Beating the January Blues And Pep Up Your Graduate Job Hunt

Wednesday 25th January 2012

The Guardian's recent article entitled 'Undergraduates: heaven knows they're miserable now' paints an unhappy, stressful portrait of student life. Students are described as hitting the 'post-Christmas blues' hard when returning to university for the second time to begin their graduate jobs hunt. However, January need not appear so bleak.

Although the transition from home to university can be tough, it is no cause for concern. Certainly the shift from central heating, non-ready meals and clean sheets to arctic, sordid conditions can be a shock to the system, however the Guardian need not be so dramatic. The majority of undergraduates aren't miserable in January, simply taking their time to adapt back into university life.

Clearly January exams can be a cause of worry when returning to university, however there are ways to counteract pre-exam nerves. Doing as much revision as possible over the holiday deflates stress levels, allowing you to relax more and enjoy spending quality time with the friends you presumably haven't seen for a month. Exams are no scarier at university than they were at A-Level, and in first year, they often don't even count! Of course, it is important to revise hard and do well, but the fact that you made it onto the course in the first place is an indication that you are more than prepared and intelligent enough to pass the exams.

Essay deadlines are a concern, too, which is why I recommend finishing or at least formatting a plan for essays before returning. Often, university can be distracting (especially if you are in student halls) and therefore it will be easier, and probably less time-consuming to at least prepare your essays while at home. It is understandable to want to see old friends and family when you return home over the holidays, but one or two hours work a day should not be too difficult to manage.

To people who dreaded returning to university after the Christmas holidays, remember: university is fun, not the completely work-orientated, stressful environment that the Guardian article depicted. Remember, most people feel similarly when thinking about returning to university and I, being one of these people, always end up thinking 'What on earth was I so worried about?' Second term blues need not get students down, as although the transition can be difficult, everyone is in the same position and January is not as miserable a month as it seems.

Kate, GRB Journalist