Going away to university is exciting, but it’s not without its challenges. Being in new surroundings, with new responsibilities, and with plenty of study to do isn’t always as straightforward — or as fun! — as we’d like it to be.
Many students adopt a go with the flow approach and do just fine, but it’s usually the students who take a more focused approach who excel. While it’ll always take a little bit of time to get up to speed at university, new students can speed up the journey — settling in within weeks, not months — and ensure they’re all-around living their best student life. Here’s how you do it.
Create a Routine
Most likely, your new life will bring with it unprecedented levels of freedom, and while exciting, it can also be a little overwhelming. Students who get a firm grip on their routines early on in their student days will find that it’s much easier to juggle all their different responsibilities.
A routine doesn’t have to account for every second of the day. Earmarking a few hours throughout the week for studying, job hunting, and socialising will ensure that you’re on the right path, and also allow you to have a care-free attitude when you’re not doing those things.
Feel at Home
Students who feel at home in their accommodation generally have a more productive and enjoyable time compared with those who continually feel like a fish out of water. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t feel as comfortable as you’d like to — these things take time, and in any case, there are plenty of things you can do to make the space feel like home. Photographs, cosy lighting, and other comfort touches will all help. You’ll also find it easier to relax if you take care of second-year accommodation early on. The best Bristol, Southampton, and Lancaster student accommodation tends to get snapped up pretty quickly. Take care of yours early into the academic year, and you’ll have one less thing to think about during your first year.
Build a Community
With any luck, you’ll walk into your first seminar and immediately make a bunch of lifelong friends. In reality, it’ll probably take a bit more time. The best way to find a social group at university is to put yourself in positions that make it possible. Join groups, become part of a sports club, or attend an event (or even host your own events and see who comes by). It might not happen overnight, but eventually you’ll realise that hey, I know quite a lot of people here!
Focus on Self-Care
As we’ve already said, going away to university can be super fun and exciting, but it’s not without its challenges. You’ll miss home. There’ll be elements of university life that you just don’t like. It happens to everyone. In between the highlights, proactively work on self-care. Meditation, breathwork, and exercise can be game-changers for a student’s experience of university, giving them the tools and platform they need to thrive.
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