Autumn
Autumn! Back to uni or just starting out? The first thing you want to do is get your room in the halls, your flat or your study space in tip-top shape for the new school year. Whether you are looking for some new bedding, small bits of furniture, funky decoration or just some ‘back to school’ essentials, you are spoilt for choice. Head to the Nicosia Mall or HomeMate nearby, Jumbo (for bargains) or The Mall of Cyprus with the gigantic temptations of all things IKEA. If you are looking for second-hand or vintage finds to decorate your room or flat, you can check out the Cypriot equivalent of eBay, www.bazaraki.com or Marketplace Cyprus on Facebook or a cool pre-loved shop in Old Nicosia– The Collective. Any season, Nicosia is a hit for those looking for a bit of shopping therapy. The weather is still warm and there are a variety of sites and activities you can visit and take part in!

Winter
Winter days in Nicosia are pretty mild, but don’t be fooled by the sunshine—it does get pretty cold at night. This is the season (and the point in the semester) that it’s great to get a little fresh air! Nicosia may not have the beach like the other towns of Cyprus, but we do have a fantastic pedestrian/bicycle path that runs from the city suburbs into the city center. This two-lane path (one for walkers and runners and the other for cyclists) runs along the riverbed of the Pedieos. Though dry throughout the summer, once there’s some rain (and snow in the Troodos mountains) it creates some really beautiful scenery. You can reach it by a 10-15 minute walk from the EUC campus, and it’s a great place to go for a run or just take a long, therapeutic walk with a friend in nature.

Spring
Spring is an incredible season in Cyprus, and Nicosia is no exception to this. The dry brown of summer is replaced with green and the fields get taken over by chin-high yellow flowers. They say that the yellow in the flag of Cyprus represents the copper deposits found here, but I like to think it’s the yellow fields of spring. There are lovely parks and green spaces in Nicosia where you can enjoy the flowers in bloom. It’s also a great season to take one of the many (free!) tours of Nicosia and gain an appreciation of its historic and cultural significance. You can find out about tours of the city organized by the Cyprus Tourism Organization here.

Summer
There is so much to do in the summer and so many places you can visit that you will want more days of the week. You may want to hide from the mid-day sun (malls, galleries and restaurants), but as the sun goes down, you can feel the city come to life. Whether joining the vibrant café life in Nicosia to hang out with your friends or opting for the sporting life at a football match with your besties, early evening is really kicking in and around the EUC campus. Chill and very pleasant, the evenings in Nicosia are a great chance to hang out with your friends or meet new ones—over a cocktail, a mocktail or an ice cream-all within walking distance of campus.

Throughout the year there are loads of cafes, bars and clubs to go out to. I recommend just walking around the city and going into any that you think look interesting!
Another amazing thing about Cyprus in general is that everything is close by. Cities like Limassol, Larnaca, Ayia Napa, and Paphos are all a short drive away. I got to know the island best by going on road trips with friends and it’s safe to say that every city I’ve visited thus far is unique and beautiful in it’s own way!

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Depending on your work load as well as the type of individual you are, the below tips can help you dedicate some of your time in keeping your mental health in check in order to ace your exams and come out of finals happy and healthy!

1) Manage your time.

We have all heard it before, “just plan your day accordingly, don’t be lazy, and prioritise… blah blah blah” it is always the same thing! However, people do not realise that this is not always easy for everyone; myself included.

What I found that works is, as soon as I get up and have my morning coffee I create a short and realistic to-do list, the key word being: REALISTIC! Know how much you can do in a day, if you add too much you will be overwhelmed, so keep it simple. You can create a to-do list for the hour, the day, the week etc.…

Time management is an excellent tool in minimising anxiety and stress, it’s also a great reward system, as you see yourself removing things from your to-do list or plan and you’ll feel accomplished and motivated!

In your list make sure to include activities that help relieve stress, some examples include:

– a 5 minute stretch

– a sip of water

– dancing to your favourite song

This may seem silly, but, by including small activities, your stress level lowers, and it’s a small break from your work.

2) Surround yourself with positivity.

I know this may sound confusing, what kind of positivity? Friends? Good food? Cat videos?! The great thing about this tip is that you can choose what suits your needs. Not everyone is an extrovert, so saying things like “join a study group” or “hang out with friends during break time!” isn’t always helpful.

Find what makes you smile, is it calling your family you miss back home? Or is it sitting in bed with a bag of chips watching your favourite TV show? The important thing is not punish yourself for wanting to do these things during finals! Remind yourself it’s healthy to take a break and do things which increase your serotonin — a neurotransmitter responsible for your emotions.

I used to penalise and hate myself for doing things that made me happy during exam season, I thought I was being unproductive and lazy, what I didn’t see is that without incorporating a moderate amount of the things that relax me into my day, my work wasn’t getting finished as fast!

3) Take control of what goes into your body!

Personally, the hardest thing for me to do was cook healthy and not buy ready-made or delivered meals during exams. It was easier to not stress about what I’m going to make.

When I decided to change that though, my mental health skyrocketed. I never realised how different foods I put into my body changed my mood until I decided to eat better.

Cooking at home doesn’t have to be time-consuming or difficult! I’m a terrible cook and hate cooking, what worked for me was meal planning.

I found some simple & healthy meal planning recipes online, cooked them, placed into containers and popped them in the fridge, every three days I’d repeat the process. Easy meals whenever I needed!

Of course, mishaps happen and this is not always realistic, buying a sandwich from the university’s cafe or skipping breakfast isn’t something to hate yourself for, just make sure you recognise these patterns and correct them. At the end of the week reward yourself with any meal you want!

4) Keep busy, don’t overthink!

Overthinking is a big cause of failure; during finals, it’s important to keep your mind busy with positive thoughts and productivity.

Intrusive thoughts can creep in and cause you to panic and fall off track, by keeping yourself occupied with for example; your work, exercise and social life can push these bad thoughts away.

Stress to a certain degree is normal and sometimes necessary to do well, don’t completely push these thoughts aside, instead — when you feel panicked tell yourself “okay, I’ve fallen behind on my work, what can I do to ensure I get back on track?”

Talk to yourself! Find a solution, once you know what you have to do, do it! Keeping busy and not letting your mind wonder to “what ifs” and “oh no’s!” really will stop your brain from self-sabotaging itself.

5) Ask for help.

Out of all the tips this is by far the one I mostly recommend. Ask for help! Talk to your student advisor, a friend or family member you trust, or a professor.

There’s nothing wrong with feeling helpless, everyone does at some point. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure or incapable of being independent, it just means you need some advice from someone that might have more experience, or it just means you need to vent and cry to someone about how much uni life sucks!

I love to watch motivational videos on YouTube and read articles online about people going through the same things as me; I feel less alone when I know I’m not the only one struggling.

When I was feeling lost, I emailed one of my favourite professors and she gave me plenty of tips on how to tackle my stress, she really helped me get out of the slump of depression and anxiety I was facing.

Additionally, I’m always open to students that might want to talk to someone regarding the stress they’re facing during finals, we must stick together and not exclude people that might be struggling.

Finding the courage to talk to someone and ask for help can be the hardest thing to do, but the reward is definitely worth it.

Final thoughts…

I really hope these tips will help you succeeding your exams. Mental health should be prioritised, as it really could make the biggest difference.

Good luck everyone!

The post How to look after your mental health during exams appeared first on European University Cyprus.

But there are rules and there are basic steps you can take that might be of use.

Keep it short and clear.

Or else, listen more and write less. Remember, you’re taking notes, not writing a book! You are not a stenographer and you’re not supposed to write down every single word your teacher says. Take only the important points from the lecture.

Create note-journeys.

There’s a start, a middle and an end to everything and that’s applied to a teacher’s lesson as well. Create note-journeys, from point A to point B to point C and find the important “linking-factor” that binds each point together. It will make it much easier for you to remember what has been said about the subject, at a crucial time when you will have to revisit your notes.

Trade notes with fellow students.

Taking notes is about capturing the essence of the lecture. But what you might’ve interpreted as important might not be the case for someone else. Exchanging notes with your fellow students will enable you and them to identify points you’ve might missed or worse, misunderstood.

Use mind mapping techniques

Probably you heard about such an approach. When it comes to taking notes, what we usually do is that we mix everything together and as a result, it becomes hard to understand what the main point of the lecture was. Mind mapping technique will help you to be concise in your writing by writing only NECESSARY ideas. After the class, you can expand it by adding new information from the books or other classes that you have and tada! – you have great notes to rely on.

Avoid using phones or laptops for making notes Multiple studies have shown that when we are using a pen to write down something, we are better at remembering it afterward.

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Leventis Gallery

One of the most important artistic landmarks in Cyprus, since 2014 the Leventis Gallery shares the invaluable treasures of its founder, G.Leventis with the rest of the world. While it has hosted countless of temporary exhibitions, it’s also home to three stunning collections. The Paris Collection, owned by G.Leventis himself, the Greek Collection and the Cyprus Collection. The first features European art dated from the 17th century to the 20th, as well as period furniture and “objets d’art”. The second exhibits the work of local artists from the first half of the 20^th century whereas the latter is work by the first generation of local artists.

(22668838, Leonidou, Nicosia)

Centre of Visual Arts and Research (Severis Foundation)

Located in the heart of the old town of Nicosia, surrounded by picturesque traditional houses and buildings, CVAR opened its doors in 2014 and its collection includes hundreds of paintings, antique costumes, and memorabilia. It takes you on a time journey that showcases Cypriot history and the island’s relationship with its neighbors, throughout the centuries. It’s also home to more than 10,000 books, which are available to the public and to academics, whereas on its roof garden you will often watch screenings relating to the cultural heritage of Cyprus.

(22300999, Ermou 285, Nicosia)

Cyprus Museum

From the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic times to the Archaic Period and the Roman Period, a visit to the Cyprus Museum will make you realize the island’s rich cultural diversity. It dates to hundreds of centuries back in time and it’s a magnificent blend of different ages and different influences such as Egyptian, Ptolemaic and Assyrian.

(22865854, Mouseiou 1, Nicosia)

Local Ethnological Museum

Get a glimpse of 19^th century Cyprus, at one of the most charming villages of Cyprus. At Lefkara’s Ethnological Museum you will find evidence and artifacts of the time such as traditional costumes, jewelry, silverwork, and agricultural tools and of course a wide collection of old Lefkara embroidery, for which the village is so famous for.

(24342326, Lefkara, Larnaca)

Oleastro Olive Park and Museum

Cyprus is called “The olive island” for a reason! And that’ because olive harvesting was for a very long time, a way of living for most locals in rural areas. From extractions methods to how it influenced the everyday lives of Cypriots and how the island benefitted from olive related production, Oleastro will give you a hands-on experience!

(99525093, Anogyra, Limassol)

It’s an island with many surprises indeed.

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Here are the platforms that are going to help you with your studies as well as to gain new expertise in the unknown field.

Udemy

The leading platform in online learning (features more than 80000 video courses from experts). Here you can learn literally anything and for a reasonable price.

LinkedIn Learning

The strongest online companion to your professional development is LinkedIn, and this app has gathered industry experts in leadership, management, marketing, IT, design and much more to provide you with valuable input in more than 4000 online courses.

Coursera

The application hosts more than 2600 courses in 11 topics, degrees and specializations created by the crème de la crème of the Academic field. You can stream video lectures, connect with a mentor and the best part is that courses are taught in multiple languages.

Let us know if you ever used those platforms and what was your impression?

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The landmarks

Places that are idyllic but not ‘ideal’ if you are out for a “relaxing day at the beach” mood. On your way to Paphos, make a stop at “Petra Tou Romiou”, the birthplace of goddess Aphrodite. There, stands a series of majestic rocks and legend has it that Digenis Akritas threw them to keep the Arabs away from the island. On your way to Peyia, the recent shipwreck of EDRO III is a must-see, it has become an “Instagram attraction” just 200 meters away from Paphos’ sea caves. If you do appreciate sea caves, then your next trip should be at Cape Greco, its stunning coastline will mesmerize you, either you choose to walk it, cycle at its designated areas or dive in its waters!

Up for a summer adventure?

Then head straight to Akamas Peninsula, an area of 30 square km of valleys, gorges and wide sandy bays. Go for a swim at the crystal clean and clear beaches of Lara, Aphrodite’s baths or Blue Lagoon, explore its grand ecological diversity by hiking at its three official nature trails, the Adonis Trail, the Aphrodite Trail, and the Smigies Trail or challenge yourself and discover Avakas Gorge, its rare plants and flowers, reptiles, immense cliffs and who knows, you might even get acquainted with wild mountain goats. If you choose the latter, then be extra careful and have all the necessary safety equipment at your disposal.

Looking for beachy-breezy-busy?

Pack the car with sunscreen, beach floaties, snacks and off you go to Konnos Bay, Figtree Bay, Nissi Beach, and Sirina Bay! These are most probably the most popular (and crowded) beaches In Cyprus, Nissi Beach was included amongst the 25 best beaches worldwide by the esteemed “Flight Network”, a huge distinction indeed. Equipped with amenities such as watersport facilities, beach bars, cafes, etc., there’s always something happening there that will keep you excited!

Whatever you do, make sure you have the time of your lives! You are, after all, at one of the most beautiful islands in the world!

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You will rightly ask, ‘OK, what more do I have to do, what should I improve so that a future employer can see me as a potential business asset’? The answer on how to increase your employability lies in the work values that employers seek. Values that you have the luxury to practice at the university campus.

Commitment.

It’s one of the virtues that not only get you a job, but it can also create opportunities for an outstanding career. Not giving up on a project you’ve started, understanding that learning is a commitment you made to yourself, to evolve. Not because you want to be the best but because you want to be at your best, every single time. Being committed is a mindset that can only grow in time. Doing that academically, at a university will surely help it flourish.

Flexibility.

Being able to learn by implementing various learning techniques and completely different tasks for different subjects in unique ways can become very difficult at first. But it also helps you to understand the ways a class or a project can be addressed which will enable you to look for different solutions when a problem appears. And being a problem- solver rather than a problem pointer is highly valued in successful companies.

Team playing.

Just like a university, a working environment is a live mechanism where people must learn how to communicate and cooperate with each other for the common cause. If one of the gears moves slower or towards a different direction, then all will flop. Remember this. Learning together and working together means achieving together. And teamwork starts in our classrooms.

Adaptability.

Remember your first day at University, how awkward and unfamiliar everything felt and how far you’ve come since then? It’s a distant memory now and that’s because of the extra effort you’ve put in. This is the exact same feeling you’ll get on your first day on a new job. And it will take the same amount of time and effort.

Are you ready to take on your dream job yet? Stay loyal to your purpose, believe in you and you’re halfway there!

The post How do employers evaluate employees? appeared first on European University Cyprus.

1. No phones. I have noticed that when I have a phone near me, I usually tend to check it every 10 mins or so – and as soon as I check it, I end up spending around 20 mins. That’s not good since you lose your focus from the subject, therefore making it difficult to come back to the place that you paused from in your studies. Therefore, hide your phone away from the studying area. I usually hide it in my bag, turn off the WiFi and have a timer set on my watch so that I can only check it again at a certain time.

2. Do not write down the whole chapter in your notes. Instead, select the key- words that explain the theory. It will not only save you time in terms of memorizing the information, but it will also help you remember the information for a long time. I still remember theories that I studied during my bachelor only because the keywords sort of stuck in my head.

3. Use different colours when making notes. We have different types of memories – some people are good at listening to something and remember it better than they do when reading from notes. Some people have a strong visual memory, therefore, using pencils of different colors can increase your chances of not forgetting the information during the exam as you can simply picture it in your mind.

4. Take breaks! I cannot stress this enough – our brain needs time to rest in order to process new information. Although, there are people who strongly believe that our brain is a machine and it can work non-stop – remind yourself of the last time you felt so exhausted that at some point your brain was rejecting any new information it was receiving. Breaks are good – remember it.

5. Change your locations of studying if you have a chance. Somehow, I noticed that by changing places of studying, it sort of encourages me to study more and for longer periods of time. Plus, you also discover new places and might actually get a chance to meet someone new.

6. Try to listen to music while studying. It usually depends on people of course, however, I found it useful to listen to music while studying. There are millions of playlists that you can find on YouTube – I always say, you’ll never know until you try. You are probably the person who cannot imagine studying with music on – but imagine if studying with music could, actually, benefit you?

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What are soft skills?

Communication skills, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, leadership, being able to take responsibilities, determination, time management, and the competence to work under tension, everything that has to do with the manner you interact with your colleagues, your fellow students, and teammates in an interpersonal environment falls under this category. They’re a set of talents that show expertise, intelligence, artistry, originality, and trustworthiness. And the more you practice them, the better!

Calling them soft is underwhelming. And that’s because these are skills that are hard to master and they’re only obtained with experience, hence they require time. Improving them is also never-ending and they are massively important to the success of anything really. Can you imagine running a business, succeeding on a project without them? A Harvard study recently found that one’s success in a workplace is 85% attributed on soft skills and just 15% on technical skills. Soft skills are hardly gained and are invaluable.

Practicing your soft skills at EUC.

How are the above applied at a university campus? How about that research project, doesn’t that have a strict deadline? Or that student club you wanted to join, doesn’t it need a leader who everyone can look up to? Don’t you have to work together to assign and complete the chores of the dorm and let’s be honest, when was the last time that complaining about an exam really helped you more than setting a studying timetable and sticking to it?

There are endless examples of how your academic performance helps build and strengthen these skills and yes, you should find a way to put soft skills on your CV. It’s a reason to get that interview call you’ve been waiting for!

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Never Have I Ever

A game that became increasingly popular when Ellen DeGeneres put her guests to the test. It’s pretty simple but it can also be very… revealing! There are two set of cards, the PLAY and the RULE cards. The players get into a circle and receive 10 play cards each as they take turns into drawing the rule cards. You win your PLAY card when you admit you have done the action it refers to. The person that first wins 10 PLAY cards, wins overall! A great way to get to know a little more about your new friends! Get it, here: http://neverhaveievergame.com/

Apples to Apples

“The game of hilarious comparisons”, as it states on its hard cover. Its purpose is to collect as many red apple cards as possible (which commonly are nouns) by matching it to the common green card (an adjective) of the round. The board game was named “Party Game of the Year” in 1999 and it’s now an all-time classic! Purchase it, here: https://amzn.to/2F82siu

The Game of Things

Another great game to get to know more about each other is the “Game of things”. Perhaps… too more sometimes! Generally, the concept of the game is to try and guess who answered what. Players gather around in circle, the game master asks a question and then everyone has to write down their answer. The answers are then read out loud and you must vote on the person you think gave that answer.

Cards against Humanity

It has been called edgy but it’s also super fun! It’s a more adult version of “Apples to apples” but what you must match when playing this game is not nouns to adjectives but… hilarious answers to outrageous situations! The funniest combination wins! You must give it a shot: https://amzn.to/2OawS86

Escape room: The Game

If you are a fan of Escape rooms then this one is definitely a must-go-with choice! The key to win and exit one of the 4 thrilling escape rooms (whichever one you choose) is to collaborate with each other. Afterall, you only have 60 minutes and infinite riddles to solve, so get to work! Learn more, here: https://escaperoomthegame.com/

Have fun everyone and don’t forget the snacks!

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