A Day in My Life at YSJ!
Hi I’m Keira a second year Politics and International Relations Student here at York St John! I’m here to share a typical day in my life from morning routines to lectures and seminars as a student living in York.
7:30am – Morning Routine
Typically, I wake up between 7:30 and 8am as I’m more productive during the mornings and can have a lovely breakfast! My go-to breakfast is cereal with blueberries and oat milk – I’d highly recommend! During breakfast I update my planner for the day, including my ‘academic list’ and ‘life list’. I find it really helpful to separate uni work from my social life to create balance between the two. My ‘academic list’ consists of readings for seminars, lecture notes and essay prep – but I only complete one ‘academic list’ per day, which allows me guilt-free social time!
11am – Lectures
For Politics and International Relations, I have 9 contact hours a week with my lecturers (x3 1-hour lectures and x3 2-hour seminars). These are spread throughout the week with 3 lectures on a Monday and one seminar on a Tuesday for example! In preparation for the interactive seminar sessions, we are provided with core and further readings each week, so we can independently study the specific topics. I like to make notes from the readings and the lecture slides to solidify my knowledge in advance of the essays. Remember, here at YSJ, each student has an academic tutor for 1-1 support throughout your degree, which I have really helpful!
1pm – Lunch
Spending lunchtime with friends is my favourite way to decompress! The uni coffee shops are brilliant with great coffee and meal deals at discounted prices (especially Fountains Café) ! Make sure to take time out of the uni day to socialise with friends and enjoy yourself – it’s all about balance!
6pm – Relaxation
My favourite way to relax after uni is to cook some comfort food and watch TV! My go-to meals are Chicken Noodle Soup or tomato pasta (a student staple). I love curling up in a cosy blanket with hot soup while watching your favourite show! I’d also recommend joining a society to socialise on a weekend! There are many societies to choose from and they’re a great way to meet new people. From mountaineering to musical theatre there’s lots to choose from!
Balance is Key
I’d recommend finding a routine that works for you, so that it’s easier to balance academics, socialising and relaxation. My advice would be to take regular breaks from uni work, while also completing the academics at a reasonable time to allow you to be able to take evenings for yourself!
Enjoy each day!
Keira – Student of Politics and International Relations
