The start of term always arrives with noise: fresh timetables, early mornings, sign-ups, freshers events, and the start of BUCS season. There’s a sense that everyone is already sprinting ahead, collecting achievements before you’ve even found your footing.
But sometimes, returning to university doesn’t feel like a fresh start at all. It feels like exhaustion dressed up as motivation. Like you’re trying to pick up where you left off, but the spark just isn’t there. The work feels heavier. The words don’t come. Training feels flat.
And that’s okay.
Inspiration isn’t a constant state. It’s something that ebbs and flows, especially when your mind is full. Between lectures, part-time jobs, deadlines, and sport commitments, there’s rarely time to stop and breathe, never mind create or compete with purpose.
So what do you do when inspiration feels out of reach?
You stop looking for it in the big moments. You find it in the small ones.
In the walk to class when your playlist hits just right. In the quiet after training. In a conversation that reminds you why you started. Momentum doesn’t come from waiting for lightning to strike. It comes from showing up gently, doing something small, and allowing yourself to rebuild pace.
If you’re struggling to find your rhythm again, try stepping away from the noise instead of chasing it. Creativity and focus thrive in space. Take a walk without your phone. Watch a match you’d normally skip. Journal for ten minutes. Go for a swim. The smallest reset can sometimes do the most work.
And if you need a nudge in the right direction, these spaces can help:
- Headspace for mindfulness and mental clarity
- The School of Life for thoughtful insights and creative reflection
- Mind UK if you’re struggling with your mental health and need support
- BUCS Sport Finder to reconnect with your sport community or try something new
None of these links are affiliated – just genuine services that we believe in.
University, sport, and creativity all demand the same thing: resilience. And sometimes that means resting, rethinking, or starting smaller than you’d like.
When inspiration feels out of reach, remember you don’t have to chase it. You just have to make enough space for it to find you.
