Success is balance

Being a student is a lot of work! We are constantly told by our teachers, parents and the media that in order to achieve in life we have to overexert ourselves. Phrases such as ‘more is more’ and ‘no sleep for the wicked’ were sayings that plagued our childhoods. Even though these proverbs made sure I produced more than one sentence in my year 6 home learning book, it became a justification for my harmful lifestyle choices. I quickly found myself awake at all hours of the night revising, spending weeks sleep-deprived and actually only having 20 minutes of sleep before my A level Biology Exam. I was unhappy. To this day, I regret making my sixth form experience so arduous and difficult.

My advice from these experiences is success is balance. Although it is important to work hard, making time for your own interests is also an essential part of personal growth. Taking time to relax and do other activities eases stress and gives you an escape, and sometimes you actually NEED to take that nap! As someone who has quite severe anxiety, I have struggled with high-stress situations and admittedly still continue to. I tend to run and avoid tasks and when I do have to face them, I tackle them in ways that are unhealthy and unsustainable. This year, I put it to myself to change this. By implementing habits such as making achievable to-do lists, scheduling breaks between my revision and rewarding myself for the work I do complete, I have been able to learn that work doesn’t have to be so mentally taxing.

To me, work is just one aspect of my life, it doesn’t define me. Exploring new hobbies is a chance to find out more about yourself. I have spent some time learning French. This was a skill that I enjoyed during GCSE’s and I’m glad that I have been able to devote more time to it. Moreover, this could be a potentially useful skill as a medic. Additionally, I have picked up reading again which was something I particularly enjoyed doing when I was younger. Lastly, through further exploration, I was able to find out that I enjoyed going to the gym. It has been very therapeutic as well as beneficial for my health.

My final advice is, during these unprecedented times it is of utmost importance that we exercise self-care. I am aware that many students across the country are still working vigorously to cover unfinished content. However, don’t let this time pass you by. Pick up a new hobby, read a book, communicate with your support system. I hope that my message finds you well and you’re able to take something from this week’s TAMS Tips.

Sakinah Akorley, A-level student & Aspiring Medic