Overwhelmed Fresher to Organised Student

When Everything Felt Too Much

Let me paint you a picture of my first year: constant deadlines, wanting to spend time hanging out with friends, play tennis a few times each week, plus trying to figure out who I was as a person away from home. Sound familiar?

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My solution? I shut myself off completely to focus on academics. I said no to social events, skipped fun opportunities, and basically turned into a bundle of stress. Looking back, I wish I'd had someone to talk to who could've helped me prepare differently - someone who could show me how to make the most of everything without feeling like I was drowning.

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The turning point came when I realised, I was too stressed to do anything other than work. I wasn't enjoying university at all, and that's not what it should be about.

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Finding My Flow (The Hard Way)

I discovered my organisational systems through pure trial and error - which was incredibly time-consuming and unfortunately led to lower grades for a while. But through all that experimenting, I found what actually works for me.

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My aesthetic is very calm and minimal - clean lines with soft curves, simple colours, and I absolutely love the sound of rain (it's my go-to background noise for studying). I have a whiteboard that I can see when I wake up with my daily tasks clearly laid out.

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I'm a digital planner person at heart because life changes, and you need systems that can adapt quickly. But there's something about physically writing on that whiteboard each morning that just works.

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What My Life Looks Like Now

These days, I balance playing tennis, coaching tennis, and gym sessions or runs alongside my science and maths studies - I've absolutely fallen in love with the climate and sustainable science, especially as it connects to climate finance and technology for a better future.

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I meal prep breakfasts and prep meals for a few days ahead because hangry studying helps nobody. I go out around once a week, but I'm equally happy with nights in with my flatmates, a bottle of wine, and some card games (poker is a go to!). I love exploring new places and having days down at the beach, but I also prioritise daily time to decompress - usually baking, watching something with a mug of tea, or going for walks and gossiping with friends.

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My approach is simple: make a priority list, complete tasks in order of necessity (usually work before sport), but always build in time for breaks. Being organised doesn't always mean rigid hourly plans - it means giving yourself enough time for the hard stuff and avoiding procrastination, so you actually have time to enjoy yourself.

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Why I Started This

A week last year really proved my systems work: I had four assignments due within the week, the pressure was intense! But I planned it all out (which took some initial time to figure out), and in the end, I handed them all in on time and achieved good grades. That's when I knew I was onto something.

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I've already helped flatmates with time-management strategies – like showing one friend how my whiteboard system works for revision planning. Recently, a student starting this September asked for my help, which made me realise how much I wished someone had been there for me.

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Right now, I'm juggling internship applications for different London-based roles alongside my regular commitments. Having the right organisational techniques in place is what makes this possible without completely losing my mind.

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The Current Student Perspective

Here's the thing - I'm still in the depths of university life. I'm not looking back with rose-tinted glasses or giving you advice from five years ago. I'm living this experience right now, open to growth, and still figuring my journey out (like maintaining friendships while staying on top of work - something I'm actively working on this year).

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When my systems break down or life gets chaotic (because it does), I take a break, go for a walk, talk to my friends or boyfriend, step away, reassess, and come back to it later or tomorrow. I'm not perfect, and I don't expect you to be either.

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My Mission

First year counts, but it's not as important grade-wise as your other years. Take time to discover who you are and seize opportunities if you want to - as long as you can keep on track with studies.

My goal is to help anxious students avoid the mistakes I made and find their own organisational flow without the stress, time waste, and grade impact that I experienced. You shouldn't have to choose between academic success and actually enjoying university.

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Because here's what I've learned: your motivation greatly improves when your outside plans are clear, even when your head is not. And never, ever, put off daily time to decompress yourself when you're feeling stressed.

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Let's figure this out together - one organised, enjoyable day at a time. 

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Want to know more about my systems or have questions about balancing university life? Drop me a message - I'd love to help!