When you first arrive to your semester abroad, the excitement of everything new is overwhelming. There’s a myriad of things you want to check off your to-do list, and these field trips and shopping excursions can book you up for weeks. On top of all of this bustle, new friends from all over the globe and an unfamiliar university campus await. Creating your perfect balance of coursework, socializing, and excursions takes a while to figure out, so here are a couple of tips I’ve gathered so far on how to go about accomplishing it all:
1) Carve out time to do your work –– and if needed, make a trip out of it!
If you set studying habits back in Boston that worked well, odds are enforcing a similar routine abroad will be just as effective. I personally love to study outside of my dorm, so I’m actively looking for new go-to cafés and public libraries in London that heighten my productivity. Additionally, I prefer to tackle my work in the mornings. If you’re anything like me in this sense, take a look at when a library you’re interested in visiting opens and tell yourself you’re going to get there and start studying at a certain time. So far, I’ve checked out the acclaimed British Library and have written down a few more public study spaces to frequent.
I appreciate when there’s a bit of a commute to the selected study spot, as you can take a nice walk and/or listen to your favorite tunes and podcasts on public transit. Mark these mornings –– or afternoons, or nights –– in your calendar so you hold yourself accountable. Furthermore, romanticize these trips and make studying a time to be a bit adventurous in your city.
2) Reschedule plans that cut into that time (or vice versa).
Step 1 seems pretty simple by itself. Of course everybody wants to focus on their school commitments and smartly manage their workload while abroad. However when classes start, group excursions and social outings with your new friends also begin.
Just like I was, each person in my exchange program has been eager to meet everyone, and there are a million WhatsApp group chats that plan museum trips, market visits, and nights out. Experiencing a new city quickly brings people together, so nobody wants to miss out on these key social events.
Although hanging out with new friends should most definitely be a priority of yours, never-ending group excursions and outings can quickly impede on your designated work time –– as well as your “alone” time, if you’re a bit of an introvert like I am.
When figuring out whether to go out with fellow students or to focus on yourself and your work, you have two options: First, reschedule this designated work time and then (seriously) stick to that time. Or, second, say no to these plans and reschedule with them. It’s a lot to organize, but if you decide it’s best to say no to invites at this time, make the effort to figure out another time that works for everybody. Maximizing your social time during these first few weeks is crucial, but making sure that your work is looked after and that you have enough time on your own is important as well.
To summarize, check in with yourself about how you’re feeling with your workload, social plans, and “alone” time. There’s a lot going on –– all at once, all the time –– so formulating a bit of a schedule can help you feel more grounded in the commotion. I’m still perfecting mine and am reminding myself that it takes a while to “finalize.” New opportunities to travel will come up and last-minute assignments will be added, so you sometimes just have to go with the flow and manage things as they come along.
