Tips On How To Write A Paper For The Stressed Out University Student
University can throw a bit of a curve ball at you sometimes, especially when it comes to knowing how to write a paper. We here at Society19 know it can be a little stressful at times. But don’t worry. It’s totally normal and you’re totally not alone. What’s more, there are some really simple things you can do to make the process of writing a paper a little easier. Here are some tips on how to write a paper and how to deal with the copious amounts of stress you may be experiencing.
1. Set Realistic Goals
Get a planner, whiteboard or a notebook to write in and make a timetable of how you’re going to spend your time. It’s important to set realistic goals for yourself to be accomplished in a realistic amount of time, rather than spending countless hours sitting in front of your laptop with no clear goals. By doing this you are more likely to feel like you’re progressing and it breaks down what seems like an impossible mountain of work into manageable chunks.
2. Fun time is important
Although you have a lot to do and shouldn’t lose sight of that, spending time disengaged from your work is equally as important. In this time you should get out of the house. Go on a walk, catch up with someone on the phone or go to see your friends who, most likely, are going through something similar themselves. Fun time is important for recharging and restoring some balance in your life. I guarantee that this will help you approach your papers with much higher spirits and a refreshed mind.
3. Talk to people about your stress
Don’t bottle it up and hide in your room. Talking to others often offers up solutions you were too stressed to see.
4. Eat Well
A healthy diet is one of the most crucial elements to managing stress in this time. Make sure to eat lots of vegetables, protein, fibre, and drink tonnes of water.
5. Sleep Well
Make sure you’re getting at least eight hours of sleep a night. You can’t expect to function properly when you’re writing your paper if you’re overtired. I know I definitely can’t.
6. Listen To Podcasts In The Morning
This is both a relaxing and educational way to spend your time in the morning whilst you get ready for the day. It doesn’t have to be a podcast strictly about your paper’s topic, just something that interests you. You never know what kind of ideas you may find yourself being introduced when you’re least expecting it that could be key to the conclusion of your paper!
7. Never be afraid to ask for help
Your lecturers have an office hour for a reason. Study sessions with classmates can also be massively beneficial for everyone involved. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to voice their interpretation of what the lecturer meant for it all to click into place for you. And you never know, you may find that in comparison to your classmates you know more than you actually thought. Working together works.Â
8. Abstain From Drinking
It’s so hard when you’re friends have different commitments to you and are able to have fun when you’re stuck in the library, but unfortunately, our brains are not really capable of producing much worth reading when we’ve spent the night prior dehydrating it. This time of abstaining will pass, trust me, just stick at it a little longer.
