Imagine you’ve just sat down at your study desk. The rain’s pelting outside, you’ve got an iced latte chilling by your side and the largest army of neon highlighters welcome you to the next three months of study. Amongst that, over 30 books, journals, and articles of content for one module. And you might be looking at that amount of reading and be thinking, now what?

If you’re doing a reading-intense course, the amount of set reading might seem daunting, if not terrifying. However, there are ways to make your reading become manageable. Here are some methods to help overcome the dreaded backlog.

CHAPTER 1: PREPARATION

Your first week is the best time to take a look at your modules as a whole. On the module outlines or weekly readings, your tutors might signpost you to what pages are essential to read, and what parts you can skip out. This can help you reclaim reading time for lectures, extra-curricular activities and coffee breaks.

CHAPTER 2: TIME ORGANISATION

The truth is that no semester will be the same. One semester, you might be a night-owl, preferring to stay up till 3am in the warmth of your uni digs. The next semester you might discover that studying at local cafes is your new jam. It’s okay to not have your schedule figured out – the best thing you can do is to keep trying until you find something that works for you. 

CHAPTER 3: FIND WHAT ENERGISES YOU

For me, this was listening to music. For my friend, this was going on a short walk around campus. For you, this could be anything. Finding ways to spice up your reading through doing things which energise you will be your metaphorical water source over the next few months. Podcasts, dancing, jogging, pomodoro breaks or croissants: there is never one right way to study. 

CONCLUSION:

As much as the first semester’s academic demands will be daunting, make sure you don’t forget to get the most out of the other aspects of university. Friendships, exploring the local area, engaging in societies, or going out clubbing: there’s more to your experience than what hides within the pages. And remember, your tutors, academic advisor and the Student Information Zone are always available if you need guidance and advice.

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