Thesis Tips: Balancing work whilst enjoying what Bristol has to offer
With TB2 wrapped up, Bristol is beginning to feel a bit emptier, but for those of you still typing away, we’re still here to help you get through that final push over summer! 📖
Here are some tips and tricks from Alisha, a fellow Post Graduate student and our marketing assistant here at Bristol SU. Keep reading to hear about what she has found to work, including: study tips, cafe recommendations, and mini adventures you can take yourself on!
Find an environment you can work in.
In the wise words of Marie Kondo, ‘if it doesn’t spark joy, discard it!’.
I find that the hardest part of thesis writing is getting the first words on the page. But a lot of my struggle is in finding an environment that allows and encourages me to work. If where you are currently working limits your productivity, discard it! Instead, make a routine of going to the same comfortable place, for the same hours - whether that’s every day or every week!
Staying on the Marie Kondo theme, keep it clean! It can be easy to rack up your own inventory of mugs, each with remnants of the tea from the day before - at least in my case. But a clean environment has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. So, a bit of cleaning every now and again might make the process just that little bit easier! 🧹🫧
Give yourself a life outside of working!
It may feel like you must spend every day working on your thesis, but taking a break can increase your productivity! Instead...
Touch some grass: Go for a walk around Harborside, Clifton Village or The Downs, and you might even meet some goats...
Do something creative: Paint some pottery at Flying Saucer or take yourself out to one of Bristol’s museums - Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and M Shed!
Organise a drink with your course mates: With roughly 10 pubs per square mile Bristol is bursting with places to go out for a post-study pint!
Go on an adventure: In addition to the Day Trips offered by the Students Union, if you have a Student Bus ticket you can take yourself to: Weston-Super Mare, Clevedon, Bath and more!
Now ranked 8th in the UK for student living, Bristol is never short on things to do!
Recharge with a coffee!
When it inevitably gets to that point of the day when you are struggling to keep your eyes open, treat yourself to a coffee or sweet treat!
My personal favorites include; Coffee Under Pressure, Black Sheep Coffee and Cloakroom. These spots are all within a 5-10 minutes walking distance from Clifton Campus - ideal!
Some cafes even allow students to study in them! But be sure to check for signs, as there are often laptop free zones.
So, that was a quick round up of some tips and tricks to help you through the thesis writing process.
