Getting back into routine and re-adjusting to uni life after the festive break can be a bit daunting, especially if you’ve been home for a couple of weeks, visiting elsewhere or even if you’ve stayed in Glasgow over the break, given the disruption to our academic & social lives. Regardless of how we’re feeling about it, by the 2nd week of January, classes are starting up again and it's time to swap lazy mornings with snoozed alarms to going over readings before class and meal prepping your lunches. While this reverting back to routine can be a tad overwhelming, or just something we don’t feel ready to get stuck back into, there’s a lot that UofG and Glasgow as a wider community offers up to make the transition back to academia that bit more inviting, comfortable and easy. From uni events, cultural events and holidays, and things you can implement into your own routine, there’s a lot to do to make the January adjustment period easier.

Structure & diaries

Getting back into the swing of things this semester has been massively by a diary I received as a Christmas gift - a bit of motivation to structure my day and week as I moved back over to Glasgow from the holidays in Ireland. While you don’t need anything fancy or even a physical diary/calendar (I know some who swear by Google calendar and digital diary apps), it can be so beneficial to jot down what you aim to achieve that day or week, even the most mundane tasks like a grocery shop or doing laundry. Implementing a bit more structure in our routines after the prolonged lack of structure, i.e. the festive break, can help set our day up for productivity, and holding yourself accountable for small, achievable objectives can make the difference in making sure you’re getting what you want from your day or week.

Refreshers

At UofG, with the start of the second semester, comes a relaunch of uni life as a whole - another chance to explore the clubs & societies that the uni has to offer - to try something new given the new semester. The Refreshers Fayre allows you to have a nosey through the societies & clubs open to join, to connect with the society/clubs’ members and committees, and to sign up for socials and other events. This fayre & other socials/events at the start of semester 2 allow you to dive back into uni life, to reconnect with new and old friends, to try new hobbies and to shake off the January blues.

Burns Night

Celebrating Burns Night in Glasgow, 25/01, is another date to add to your calendar to connect with Scottish culture and tradition, in celebrating the life and works of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Both around and outside the uni, there is a lot happening on this date around the West End - fireworks displays organised, special Burns Night traditional dinners (giving you the chance to try haggis if you haven’t already!) and ceilidh dances. The Union & student council usually have a number of events organised for the occasion, or if you don’t feel like going out there or to the likes of the Oran Mor, you and your friends could organise your own Burns Night and try to make your own haggis, neeps, and tatties.

Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year usually falls between the end of January and the end of February, and makes for a fun and social cultural experience at UofG. Both the uni and its unions host Lunar New Years events; social events to meet new people and celebrate the beginning of the new year. Alternatively, you could celebrate by trying out authentic Chinese restaurants - we have such a diverse cuisine here in Glasgow that you’ll have no problem finding great dumplings & hot pot, or trying to cook your own feast from the local Asian supermarkets.

Gym & fitness classes

With the start of the new year and the second semester, it gives us a great opportunity to invest time into ourselves, our fitness and wellbeing. Given that many clubs & sports societies reopen their membership, the perfect time to try out a new sport or to reconnect with a sport or hobby that you played before uni. If team sports aren’t really your thing, there's lots more options available at the UofG gym, including the likes of yoga, pilates, muay thai alongside others - allowing you to connect with new people or bring your pals with you, and improve your physical and mental health. Scheduling in a couple of classes or exercise sessions a week can be so beneficial to getting back into routine and to feeling more like yourself again post-festive break.

Pushing yourself to try new places

On the theme of embracing uni life again and all the experiences that come with it, setting yourself a challenge to try a new coffee shop, restaurant, bar, fitness class or running route each week could prove a fun way to branch out beyond what you already know. Taking yourself to a new cafe for a study session or for a weekly catch up, to find the best cappuccino and almond croissant combo in West End, might encourage you to push the boat out, or using Classpass to trial & find your favourite local functional fitness or reformer pilates classes might serve as fitness motivation.

In sum, getting back into routine and re-adjusting to uni life after the festive break can be a bit off-putting or overwhelming, but approaching it head on with a positive mindset can really make the difference. Allowing yourself to appreciate the change back to routine and normalcy, setting attainable goals and embracing new experiences or cultural traditions can make for a comfortable transition back to uni life at UofG - pushing yourself to make the most of the new semester.

First published: 24 February 2025

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