Tag: Study support

5 Ways to Manage Motivation

Author Student Communications | Posted on

By Student Experience Coaching

As the flowers and sunshine are brightening our days it’s a good time to think about what matters to you, and how tapping into this for motivation can help your student life and studies.

No matter what your goals are, there are strategies you can use to harness your motivation to keep on track as we move into the last few months of the academic year.

  1. Reconnect with Your ‘Why’ – Remind yourself why you started your course and what excites you about your subject. Keeping your long-term goals in mind can help boost motivation when you’re feeling stuck.
  2. Break It Down – Big tasks can feel overwhelming. Split them into smaller, manageable steps and celebrate progress along the way. This makes studying feel less daunting and more achievable.
  3. Create a Study Routine – Motivation often follows action (not the other way around!) Set a regular time and place to study, and use techniques like the Pomodoro method (25-minute focus sessions with 5-minute breaks) to stay on track.
  4. Make It Enjoyable – Find ways to make studying more engaging. This could be through study groups, changing locations, using colourful notes, or rewarding yourself for completing tasks – it really works!
  5. Be Kind to Yourself – Motivation naturally fluctuates. Instead of being hard on yourself during low-energy days, focus on what you can do and take small steps forward. Progress, not perfection, is key.

The Student Experience Coaching team is here to discuss your challenges and support you to find ways forward.

  • We can help you tap into what motivates you and help you weave that into a plan to succeed.
  • We can explore, unpack and reduce feelings of stress, overwhelm and procrastination providing a safe space, to really look at what’s going on and develop a plan of action.
  • We can future plan with you to grow those feelings of excitement and help you gain clarity around your next steps.

Find out more about us and book an appointment here

Winter Wellbeing: Simple Ways to Beat the January Blues

Author Student Communications | Posted on

By Aaliyah Hussain, Senior Student Experience Coach

January can feel like the hardest time of the year for many. Even though the shortest days of the Winter are behind us (yes, the days are officially getting longer!), mornings are still dark and cold, and motivation can be hard to find. If you’re struggling to stay on top of assignments or missing the sunshine from home, you’re not alone. Winter can be tough, especially for international students from sunnier climes, and even for those accustomed to the great British weather, January can be a drag.

But don’t worry—there are small, practical steps you can take to boost your wellbeing and stay on track through these darker months. Let’s explore five tips to help you feel brighter, even when the sun isn’t shining.

1. Get Outside Every Morning

Daylight is your best friend in winter. Exposure to natural light first thing in the morning helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle and boosts serotonin levels, improving your mood and focus.

Why it matters: Your body clock, or circadian rhythm, relies on light to stay in sync. Without it, you might feel sluggish or out of sorts.

What to do: Spend 20 minutes outside in the morning—whether it’s a walk to campus, a coffee in the fresh air, or just standing by a window. Even cloudy days in the UK provide enough light to make a difference.

2. Take Vitamin D

Vitamin D, often called the ‘sunshine vitamin’, is essential for energy, mood, and overall health. But during winter, it’s hard to get enough through sunlight alone, especially for people with darker skin.

Why it matters: Low Vitamin D levels are linked to fatigue, low mood, and even difficulty concentrating—all things you don’t need when juggling assignments.

What to do: A daily Vitamin D supplement can help fill the gap. It’s a simple addition to your routine that can make a big difference.

3. Stay Active

When it’s cold and dark, curling up in bed all day might feel tempting, but movement is key to feeling better. Exercise doesn’t just keep you physically healthy—it boosts endorphins and helps clear your mind.

Why it matters: Staying active can reduce feelings of stress and help you concentrate better, giving you the energy to tackle your to-do list.

What to do:

  • Take a brisk walk around your campus or a nearby park. Here in Bristol, we are blessed with so many great open spaces to choose from, such as Ashton Court right next to Bower Ashton, and Stoke Park Estate which is a stone’s throw from Frenchay and Glenside. And if you’re at Arnolfini, you have the lovely harbourside to take a scenic stroll.
  • Try a free YouTube workout or yoga session at home.
  • Take advantage of your free MOVE membership. As a UWE student you have free access to a huge variety of classes and sessions every week to help you be active and feel good.

4. Create a Winter-Friendly Routine

Winter days feel short, but having a routine can help you feel more grounded and in control. Small habits can add structure and make those darker hours feel more manageable.

Why it matters: Building simple rituals into your day can help reduce stress and keep you motivated, even when energy is low.

What to do:

  • Plan your day the evening before, focusing on one or two key tasks.
  • Schedule time for breaks and things you enjoy, like reading, cooking, or calling a friend.
  • Wind down with a calming bedtime routine to improve your sleep quality (it’s not just for babies, it really works!)

5. Stay Connected

It’s easy to isolate yourself in winter, but staying connected with others is vital for your wellbeing. Sharing how you’re feeling or simply spending time with friends can lift your spirits.

Why it matters: Social connections help combat feelings of loneliness and give you a much-needed sense of community.

What to do:

  • Meet up with friends for a study session or a meal.
  • Join a UWE society or group to meet new people.
  • Attend an event on campus—there’s loads happening in January!

How Your Student Experience Coaches Can Help

If you’re finding it hard to get motivated, we are there to listen to how you feel, help you identify your challenges, set realistic goals and create a plan for your success and wellbeing.

Book a one-to-one appointment:

  • Head to the appointments section on Infohub, select ‘Student Experience Coaching Appointment’, and choose a time that works for you. You can see us face-to-face at any campus or online (Teams).
  • Alternatively, you can chat to us at a Drop-In session (see here for timings and locations).

How to make the most of group work

Author Student Communications | Posted on

Group work. We get it. There’s plenty of reasons why you might dread the thought of having to work together with others from your course. Maybe you’re shy or nervous speaking to those you don’t really know. Maybe you feel like you end up taking on most of the work while others slack off. Maybe you just prefer solo study. 

There are sooo many reasons why group projects are a really positive thing and can help you develop the skills you need to make the most of your degree and get ready for your future career. 

To help you work out how to make the most of your group work, pick the character which best represents you. 

The Leader 

You’re a natural leader and worry that if someone doesn’t take charge then you all end up going round in circles and nothing gets done. Although this is great, and it’s certainly true that strong leadership can make sure you all stay on task, make sure that you’re not being domineering and overbearing. Remember that those who are quiet still have important things to contribute, so make sure everyone has a voice. The whole point of a group project is to work together as a team. 

The Peacemaker 

You hate tension and in a group with a lot of different personalities you feel like you end up spending all your time smoothing things over and making sure everyone is happy. While this is commendable, don’t neglect yourself and your own priorities. Remember to focus on your own work. Sometimes, others need to learn how to get along and face the consequences if they can’t find a way to compromise.  

The Workhorse 

You keep your head down and just plough on with all the work. You’re a key asset for the team, but make sure you’re not taking on more than your fair share of the work. Others need to chip in and do their bit, so take the time to make sure everyone else is pulling their weight. 

The Nervous One 

Meeting up with people you don’t know is your worst nightmare and you end up sitting there waiting for an opportunity to make your excuses and leave. This is much more common than you realise, so don’t think you are the only one feeling this way. Although it feels hard, try to use this as an opportunity to boost your confidence and show everyone how much you can contribute. Your voice is important, so use it. And if you need support with your confidence then make the most of the services UWE has on offer. 

The Ghost 

Ok – this is the one that it’s really hard to defend. The one who never responds to emails, never turns up for study sessions, doesn’t contribute any work, but then gets the same mark as everyone else. If this is you then we’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and say maybe you’ve got other commitments or underlying anxiety which is causing you to behave this way. But, it’s still not acceptable and you need to find a way of getting involved or you risk your module leader finding out about your vanishing act and failing the project. 

Finally, if you’re looking for more support on group work then check out this fantastic resource from our Library Service.

Tips for managing your studies over the holidays

Author Student Communications | Posted on

If you’re heading home from the holidays, then you might need to build a new routine to allow you to take the time to rest and recharge, while still keeping on top of any studying you need to do.

Finding that balance can be really tricky, especially if you are someone who finds it difficult to self-motivate and make the most of scheduled study time so you can properly switch off and relax once the work is done.

Our Student Experience Coaches have been working with lots of student during this first semester, helping them unlock the skills they need to overcome any obstacles and manage their wellbeing.

Here they share some tools, tips and techniques that you might be able to use over the holidays to ensure you return in January feeling ready for the new term.

  • Action plan – creating an action plan can help you feel more control of your time and avoid overwhelm. If you break down tasks and create smaller deadlines, it could help make things feel more manageable.
  • Lists – writing things down can provide structure. Some people enjoy the “feel good” factor of ticking off tasks and reflecting on what they’ve achieved.
  • Rewards – building rewards into your timetable/planner can give you something to look forward too and provide a break from studying and university life.
  • Journaling – expressing your thoughts and feelings in one space is a helpful way to explore ideas.
  • Exercise – doing something that requires movement, even something simple like going out for a walk and being out in nature, can be a great way to manage your wellbeing.
  • Rest – planning in time to rest and recharge is important to enable you to return to studies fully focused and energetic.
  • Self-care – remember to prioritise your self-care. Identify activities that you find genuinely nourishing and relaxing.
  • Support – find the right support to help you at university, with your student life and studies. This could be specialist support, or just turning to your lecturer or your friends and family.
  • Be kind to yourself – Finally, remember to be nice to yourself. Acknowledge everything you’ve got going on and the progress you are making to manage your workload and wellbeing while at university.

The service will be closed from 24th December – 2nd January and drop-ins will not be available from 23rd December – 3rd January.

But if you would like to set some goals to manage your wellbeing and stress whilst at university, please get in touch with our Student Experience Coaches after the winter break to book an appointment. They can help you break down challenging tasks and create an action plan so you can stay on track.

Artificial Intelligence: check your reality  

Author Student Communications | Posted on

What comes to mind when you hear AI?  

Chatbots, essay prompts or is it a “no-go” topic in your mind? 

We’re talking about it so you’re aware of the areas of life where it’s impacting you and so you can make good decisions as you engage with it.  

First up, what is AI? 

Merriam-Webster defines AI as “the capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior”.  

The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “the use or study of computer systems or machines that have some of the qualities that the human brain has, such as the ability to interpret and produce language in a way that seems human, recognize or create images, solve problems, and learn from data supplied to them.”  

You could say: AI replicates humans by using existing information to create content and problem-solve.

1. AI can create echo chambers. 

Do you ever find your social feeds are full of the same kind of content a lot or some of the time? This is because AI is analysing the content you are looking at and serving more and more of the same. AI will continue to deliver content more and more bespoke to your interests. 

This is ok for most content; however, for some topics (like politics or views of particular groups of people) it can create a digital echo chamber, where you only hear one point of view, and your views are reinforced without challenge.  

Misinformation could lead to extreme views, to radicalisation, misogyny, racial hatred, homophobia or more. You get the picture. 

You can work against social media echo chambers by:

  • not believing everything you see or read;
  • getting your news from a range of sources; 
  • following a range of accounts to break out of your echo chamber – confuse the algorithms!

Takeaway point: be sure to leave your digital echo chamber.

2. AI can be a useful prompt or time-saving device – but don’t let it do all the thinking for you! 

Want to create a low-budget meal plan that isn’t just a bowl of pasta and cheese? Ask AI (e.g. ChatGPT). Tell it what you’re looking to do and it’ll write you some suggestions. 

But when it comes to writing your essay – that’s your remit. AI could offer you some pointers but don’t get AI to write your essay for you. AI might write your essay for you but what are the risks?  

On one hand, that’s a straight-up Assessment Offence and you’ll get a 0 when that’s noted by the marker, you’re pulled up before an Assessment Offence panel; and you may fail a core module and have to leave your course. 

On the other hand: what’s the point?! You’ve worked hard to get to uni, to get an education in a subject you love – why let AI do all the thinking for you?  By over-using AI, you won’t have the benefit of the learning yourself and you won’t have the skills you need for your career – you might pass but will you have learnt? 

When you’re in the workplace, you won’t have the knowledge you need – and there might be limitations on AI in your industry, so you won’t have it as a back-up. How will you evidence your knowledge in a job?  

Delve into your subject, do the graft and feel the reward!

Takeaway point: AI is useful as a research tool but don’t rely on it too heavily. Don’t let a bot do your degree for you.

3. Don’t believe everything you see and read – AI is not 100% trustworthy. 

Did you know that AI can produce “hallucinations”? Yep, that’s the technical word for AI making stuff up. A bit like a ropey Wikipedia page with misinformation, AI can make stuff up.  

This can either be: 

  1. Misinformation – wrong information.

Check the validity of what AI produces – if AI tells you something, find a source outside of AI to check that it’s true. Go to a national newspaper or another reliable source to check. 

  1. AI can produce fake references.  

AI can generate a reference that looks legit but is totally made up. Check, check, check! 

  1. Fake imagery.  
  • Google Donald Trump AI hands and you’ll see what we mean. This is an example of a deepfake – an image which looks legit but it’s false. In this case, you can identify this by the fact that Trump has 6 fingers on his hands.
  • You may have seen that TikTok released some AI-generated photos of Taylor Swift which crashed the platform.
  • AI can produce an image from a text prompt; so be wary.  

Takeaway point: question what you read and see.

4. Finally, sign up to one of our AI workshops.

The Library regularly run workshops you can attend online to give you an overview of the pros and cons of AI and how you can use it appropriately at university. 

AI is everywhere, so make sure you know how to handle it.

Further resources

Using music to improve your student experience

Author Student Communications | Posted on

Did you know we have a team of Student Experience Coaches here at uni to support you?

They’re available to help you with a whole range of issues that you might be experiencing, including time and workload management, dealing with stress or anxiety, helping you set and achieve your goals and learning how to juggle home and university life.

There are coaches based within each of our schools, and Paul Mahon is the coach working within the School of Computing and Creative Technologies.

He hosts drop-in sessions at Frenchay Library (Level 2) Monday to Friday, 11:00 to 14:00. Alternatively, email at experiencecoach@uwe.ac.uk

He’s keen to help you draw on your hobbies and interests to help improve your university experience, and has written the below blog post about how he believes music can be a fantastic tool for learning and development.

Paul says: “Here at UWE we see the integration of music into coaching practices as a unique and useful approach to supporting you on your educational journey. Music, with its profound ability to evoke emotions, stimulate creativity, and enhance focus, serves as a valuable ally in the realm of student experience coaching.”

  • Setting the tone for success – Music possesses the remarkable ability to set the tone and atmosphere of a coaching session. By carefully selecting appropriate music, I can create an environment which helps encourage introspection, relaxation, or motivation, depending on what we’re trying to achieve.
  • Facilitating emotional expression and exploration – My work as a coach often involves delving into emotions, aspirations, and obstacles. Here, music serves as a powerful medium for emotional expression and exploration. Certain songs or genres resonate with people on a deeply personal level, allowing them to articulate their feelings and experiences more freely. Through guided listening exercises, I can encourage you to explore your emotions, gain insight into your thought patterns, and develop strategies for emotional regulation and resilience.
  • Boosting creativity and problem-solving – Creativity lies at the heart of both music and effective coaching. Incorporating music into my sessions can stimulate divergent thinking, spark imagination, and inspire innovative solutions to academic and personal challenges. Encouraging you to create a playlist that reflects your goals, aspirations, and moods can foster a sense of ownership and creativity. Additionally, collaborative music-making activities at the Centre for Music, such as singing, jamming, songwriting and improvisation, can cultivate teamwork, communication skills, and adaptability – essential qualities for success in the academic and professional spheres.
  • Enhancing focus and productivity – In an era marked by constant distractions and information overload, maintaining focus and productivity is a common challenge for many of you. Music, particularly instrumental tracks or ambient sounds, can act as a powerful tool for enhancing concentration and cognitive performance. Whether used as background music during study sessions or as a means of transitioning into a state of deep focus, carefully curated playlists can help overcome procrastination, reduce stress, and optimize your learning environment.
  • Fostering connection and community – Music has the innate ability to bring people together and foster a sense of belonging and connection. Joining music-related activities gives you the chance to connect with others, share interests, and build a supportive community.

All students are able to access support from their Student Experience Coach. They offer face-to-face or virtual appointments via MS Teams, so find out more and book your place.

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