Back to Reality: The Essential Post-Easter Checklist for Students

 16th April 2025

It’s late April, the essays are calling, and your student email inbox now has three digits. It’s time to return to real life. Whether you spent your break sunning yourself in Spain, working double shifts back home, or binge-watching The Pitt from your bed, this guide will help you hit the ground running — or at least hobble back with minimal chaos.

Shake Off the Rust

Reboot Your Academic Brain

Let’s be honest. The only thing you’ve read in the past month is the menu at Wetherspoons. And now Moodle is hitting you with "Assignment Due in 3 Days" notifications like it’s a game of dodgeball.

Step one: Don’t panic. Step two: Get organised. Start with a quick brain dump — what’s due, what’s urgent, what can wait until you’ve had a proper coffee. Use a planner, Google Calendar, or even a sticky note on your forehead — whatever works.

A 2024 Student Minds survey shows 73% of UK students say their motivation dips after long breaks. You’re not alone. Start small: reread your module outlines, do one reading, send that awkward email to your lecturer. Momentum builds fast once you get going.

Clear the Chaos 

No, You Can’t Live Out of That Suitcase Forever

Your room? A disaster. Your kitchen? A biohazard. Your suitcase? Still unpacked on the floor like a sad reminder of better times.

Give yourself an hour (set a timer if you must) and restore some order. Unpack, do your laundry, bin the train snacks you swore you'd finish, and maybe — just maybe — hoover. A tidy space really does help you focus, and more importantly, it stops your mates from judging you when they pop round.

Pro tip: Use the time to also ditch what you don’t need anymore. Old textbooks? Sell them on Gumtree, Vinted, or Facebook Marketplace — and earn some sweet post-holiday pub money while you’re at it.

Sort Out Your Study Setup

If you’ve come back to find your desk still looks like it’s mid-apocalypse — tangled chargers, mouldy mugs, last term’s panic notes — it’s time for a glow-up.

Reboot your workspace. Reorganise your folders. Charge your tech. Make your desk somewhere you can actually sit and work, rather than a place where empty cups go to die. A fresh setup signals a fresh start.

Still working off your bed or a broken dining chair? It’s 2025, your back deserves better. Check your uni for equipment loans or ask your mates if they’ve got a spare chair lying around. Someone always does.

Reconnect With People

Yes, Even That One Group Chat You Muted

Coming back from break can be weirdly lonely, especially if your mates are all on different schedules or still chasing the sun in Santorini. Don’t just hole up in your room eating toasties and pretending it’s still Easter.

Reach out. Say hi in the group chat. Organise a quick catch-up coffee or pub night. If you're living with housemates again, cook something vaguely edible and stick it in the communal kitchen — you’ll be amazed how food can lure people out like moths to a flame.

According to ONS data, 1 in 4 students feel isolated after university breaks. So if you’re feeling off — say something. Drop into student union events, check if your uni’s running any welcome-back socials, or just message that mate who always has an oddly targeted meme in your Insta DM's.

Look After Your Mental Health

 Because the Term Ahead Is No Joke

Easter break might’ve been a chance to chill — or it might’ve been stressful, depending on your home situation, job, or the never-ending family drama. Now that you’re back, take a moment to check in with you.

Are you sleeping alright? Eating something that isn’t crisps? Feeling overwhelmed by the mountain of deadlines? Be kind to yourself. Uni is hard, and coming back after a long break can feel like trying to restart a laptop that’s been off for weeks — slow, glitchy, and prone to crashing.

Most universities offer wellbeing support, and April is usually when workshops, mindfulness sessions, and academic counselling pick up again. Use them. That’s what they’re there for.

Plan Ahead 

Because Exam Season Is Creeping Up…

Here’s the bad news: Exam season is closer than it looks. Here’s the good news: You’ve still got time to get your act together.

Set up a basic revision plan now. Nothing fancy, just mark your exam dates, block out time for study, and slot in breaks. Your future self will thank you. Bonus points if you build in rewards (pizza night after finishing revision? Yes, please).

Apps like Notion, Forest, or good old Google Docs can help keep you on track. And if you're prone to distraction, remember: The unhinged youtube shorts will still be there when the semester ends.

You’re Back, and That’s Half the Battle

Returning after Easter isn’t just about hitting the books — it’s about restarting your rhythm. Uni is a marathon, not a sprint, and right now, you’re just getting back into stride.

So give yourself grace. Don’t expect to be 100% productive by Tuesday. Get your space in order, get your mind in gear, and take it one step at a time. You’ve done hard things before. You can absolutely handle this.

And hey — summer break’s just around the corner. Keep your head up.