Five Ways To Keep Yourself Sober While Studying

It’s that time of year again, where students go back to university for that very unique blend of studying, partying and very much finding themselves. For new students, it’s perhaps even the first time they will have ever lived away from home.

With that comes freedom, but with it also comes responsibility.

It can be very easy for students to fall down the trap of partying too hard and putting their studies second, coming to the end of the year with nothing to show for it except bad grades and early signs of addiction. Many people have fallen into it.

With the pressures from others to go out, and being away from home without the positive influences of parents, it can be tough. For anyone.

So, if you’re heading to university for the first time in these coming weeks, or if you’re returning to complete your studies, here are five top tips for keeping yourself sober during your studies.

Firstly, if you think you need help, get it…

If you don’t think you can get through studies without drinking, or feel you are craving a drink at regular intervals, then the best course of action is to simply get help. Just because you’re young it doesn’t mean you don’t have a problem with alcohol.

In fact, for those that do get help with alcohol addiction later in life, many find that when in the alcohol rehab recovery process, they can trace the root of the problem back to their time at university. It’s not an easy thing to do, but getting help will give you the platform to enter recovery and fully concentrate on your studies.

Be aware of your drinking, and set goals

Of course, it may not be as simple as that, but controlling drinking and how frequently you may be out socialising requires a lot of self awareness. Understand why you want to be sober, whether you want that to be full time, or are there periods when it is ok to go out, have a drink and let your hair down?

You can then set goals around them. Sticking to those goals will not only allow you to get through your studies, but also give you a higher sense of purpose, while will enable you to resist temptation long term.

Build a support system around you

We all get by with a little help from our friends. The Beatles taught us that. And it still holds true today. If you feel you could do with a helping hand, or a bit of encouragement to get through certain times, then reach out. Friends and family can support you, guide you and give you a shoulder to cry on when you need it most.

Diarise your drinking

When it comes to studying, writing essays and producing dissertations, you need time on your side. By noting down what you need to do and when you need to do it will help you manage your time effectively. You can create study schedules in which you can dedicate time to your education, to your relaxation, and to fun time.

This will reduce stress, and in turn reduce the chances of your turning to alcohol as a result. What’s more, if you also diarised how you felt after particular nights out, reading back over your entries may be the encouragement you need to say no.

Set a productive scene

There will be periods of time where you do need to really knuckle down with your studies. However, at the same time, housemates may have a bit of downtime, which can provide a huge destraction.

You need to find an environment that is right for studying. While the library and your private room can work, consider whether it’s worth going home for a few days or escaping to somewhere tranquil in order to fully focus and avoid any kind of temptation so you can pay the attention your work needs for it to be the best of your ability.