The end of Term 2 is fast approaching (just under 2 weeks!), and with that comes the impending loom of deadlines and exams. I’ve always quite enjoyed Term 3 at UCL, as spring starts to really flourish on campus. I also tend to thrive under stress and deadline pressure, much to the horror of my friends when I tell them this.
Having said this, there have been many times when I’ve found myself completely overwhelmed with all the things I have going on that I end up on the floor of my room in a ball of panic and anxiety (real talk). The Sunday Scaries (a horrible phrase) are also something I often experience as I look at the long list of things I still haven’t managed to get done and hence will have to do on top of the things I have planned in an already packed week. This year I’ve really learnt how to balance work and life and put my own mental and physical health as a priority when necessary.
To help students navigate this often quite stressful time of the year, UCL’s fantastic Student Support and Wellbeing Services team have been putting on a range of activities and events for students in their Exam Season Toolkit campaign , which runs until 28 March. I went to some of these events to see if they could teach me how to navigate stress and feeling overwhelmed, and the good news is: they genuinely did.
The JustVibes Hiphop dance class, led by dance instructor Elaine Simpson, who is incredibly energetic and fun to work with, was really fun and beginner-friendly. For someone with no good coordination (since the days of my nursery reports, as my parents point out every time my reflex response is too slow) I found myself having a highly enjoyable time as we were taught a routine to Jordin Sparks’ super-addictive song ’Forever’ feat. T-Pain.
By the end I kind of know the routine by heart and developed more confidence in just embracing the failure of getting it wrong many times. "This was really fun; I’ll definitely be back. I’ve been wanting to dance somewhere other than alone in my room for a while now!" Rachel, a Masters’ student in Museum Studies confides in me. The idea of the class is to let loose and groove a bit, and it works well! I manage to shake off the stress I felt before, and leave feeling more capable of tackling the rest of the week.
I also attend an ArtLates session in the Art Studio in the Lewis Building. We look at using the grid method to draw an elephant onto paper, and soon the sketch becomes a visible elephant. "Everything is a shape," the instructor Emily Swan tells us, as we look at negative space and using that to our advantage. I remember how drawing or art therapy was always a creative outlet for me at school - when doing my GCSEs for example, I often spent a lot of time in the art block after school, working on my sketchbooks just to de-stress. So, I promise myself to try do more creative drawing in the future. The session helped me unwind, so I really recommend it to other students.
At the Paint by Numbers Drop-in session, organised by the Student Support and Wellbeing team , I also start off painting a gorgeous landscape with my friend Sophia, a final-year Computer Science student, which progressively gets messier but still allows us both to unleash our creativity. This session was really fun!
At a barre class on Wednesday, organised by UCL Students’ Union’s amazing Project Active initiative, I go with my friend Sophie, and by the end both of us are huffing and puffing. By the evening my core muscles are aching, but I take this as a good sign - I challenged my body today, in a sport I’m not immediately good at. We sign up to go the following week, too.
At a webinar on procrastination, some hard truths come to light - admittedly, I also find it easy to procrastinate. "I’m telling my friends from home that I’m swamped and can’t talk long, and the reality is I then literally do anything but work," I tell my friend Ani, a final-year History student, in our French class. This makes her giggle - we’ve both been equally stressed out about our dissertations, to the extent that our French revision has been left on the back burner un petit peu trop tard.
I’ve recently realised that this is because of a fear of failure - when actually whatever I do end up creating is probably already good enough, and better than I think. I also often kick myself for not starting earlier: when I sit down to do the research it’s always actually quite interesting (after all, I do love what I am studying).
The webinar advises me that (as ever) starting early is better in the long-term, as you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed. As well as this, setting achievable goals is really important - I’m guilty of trying to overachieve and not being realistic about my capabilities (but am working on it...).
Personally, I’ve always found that running clears my head. Recently, on a day where I tried really hard to pick myself off the floor of my room and do something despite the fact it was a bit miserable and already too late in the day to do anything really conceivable, I decided to put on my new running shoes (I’m training for a half-marathon supposedly) and explore a new route. I run to Hyde Park, and then decide to push myself further, and do a whole lap of the park. By the end I run home full of joy and incredibly proud of myself. To treat myself, I go to Starbucks and order a Venti hot chocolate. The lady serving me asks if I want extra cream, and I smile and emphatically say "Yes, please!".
"Ooh, special day?" She asks me.
"Not really, but a good day, nevertheless." I smile at her broadly.
I later humblebrag at dinner to my dad’s colleague that the reason I’m glowing and exhausted is because I did in fact run 13km, my longest distance to date.
Erin Shouler, Student Wellbeing Adviser in the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Team had this to say about the Exam Season Toolkit events -
"We are excited to bring back your favourite events as part of the Exam Season Toolkit campaign, including Paint by Numbers , Sleeping Better with Neurodivergence , an Art Evening at the Petrie Museum , along with the much-loved Wellbeing Alpacas ! Alongside these fun activities, we’re offering a wide range of valuable exam support and advice to help everyone feel prepared and confident during this period. The campaign runs until 28 March, so there’s still plenty to get involved in, and we hope to see you there!"
"We know the exam period can be tough," Erin continues, "which is why we created Your Assessment Wellbeing Guide. This resource is packed with top tips and techniques for looking after yourself before, during, and after exams. From spotting signs of stress to wellness worksheets, a weekly revision timetable, and advice on supporting a friend, this guide is here to help you every step of the way."
As Erin says, there’s still plenty of time to get involved in the fantastic events they’re putting on in the next weeks: there is a Grant Museum Art Evening , friendship bracelet making, sound healing and sound meditation , webinars on managing exam anxiety and sleeping better. .. and therapy dogs ! Be sure to check out all the wonderful things on offer until the end of term. I also really recommend consulting the Assessment Wellbeing Guide - it’s got a lot of really helpful tips in it.
Personally, I’ll be heading over to the Ioe next Monday to cuddle the alpacas, as well as attending a bunch more of the events on offer before the end of term. Be sure to check them out, and hopefully I’ll see a some of you there too! And best of luck with all’your deadlines and assessments - remember to take care of yourself, and to balance work with enjoyment.
About the author: UCL Student Storyteller Zoe Dahse says, "I am a final-year History with Spanish student. I am an aspiring journalist and have been involved with UCL’s Pi Media throughout my time as an undergraduate. Currently, I am President of the society and really enjoying leading my talented team across Pi Online, Mag and TV. I love reading and telling stories, and hope to improve my storytelling skills in relation to UCL life and to promote the development of the Storytellers’ Scheme further."
You can read some of Zoe’s previous stories for UCL Student Storytellers here , here and here
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