As a student there are lots of distractions around. There’s the endless programmes available on Netflix, romance, hobbies and, of course, partying. It’s a wonder any work ever gets done.
However, done it must get, especially around those big study weeks when deadlines are looming. Naturally, the biggest distraction and biggest drain on productivity is the partying and alcohol in particular, with it damaging millions of grades in the past.
In fact, visit any alcohol or drug or alcohol rehab Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Warwick or any other university town way and you’ll find many suffering from addiction will look back to their studying days and the stress of work and excess of partying as a root cause.
It’s always important to monitor your alcohol intake and relationship with the substance to ensure it remains healthy, but if you have an important period of study coming up and you’re looking to avoid the booze, here are five top tips for doing so…
Set yourself a clear study schedule
A good idea is to be much more disciplined in your approach to your study schedule. By knowing when your study sessions are, as well as the goals you need to achieve will make you much clearer in what’s needed to ensure work is done on time and to the best of your ability.
Plan in your breaks and periods of relaxation, and that organisation will ensure you create a routine that’ll prevent you from swaying from.
Utilise stress management practicess
So many people turn to alcohol when they are stressed, but there are more efficient and healthier ways to combat it. Utilise stress management techniques and build them into your schedule.
Consider the likes of yoga, meditation or exercises like yoga and swimming. Not only are they great stress busters, they’re also more pleasant and fun activities that can break up the day and give you a bit of respite from studying too.
These practices are utilised by many people in recovery from alcohol addiction as a coping mechanism and are recommended by many professionals in the industry.
Seek out a quiet and peaceful place to study
It’s going to be very difficult to concentrate if you’re in a flat where others you live with are partying and generally being disruptive. Find yourself a quiet place to study, whether it be at the library or even if you have to go elsewhere and visit friends or family members for a couple of days to get through what you need to do.
That will lower temptation, as well as make you more productive when you need to be.
Reward yourself for periods of good work
Where once you might have sunk a beer after finishing off an essay, reward yourself in other ways. Celebrate progress with other types of treats, whether that be a bar of chocolate or taking yourself off to the cinema.
Still give yourself that incentive to get the work done, with little treats around milestones. Just with something that isn’t going to give you a hangover and halt progress further down the line.
Get help if you need it
Finally, if you are struggling to give up alcohol, then get help. It can be difficult to go alcohol free for those who have, or may be in the process, of falling into the trap of addiction. There will be professionals within the university that can help and point you in the right direction to counselling or support groups. And that really can make all the difference, not just in the short term, but in the long term too.
