Divide et impera

In order to deal with the time I have a daily routine. I get up at sunrise and follow my morning ritual to prepare for the day. This includes mindful breathing, some stretching and proper breakfast consisting of oat meal and green tea. Then I cycle on campus and study for a few hours in the morning. With two hours to break at lunch, I can start fresh again and work effectively for another few hours in the afternoon. The evening is for rest and getting ready for the next day.

This provides a framework where I can set short term goals and deadlines to work towards. It also clearly defines times when I expect myself to study, making it easier to measure attainment. I find the daily routine very helpful and in fact summer term is now my favourite as I can organise the day exactly the way it suits me.

As for the work, for each module I create an outline - chapters, examples, exercises. The outline gives me an overview, but at the same time it helps to break the long process of exam preparation into manageable steps. It also shows the remaining work which I would often compare with the time left and plan accordingly.

Note that in both cases the idea is to introduce structure and divide a big thing into smaller pieces. This is a very important concept at university (and beyond), as students in higher education - in exchange for their freedom - are expected to cope with large assignments independently.

Of course, once the exams are over, there is time (with no daily routine anymore!) for celebration and social events such as the Maths Society barbecue with puzzle trail. This year, unfortunately, the first puzzle was flawed and the second one went missing, but it was a great time nevertheless. All that remains now is to pack all my belongings and enjoy the summer.