Assessment Periods: Striking the Right Balance Between Exams and Mental Health

Article written by Sammar Masood, 3^rd year law undergraduate at City, University of London.

With the upcoming summer assessment period nearing, whether you’re writing coursework, revising for closed book finals, or perfecting your dissertation, it is essential to maintain a good balance between studying and your mental health. Law exams are stressful and getting through them requires dedication. As you progress through your degree, this expectation, as well as the consequences of scoring well or poorly, become more pronounced. However, good mental health is not only for those who want to get the highest grades; it is also for those who simply want to improve from their previous set of grades, are on the verge of the next highest degree classification or want to avoid resits. So, wherever you fall on this spectrum, keep reading to ensure you can maximise your potential with a healthy mind this summer.

Routine is Key

It’s unlikely that you’ll have one or two assessments to complete. Most likely, there will be four or five assignments, or even a dissertation, to complete. With deadlines all around the same time, it’s easy to jam pack your day with research, drafting, and editing across a variety of modules, resulting in long study days. However, writing assignments at degree level is intense. The amount of brain power you’ll be using, along with the extended period of sitting and inactivity can easily combine to make you feel overworked and burnt out. If this does happen, it can impact your future study days and lead to long periods of unproductivity.

To combat this, it is best to keep your study days consistent. Think about it like a job (an ‘ordinary’ job, not a commercial law job as we all know the latter’s hours are anything but consistent!). Get to your desk by 9am and aim to finish by 5/6pm. Of course, if a deadline is nearing this can be extended as per your needs, but this is a good place to start with. Be sure to have a lunch break in the middle as without hydration or food, the hours can start to seem never-ending. The main benefit of adopting this routine is from an organisational and prioritisation perspective – you know how you work, so you can decide whether your most important tasks will be performed better by you in the morning or late afternoon as opposed to having a scattergun approach which can make you feel stressed and lead to cramming. Additionally, this approach will lead to an equal distribution of work level throughout the day, whether it be more intense tasks completed before lunch with lighter tasks after or vice versa, keeping your brain healthy and not overloaded.

However, having a ‘job’ like approach does not mean you must study five days a week! This element of studying is personal to you. You know your deadlines, workload, and mental capacity, so, as long as you keep your daily routine and timings systematic, the number of days a week you study can be adjusted accordingly. This tailored part of your routine will help avoid boredom, procrastination, and unpreparedness.

Not All Work and No Play!

As mentioned, not everyone will need to study 9-5 every day for an entire week. Even if you have a particularly large workload, doing so can likely lead to burnout.  So, it is necessary to reserve at least one or two days in the week to recharge your batteries and get some fresh air. Getting out of the house, breathing in some fresh air, and socialising does wonders for overworked minds. Your day suddenly, and for the better, takes on a new perspective. Hearing people’s thoughts even about anything, (other than law obviously!), can just refresh your mind and divert your attention and stress for a few hours. Even connecting with family members, hearing what’s going on in their lives makes a world of difference. After this well-deserved break, chances are you will feel refreshed once you return to your desk, and ready to resume your study routine.

However, it is understandable, that for some students, this is easier said than done. If you find yourself becoming too overwhelmed about exam season, do not keep it to yourself. Talk to family, friends or even professors, the latter who can easily empathise with your situation and even give you tips on how to manage expectations in a particular module. Contrary to popular belief, exam season is not a time to hole yourself up behind a desk and not communicate your feelings with others. Rather, it is a time to become supportive for yourself and others. If your exam season is going well and relatively stress free, there is no harm in checking up on a friend by messaging them to see how they’re coping. Sometimes, all it takes is a short text for someone to reveal their struggles during exam season, and if you are able to reassure them, why not? It could be the difference between their exam season going well or badly.

Overall, exam season is difficult but by establishing a routine that allows room for adjustment, a tailored balance of workload, chances of increased productivity, and room for days off can make it more manageable, (and dare I say enjoyable?). Moreover, remember to support yourself as well others!