ACADEMIC STRESS

Use this page to discover who to speak to when you have concerns regarding your studies, as well as ways to make your studying more effective.

You won’t be the only person needing support so please keep reading to see how we can help!

Speak to your Personal Tutor (PT)

Your Personal Tutor is an academic member of staff from your home department at Warwick. You can see who your Personal Tutor is on TabulaLink opens in a new window, under the ‘My Student Profile’ tab.

Try to arrange a meeting with your tutor as early in the academic year as possible. It is a good idea to meet every term. If your tutor does not contact you, it is fine to request an appointment by email.

Your Personal Tutor can offer guidance on:

Settling into the learning community

Your academic experience and development

Managing opportunities and new ways of working

Making the most of your studies

Don't be afraid to ask questions. It may be helpful to take question notes to your meeting, so you don't forget them.

If you have a more complex issue, your Personal Tutor may refer you to the Department Senior Tutor.

Building your organisational skills

• Make a realistic schedule; prioritise, and adapt if it's not working
• Include time for you - hobbies, socialising, proper rest (and full days off!)
• Use a digital and/or a physical wall calendar
• Use weekly checklists to help guide planning
• Know what time you focus best - trickier subjects are best tackled then
• Struggling with a topic? Take a break and return to it later, or try again through group study

It's not about the number of hours you do...

...but what you do with them. More hours do not mean you're doing good, effective studying.

So if you're tired or distracted, you won't be effective, and it won't be worth it; sleep, get outside, watch a favourite show, and come back later. Set yourself limits!

Periodic breaks or changing tasks really helps - look into the Pomodoro technique.

Top tips for healthy studying

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Speak to your PT, lecturers, or peers.
• Don’t compare yourself to others, go at your own pace and don’t rush topics just for the sake of getting them done.
• Engage your memory; review what you already know before starting a new topic.
• Break your work down into manageable chunks by creating a to-do list.
• Make sure you are well rested by getting plenty of sleep.
• Make time to stop and eat regular healthy meals. Your body and brain need fuel.

Did you know that lots of students struggle with Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism?

Imposter Syndrome

Impostor Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which people doubt their accomplishments, having instead persistent feelings of intellectual inadequacy and fear of being exposed as a ‘fraud’, despite evident success or external proof of competence.

Behaviours often associated with Imposter Syndrome:

• Persistent anxiety about standards  perfectionism; unable to accurately self assess; any constructive criticism is seen as attack;
• Dread and avoidance of evaluation not seeking support, not/delaying submitting drafts, not arranging meetings with supervisors, etc.
• Fear of failure (shame)
• Fear of exposure  fear of something private being revealed; having fantasies/dreams of being found out
• Inability to enjoy accomplishments
• Self sabotaging behaviours  procrastination; poor time management; not relaxing

Perfectionism

Perfectionism is striving to meet self-imposed, very demanding standards, relentlessly pursued despite negative consequences. It involves basing one's self-worth almost entirely on how well these high standards are pursued and achieved. It is not necessarily about being ‘perfect’.

Behaviours often associated with Perfectionism:

• Excessive checking (e.g. reading an email over and over before sending it)
• Reassurance seeking
• Repeating tasks (e.g. rewriting and editing something over and over)
• List making
• Procrastination
• Difficulty making decisions

• Not knowing when to stop
• Avoidance
• Hoarding
• Excessive organising and tidying
• Hating to waste time, and as a consequence, being over-busy
• Anxiety/Social Anxiety

If you are struggling with the above topics or just want to talk

Speak to someone from Wellbeing and Student Support

Drop-In Services

10am-3pm Monday to Friday

(Drop-In Services are accessible in person and online)

Click here for further information

Did you know the Library offer a range of support when it comes to studying?

The Library offer workshops, information on referencing, and have a range of productivity tools that a free to use.

Click here for further information

Extensions, Self-Certifications, and Mitigating Circumstances

Extensions, Self-Certifications, and Mitigating Circumstances can be utilised when personal situations impact on your ability to study and take assessments.

Some of these processes require supporting evidence so please keep this in mind when you apply.

Click here for further information

If you have any questions about these options please speak to your Personal Tutor.