If you’re like me, you probably spent a lot of the winter break cosied up at home, completing assignments or revising. After a long rest, I expected to start semester two with a wealth of energy and a craving for Friday night bar crawls.
Instead, I was met with demanding modules, homesickness, and a winter cold. The thought of a night out made me want to lock my door and barricade myself inside.
Of course, that never actually stops me from ending up at The Cut or Rusty’s once a week. But rather than waking up feeling just a bit groggy, I find myself feeling like I’ve just been hit by a bus, unable to socialise for three days, telling myself I’m never drinking again.
"The universal freshers fatigue has well and truly hit, and nightclubs are feeling the effect too, with Pryzm and Atik closing 17 of their venues this February."
But why is fresher’s fatigue so widespread this semester? Why are nights out seeming more and more daunting by the day? Why is the novelty of going out wearing off?
Maybe it’s the stress of deadlines, part-time work, and other responsibilities. Perhaps we’ve all finally had enough of the hangovers and post-night-out anxiety that leaves us exhausted for days. Or the lack of money, homesickness, cold and wet weather, inability to skip 9 am lectures whenever you fancy… The answer is most likely all of the above.
The good news is, freshers fatigue is normal. Take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone, and that refreshers week will be just as much fun; especially after a long summer break to reset.
Maybe you will decide that going out is not for you anymore, which is again totally normal. Regardless, why not use this time to find sober or less exhausting social activities to do with your friends, because the constant cycle of going out and waking up exhausted is not sustainable for anyone.
