Hey! I’m Evie, a final year BA History and Politics student at the Penryn Campus. Three years ago, I moved from London to Cornwall to study here as I loved the look of my course and the seaside setting. As I’ve made my way through my degree, I’ve realised just how important it is to prioritise your wellbeing, and to be studying somewhere that helps to support you in this. I’ve always been quite an anxious person, and therefore aware of how key it is to make sure you’re doing things to keep yourself happy and content – so I did look out for how the University of Exeter could help me with this when applying, and thought it seemed like a good option. Since being here, I feel like I’ve learnt a lot more about how much support is actually available if you need it, as well as what works for me on a day-to-day level. Of course, what brings you comfort is personal and you’ll find a routine that suits you specifically, but here is a bit of inspiration from an average week in my life.
Monday
I always start the day with a coffee and bowl of yogurt with blueberries and homemade granola. In first year I wasn’t very good at prioritising a healthy breakfast because I wanted to wake up as late as possible before my 9ams, but I’ve discovered that the ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ thing actually holds a lot of truth, and I am significantly less grumpy after taking the time to fuel myself properly. I normally either watch or read something fun to try and wake up a bit and make the early starts feel a bit more gentle. Having a cosy morning really does get you off to a good start, and I think taking a minute to just sit and enjoy your first sip of coffee (or hot drink of choice) brings a bit of peace to your day before it’s even properly started.
After getting ready, I meet my friend on the bus and head to campus for my 11:00-13:00 ‘Displacement and Conflict in the Middle East’ lecture and seminar. We have some lecture slides for the first hour and then group discussions about the topic and readings in the second hour. I then go and sit in the Upper Stannary area to eat my lunch, as I generally try to bring something in (almost always a pasta salad) to save some money. My next lecture is at 16:00-17:00, so I make the most of the few hours in between classes by going to the library and getting some reading done. After the History lecture, I walk home and make dinner with my boyfriend and then normally sit and watch some TV with my housemates. I like to keep Monday evenings relaxed as it’s quite a busy day, so I usually stay in and play some guitar or read a book before bed.
Tuesday
Tuesdays are a bit quieter, so I normally make the most of the morning by going for a gentle run along the harbour (the only way to avoid the hills, but luckily a very scenic route)! I’ve never been massively into any specific sport, but I find that running is quite a nice way to exercise as a student – it’s very flexible to fit around your day, completely free, and gets you outside in the fresh air. Then I’ll have a nice shower and hair wash, make something like fried eggs on toast for lunch, and get ready for my afternoon seminar which is at 15:00-17:00. This module is actually one that I saw as a prospective student and hoped I’d get the chance to do one day, and now, three years later, I’m finally studying it which is cool. It’s about the History and Politics of Independent India, which is a politics module but brings both sides of my degree together nicely.
After I get back home, I usually just have to heat up the other half of yesterday’s dinner. I’ve found that from living in halls in first year, to living in a shared house where we cook together in third year, it’s always worked best to meal prep for at least a couple of days. I do a weekly shop with a clear list and a few specific meals planned out. I’ll then make enough of each one that I can portion it out. This seems to save money, avoid food waste, and mean that when you’ve had a long day you don’t have to spend a long-time cooking. I enjoy making a variety of healthy and tasty meals but there are some days I just don’t have the time, and preparing food in advance means you still get to feel like you’re looking after yourself even when you’re busy. I’ll often have some kind of fresh vegetable sauce with either pasta or rice as a nice quick option, or something like burritos or stir fry made with fresh veg, tofu, halloumi or beans to make sure I’m getting some protein.
Wednesday
I don’t have any in person classes on Wednesday, so after my normal breakfast routine I quite often go into town to study at a coffee shop. There are plenty in Falmouth and Penryn to choose from, but a personal favourite is The Poly – a quiet, cosy space with a library room. After getting some reading and essay preparation done, I like to do the quick fifteen-minute walk from town to the beach. Since first year, I’ve had a routine of going to the beach on a Wednesday afternoon, whether it’s by myself or with friends. The day has changed over time, but I try to fit it in as much as possible because I find being by the sea so calming.
Last year I struggled with my anxiety more than usual, and after looking at the University’s support pages online, I filled out a confidential support form and reached out to the wellbeing specialists on Penryn Campus. From here, I had a drop-in appointment with the friendly team, and there were various options available, like having online counselling through SpectrumLife, which you can access through the University. This is something I have previously found useful, as have some of my friends. I decided to opt to try having some sessions with a wellbeing coach on campus. One of the strategies they suggested could work for me was choosing somewhere to sit once a week and notice what was happening around me, to eventually appreciate the changes over time. The idea is based on forest bathing, but I found the beach a very peaceful place to sit quietly and breathe. I’ve combined these helpful sessions with support from the doctors, who can easily be reached through the Student Health Centre on campus, as well as the main surgery in Penryn. The University’s accessibility team also helped me figure out an Individual Learning Plan (more on this later). Together, this support has made me feel much more comfortable at university, and I’ve been finding it much easier to manage my wellbeing since. Continuing with mindful strategies like regular visits to the beach has been so beneficial to me, and although different things work for everyone, I think more people should dedicate some time just to looking after themselves. Getting outside is one of the easiest ways to do this, and here in Cornwall it’s a particularly nice option, and an enjoyable way to finish off a productive Wednesday afternoon.
Thursday
I don’t have to be on campus as much now that I’m in my third year, so I don’t go in on Thursdays. The reason the contact hours are fewer is because of the amount of independent study needed, so I still try to give myself some structure on days when I don’t have lectures or seminars. Getting the balance right when trying to manage your workload can be a bit challenging at first, but luckily the amount of independence you have increases gradually, so you have time to adjust. I think the lack of a set routine at university can be a learning curve for a lot of people, but not something that’s super obvious when you’re in first year. Personally, I’ve found that having a bit of structure is very helpful for my brain, so I’ve tried to implement this more. Things I’ve found that work for me include setting an alarm at a reasonably regular time even on days off, eating at normal times, and having a rough plan of what work needs doing when.
Most often though, this looks like getting myself up to go and sit in a coffee shop. It can be tricky to avoid distractions when trying to do university work at home, and equally difficult to switch off when you’re trying to rest if you’ve been writing an essay in bed. I’ve therefore found it game-changing to try and do my work either in the library or in a coffee shop. It’s just helpful to have a spatial separation to maintain your work-life balance. Okay… and I like a coffee… but it is also important to treat yourself to the things that make you happy! Sometimes friends will join me for this and we’ll study together, which is another great way to stay motivated as you can hold each other accountable to your work but also be there to chat through your worries and realise that you’re all in the same boat.
Later in the day I’ll usually try and do some kind of exercise, like running or yoga. I try to walk daily and then do something more intense a few times a week with rest days in between. Recently I’ve been aiming to try out new activities as much as possible while I’m still a student, like going climbing at BoulderRyn with a friend from the part-time job I had on campus through first and second year. Admittedly, bouldering was a lot harder than I expected and I was exhausted by the end, but it was good fun and gave me a sense of achievement. It’s nice to make exercising into something that feels more like meeting up with a friend, and it’s exciting to try something new.
Friday
I have a seminar at 15:00-17:00 on Fridays, and when I’m on campus later in the day, I often like to head in a bit earlier to sit in the library and get some work done. I’ve been preparing a recorded presentation for a formative assessment (which is useful for feedback and learning but not counted towards your final grade) for a politics module. My Individual Learning Plan (ILP) has really helped allow me to feel more confident in completing assignments like this, as having to present in class previously used to be a barrier to my learning process. Having the ILP in place has created an environment I’m more comfortable in, so I feel able to challenge myself, as my lecturers know the best ways to support me. It’s possible to apply for an ILP before or after joining university to help support you with various long-term health or mental health conditions, as well as disabilities. You can find the application form and more information on the University website, or contact the accessibility team at: accessibility@fxplus.ac.uk
This seminar is about the History of Science, and ties politics in throughout the weeks, again allowing me to learn across subject areas which I love. The group is nice and small so I’m always happy to speak and contribute to class discussions and feel I get a lot out of these sessions as a result. I normally walk home from campus, as it’s downhill in the direction of Falmouth town so the forty-ish minute walk to my student house feels a lot more manageable. I really enjoy getting some fresh air and stretching my legs after a day at university and find it to be another good way of creating more separation between studying and relaxing.
Saturday and Sunday
My weekends usually consist of a mix of getting some extra reading or assessment preparation done and resting to reset for the week ahead. I’ll quite often do some work in the living room on a Saturday morning with a coffee to make it feel a bit more relaxed than during the week. I probably could avoid working on weekends completely, but I like to spread my free time out through the week so there usually is still something left to do. It’s nice to have the flexibility to decide how to plan your time out like this and allows me to have more freedom for the rest of the weekend. I fit in a food shop at some point, which is made a lot less stressful because of my meal planning and the budgeting that goes alongside this. My favourite way to spend time is being outdoors on a coastal walk. Sometimes I get the bus to go further afield and explore different parts of Cornwall, but I regularly walk from Gylly beach to Swanpool or Maenporth, or around Pendennis Point – all of which are local to Falmouth and therefore completely free. In the summer I like to combine this with a sea swim too, but it’s too cold for me at the moment!
I’ll also get some washing done and do some tidying, so I feel fresh for the new week. In the evening, I used to go on nights out more in first year, but now I usually opt for watching a film with my housemates or sometimes doing a pub quiz. I don’t really drink anymore, so I like living somewhere that offers such a variety of things to do that line up better with what I enjoy. Sometimes I use this time to video call my family to catch up too, although I text people back home most days to stay in contact. I’ve found this really helpful, especially in first year when I found being away from home harder. It’s very comforting to know people are still there for a chat, even if they feel far away physically. I’ve learnt that I feel much better having a cosy evening playing guitar or painting, ended by reading my book before bed, so I really prioritise this.
There are plenty of ways I make sure to value my wellbeing whilst being at university, whether it’s through exercising, eating well, getting outside or asking for help. You’ll figure out what works best for you as you make your way through your degree and end up being able to work out a nice routine to help keep a balance.