Five Little Wins To Make Uni Easier

Moving to university is an incredibly overwhelming experience, and adjusting to a new style of living and learning can be a lot. While there are lots of guides to explain the big things about leaving home and how to adapt to a new academic style, it’s easy to overlook the little things. These are the small habits I’ve developed over my first two years of university which make the everyday easier for me. 

1. Add all your assignments to your calendar 

I am an avid calendar fan, and put everything I do into my apple calendar to help me keep track. While you might have an academic journal or specific uni calendar, putting your deadlines into your main calendar is really helpful. That way you can visually see when your busy weeks are coming, and can make sure you don’t plan a night out or trip away the night before your big essay. I also like seeing how many physical days and weeks I have to work on tasks. That way I can break things up into more realistic chunks around my life, rather than sacrificing all social plans or leaving things to the wire. 

2. Plan your meals

You either come from a family where you plan your meals or you don’t, but at uni I think it’s absolutely essential. Cooking for one can make things tricky in terms of waste and getting value for money, and this is only made worse if you don’t shop for specific meals. I go to the shops knowing what meals I’m buying ingredients for, even if I’ve not locked in what specific days I want to have them yet. When you get home from a long day in the library, it is so nice to not have to think about what you’re going to cook. 

3. Find a good time to do your washing 

If you’re living in halls, it can be a nightmare to get a washing machine in the laundrette. In the first year I had to battle about 1500 people in one of 30 washing machines. What I found was that on Monday afternoons, my accommodation was deserted so it was the ideal time to get my washing done. It will take a bit of trial and error, but when you can find free time to use the laundrette you should try and stick to it.

4. Build a nighttime routine 

Uni will probably mean later nights than you’re used to because of socials or late study sessions, so I find having a routine before bed means I’m always prepared the next morning (and can have an extra 5 minutes in bed). If I’ve got uni or work the next day, I always endeavour to make my packed lunch to fend off getting yet another meal deal, lay out an outfit that actually matches, and check I’ve got everything in my bag. It’s so straightforward, but it stops me running around like a headless chicken before my 9ams. When you’re at uni, there’s no longer a parent telling you to get ready for school, so you almost have to be your own Mum the night before bed so you make it to uni on time. 

5. Block out time for exercise, hobbies and nature 

Finally, the most important thing you can do at uni is make sure you look after yourself physically and mentally. If you’re moving from the countryside, I would really recommend going and visiting parks or nature reserves every few weeks to recharge. It’s also so important to make sure you don’t drop the pastimes you enjoyed before uni. Regardless of how busy you are, going for a run, picking up your knitting or doing some baking will always help you be more productive in the long run. 

Best of luck to everyone moving off to uni this year. It’s a big change, but I hope these little habits will make the adjustment a little easier. Don’t compare yourself to others, as everyone experiences homesickness and academic pressure differently. Just be kind to yourself, and don’t fear judgement from others as they’re just as scared as you.  In the words of Harry Styles, ‘it’s all waiting there for you’.

Written by, Eleanor Patamia