Building slack into your life, understanding your student loan, and the antidote to anxiety.
😊 Welcome
Following last week’s slightly different newsletter, all about my new UCAS Personal Statement resources, we get back to the usual format.
But in case you missed last week (I know that loads of you were on holiday!), do check it out here.
This week we look at something super-important for all of you who are heading into your last term at school: building a little slack into your life!
We look at the very best explainer of that most complex of topics: how your student loan actually works.
And we finish with action, the antidote to anxiety.
✍️ How (and why) to build slack into your life
I read a LinkedIn post the other day about building ‘slack’ into our lives, by a growth and performance consultant called Dr Mark Thorley.
In his post he talks about how we, as a society, seem to be all consumed with doing more. We constantly strive to be our best selves whether at work or in our personal lives.
Work hard, play hard, do more, go on better holidays, get a bigger car, spend more, get a bigger house, a bigger mortgage, and a bigger debt on our credit cards.
What this all really comes down to is that we constantly get stressed simply trying to meet the expectations of others.
And yet, those who seem to be the very most successful at surviving in times of uncertainty, and can thrive when things go wrong, are those who have managed to build a little ‘slack’ into their lives.
💡 Did You Know?
According to the Student Money Survey 2023, 42% of students don’t understand their student loan agreement.
Well, you'll be hard pressed to find someone better to explain it all than Martin Lewis, so if you are heading off to university this year, and want to understand it all, have a look at:
Once you've understood the whole student loan package, you can then keep exploring the site and find shed loads of amazing advice to help you plan, budget and save.
📢 Quote of the week
"Action is the antidote to anxiety. You’re not afraid of the future when you’re moving yourself toward it. If you feel anxiety creeping in, use it as a trigger to lean into action, not stagnation. Do something and you’ll feel better."
Chris Williamson
Podcaster
Being crippled by anxiety is real. You are stressed about exams, so you close down and do anything except study.
Very often the only way to get out of this is to go against all your instincts, and just start; even if it's a small step, or just a promise to yourself that you'll study for ten minutes.
Once you've started, it becomes so much easier to carry on.
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
🎯 In case you missed it
University rankings and league tables: just how useful are they?
What exactly are super-curricular activities, and why should I be bothered?
📅 Next week
Coming up next week: How to build your super-skills while at university.
