December is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be incredibly difficult to indulge in all the holiday cheer when there is a mountain of assignments piling up. As a fourth-year student who knows the feeling all too well, allow me to give you my best tips on how to maximise your grades, while also making the most of your Holly Jolly Christmas!

Do not procrastinate
If I could turn back time, that is all I would say to my younger self. Procrastination is my worst enemy and I know that I am not the only one suffering with it. Although you may not want to start that assignment a month early and going for dinner with your friend just sounds so much easier, believe me – that dinner will taste so much better knowing that your assignment is done. Just because it’s not the due date, doesn’t mean it’s not the DO date! Start early and then you will have all the time in the world to join in on the festivities.

Make time for yourself
While it may sound like I am contradicting myself here, it is also important that you don’t let your exams or assignments consume every minute of your day. Yes, the pressure is there for a reason, but your grades don’t define you. If you feel like it is getting too much, just go home and relax. Stick on your favourite film, grab a snack, and don’t think any more about uni work for the day – we all need to take a break, sometimes.

Set your own deadlines
This is especially important if you relate to my procrastination problem. At this time of year, usually all I can think about is everything festive that I want to do. All my deadlines tend to fall within the same week, and as mentioned, I am a pro at leaving them until a couple of days before. My new tactic is to convince myself that they are due earlier and mentally change that deadline to the week before. This sounds ridiculous but once they’re complete, I have an extra week of Christmas. Try it – this might be crazy enough to work for you too!

Talk to someone about it
I am no stranger to crying it out and keeping the stress to myself, but it is so much better to tell someone about how you’re feeling. Winter can be a very challenging time for anyone, so don’t feel like you are failing or falling behind just because nobody else is saying it – we are all stressed out! The best thing to do is reach out and. Sometimes, actually saying it aloud puts things into perspective and can help kickstart some motivation to cross the finish line. You’ve got this, trust me, I have been there.

Create the ultimate study playlist!
Studying can sometimes feel like the biggest chore, with there being hardly any enjoyment. That is why I believe that no study session is complete without some tunes. Before you sit yourself down in the library, create the ultimate study playlist. My top tip is to exclude as many of your favourite songs and artists as you can to ensure there are no major distractions – plus you may just find your new fave song!

If this is your first winter as a student, I can’t promise that the work gets easier, but I can say that as time goes on, you will find your own ways to combat stress and you will begin to feel more at ease. In the meantime, I hope my completely unprofessional tips have helped you in any way. For now, I am wishing you the best of luck and I hope your season is bright and full of joy!