university life can start to feel a bit more intense as assignment deadlines and exams begin to approach. One of the biggest adjustments when coming to university is how the workload is structured. Unlike school or college, where most learning happens during the day, university study relies much more on independent work. Many assessments are clustered in January and May, so it can sometimes feel like everything is arriving at once.

Feeling stressed or anxious about exams is completely normal, and it doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed or hit a mental block with a long list of tasks. Everyone studies differently, and part of university life is figuring out what works best for you. Some people love working in the morning, and others are night owls. Don't feel guilty if you see people on social media revising at 5 am; that may work for them, but it doesn't mean you have to do that too.

Here are a few strategies that I have found helpful:

 

Breaking tasks into smaller chunks

Large assignments can feel intimidating but dividing them into smaller steps can make them much easier to approach. When I'm writing an essay, I break it into sections and tick them off as I go. Having 'finish essay' sitting on a to-do list can feel quite discouraging, but smaller tasks like 'complete readings for paragraph one' or 'draft introduction' feel more manageable.

I also keep my tasks realistic. In the past, I would write very long to-do lists that weren't achievable, or I knew deep down I wasn't ever going to do. And having these tasks unticked for weeks made me feel unproductive. A shorter list of things you can complete often works better.

 

Studying away from your bed

Working in a space your brain doesn't associate with rest can improve concentration. This won't work for everyone, but it's worth experimenting. Associating your bed only with sleep will also help you get a good night's sleep.

I usually try to work at a desk in the library or occasionally in a coffee shop. I find working in my bedroom hard, as I associate it with relaxation, but lots of people like working in their bedrooms because they can control more distractions there compared to in a public space. If I notice I'm losing focus, I will change location or have a short break, which often helps for me.

 

Finding people you study well with

Some friends, as lovely as they are, are professional distractors!

If I'm with someone whom I know I will get distracted by or talk to, I go to a quiet part of the library where I can't talk. One of my favourite study places is Woodland Lounge, which recently opened. I also like going to library level 2 or the Plug for doing university work when I don't want to work in silence.

 

Exploring different study spaces

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to study environments. Some people love the library, while others find it too quiet. If you're still figuring out where you work best, it's worth trying different places around campus.

Woodland Lounge is designed to be neuroinclusive with panels to separate the room to minimise sound and make it less overwhelming. Woodland Lounge also has hot water taps and a sink. I bring my Exchange cup and some tea bags to campus, and I get free tea while I'm working to save money!

If you are a student leader (Society Committee member, Student Leader Trainer, Academic Rep, Peer Mentor, etc.), I recommend using the Student Leader Hub in The Edge for university work. It's usually less busy than the library, so I find it less distracting there. The seats are also really comfy, since they have booths!

You can also book study spaces on campus, including individual booths in the library. The website Froom, which our Education Officer Helen Slater designed, shows which rooms are available, which can be especially useful when you're working with a group.

Support available

You don't have to manage everything alone. The university has a range of support services designed to help you navigate workload, stress, and academic pressure:

• The Skills Centre offers workshops, 1-2-1 appointments, and online resources on time management, revision techniques, academic writing, and more. MASH (Maths and Statistics Help) is part of the Skills Centre and can help with statistics and programming coursework. They are open between 12:15pm and 2:05pm on Monday to Friday for drop-ins. I used them for support when I was struggling with SPSS. 
• Student Support - if anxiety, stress, or low mood are making it harder to study, you can speak confidentially with the Student Support team. You can speak to a member of staff at reception in the Roper Centre or you can fill in a form to request an appointment. 
• @BathStuSupport on Instagram is the University of Bath's Student Support page, sharing wellbeing tips, workshops, and events. There will be lots of BeWell events coming up to help students take a break from studying, such as dog walking and crafts.
• The BeWell App offers a range of self-help tools, a personalised self-care plan powered by AI, breathing techniques, wellbeing podcasts, and more!

Be kind to yourself!

Not every day will be equally productive. Some days you'll make great progress, and other days it might feel harder to focus. That's completely normal, and guilt is rarely a helpful motivator.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, reach out to friends, family, or university staff. You're not the only person finding this time of year challenging.

Good luck with your exams!