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Halfway through her year abroad, Gabriella shares tips on how to get through the exam period at the University of Auckland.

1.  Have a break, have a...nother break

Even if you feel like you have a million things to do, you need to be alive if you want to actually get them done. So, remember your breaks. We could categorise these into food, sleep, and recreation. Timetabling in a moment of mental rest helps you structure your studies in a way that makes them that little bit more manageable, and ensures that you are keeping your body and mind in check. After all, some of these breaks are simply the basics of keeping your body functioning, like the suddenly exhausting task of eating proper meals.

Food is fuel, and the act of cooking lets you do something different and practical. It is easy to fall into the trap of accidentally spending your life savings on readymade meals – by allowing myself the time to make my own food, I could genuinely direct my mind away from academic stresses while still feeling productive. Furthermore, evoking a sublime joy that can only mean I have officially reached adulthood, I found solace in knowing tomorrow’s lunch was sorted.

Continuing my admission into being a grandma, I am profoundly anti-all-nighters - I simply cannot hack them even if I wanted to. Of course, this is natural. Sleep is important. You stand a better chance of getting more done the following day - after getting a good night’s rest - than trying to cram things in at 1am when you are already depleted, thus rendering you knackered beyond belief the next morning too. It is not worth it. Just go to bed.

Ultimately, you have to keep giving yourself things to look forward to. For me this included simply seeing my friends. No, we did not have time for extravagant plans. We did however afford ourselves the luxury of watching a film with a homemade meal after studying together. Help each other out by doing some of these basics in each other’s company. Go on walks; touch grass; have a tea break. Little things like these are what you are probably working so hard for in the first place – why deprive yourself of them? Especially if you are in a different country as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

2.  Scene change!

The other side of the world is about as big of a ‘change of scene’ as you can get, but it still holds. This will largely depend on your style, but since being cooped up in my bedroom during lockdown I find it very difficult to stay in the same spot all day. This exam season here in Auckland consisted of a lot of shuffling about.

I would work a bit in my room… a bit in my friend’s flat… a bit in another friend’s building… a bit on campus... a bit at a café called The Shelf (we love you)… sometimes a bit at Starbucks. When the sun was out, I also did some astrobiology in the University gardens and felt very nice about life. It is true that the locations themselves became quite samey. However, it was the act of moving that mattered here. It doubles up as a break; it’s a chance for you to stretch your legs, get some steps in. I won’t try to convince you that walking to Countdown to buy overpriced food is emotionally fulfilling, but it must be done. In the same way, this all includes recreational scene changes, like a walk in Auckland Domain. Simply put, please make sure you go outside at least once to keep that brain engaged – observing life around you is a good reminder that the world won’t end if a test goes awry.

3.  A splash of realism

I live in no fantasy; everything I have just stated is easier said than done. Taking care of yourself is hard work in itself – maintaining all of these things is difficult. For that reason, it’s okay to not be able to manage every single thing. It’s okay to have more ready meals (you need to eat!). It’s okay to have emotional support biscuits. Ask yourself: is it realistic to expect to be on top form, peak health and fitness with a booming social life, throughout the exam period? No. Equally, is it realistic to work nonstop and not do anything but uni work? No. Getting the balance right is a challenge; be kind to yourself, and just give it a good go. If you want to do well, you need to feel well. So, don’t feel guilty. Be patient, and treat yourself like you would your friends – with bountiful love and support.