Five struggles for every Soton student during exam period

With exams beginning tomorrow, panic is setting in, but no matter what subject you’re studying, there are certain struggles we all undergo at this time of year.

1. Procrastination

This is a big one. Whether it’s Facebook, the Soton Tab, or that new TV series you are determined to finish. It’s just so easy to convince yourself you’re doing work when your book is open, regardless of how often you actually look away from the TV or computer screen.

2. Junk food

We’ve only just had Christmas and New Year’s Resolutions to stop eating everything in sight have been made. But no matter how hard you try, there is no better way is there to distract yourself from work than snacking all day long. Not to mention that after a ‘hard’ day’s revision, the last thing you want to do is cook. Bring on the takeaways.

Stocking up for revision

3. The library

The eternal struggle of Hartley. Waking up early is essential if you want to have any chance of finding a seat. But once you’re there, the extended opening hours at this time of year mean that you can stay until the early hours. You know you’re wrecking your sleeping pattern, but you do it anyway, even though there’s no chance of you getting to the library early the next day. And so the cycle continues. You may as well move in.

4. The actual work

You get to the point where you finally try a past paper, but you don’t recognise any of it from the lectures. It seems like you have forgotten everything you’ve ever learnt. Napping on your notes and hoping that it will go in by osmosis is looking ever more appealing.

Still not making any sense

5. Resisting the urge to go out

You haven’t been out drinking since New Year’s Eve and you really miss it right now. You feel like you’re counting down the days until your post-exams night out and the shame and regret that comes with it. But it could be worse, at least you’re not that person whose birthday is in the middle of exams.

It’s been too long

Good luck with your revision!

Five struggles for every Soton student at Christmas