u/ZealousidealString11

So, I’m starting university full-time in October, and I’m honestly really excited about it… but at the same time, I’m starting to dread it a little too.

I’ve read that you’re expected to put around 32–35 hours a week into your studies, so I worked out that I could potentially do around 5 hours a day.

The thing is that I’m also starting a full-time job, which will typically be 9am-5pm. That means my plan at the moment is to study from around 5pm–10pm every day, including Saturdays and Sundays.

When I originally decided to do both, I knew it was going to be a lot, and I obviously knew what I was signing myself up for. But now that October is getting closer, I’m starting to freak out a little and wondering whether it’s actually realistic.

It’s not really the studying itself that worries me — I’m genuinely looking forward to the degree — it’s trying to fit everything in without completely burning myself out.

For those of you who work full-time while studying full-time, how do you manage it?
How do you structure your days/week? Do you actually study every evening, or do you find that you can be more flexible with the hours?

I’d really appreciate any tips, advice or personal experiences. I’d love to hear how you made it work (or what you wish you’d done differently).

Thanks!

This Time I Got to Watch the Trailer Before the Movie

For the first time in my life, I experienced sleep paralysis from the very beginning.

Usually, when it happens, I’m dropped straight into the middle of the horror movie. You know the drill: you “wake up” from what feels like the worst nightmare imaginable… except it’s not actually a dream, and your body has apparently decided to go into airplane mode.

But last night (or technically this morning at exactly 5:21 a.m.), I got to witness how it all starts.

I was definitely awake. My partner’s snoring could wake the dead, and it woke me too. I got up to use the bathroom, and my partner also woke himself up with his own snoring (which, honestly, is a talent). We chatted for a bit, so I know for a fact that I was fully conscious and not dreaming.

Since neither of us had to start work until 9 a.m., I decided to go back to sleep.

I got comfortable and lay on my stomach with one leg bent in a way that creates a sort of “human chair” for my partner. Yes, I know it sounds strange, but we love sleeping like this. Don’t judge us.

Anyway, as I settled in, my nose started getting blocked (thank you, hay fever). At first, I felt like I was struggling to breathe. Then my head began to feel incredibly heavy, almost like I was suddenly very drunk. The room felt as though it was spinning, and I was fighting with everything I had just to keep my eyes open.

My eyelids felt like they were made of concrete.

At that point, my whole body started feeling heavier and heavier… and then it hit me.

This is sleep paralysis loading.

Somehow, I managed to snap myself out of it before it fully kicked in. I adjusted my position, got comfortable again, and fell asleep without any further drama.

I just found it really interesting because, although I experience sleep paralysis quite often, I had never actually felt the process of it starting. Usually, I’m already in the thick of it.

Has anyone else experienced this? Have you ever been aware of sleep paralysis beginning before it fully happens?