Starting unive
rsity can seem like the most terrifying thing in the world; the promise of intense work, new people, and potentially a new city can be really daunting and leave you feeling anxious. But it’s never going to be as bad as you think it will be.
First of all, let’s talk about the workload. Of course, every course is going to be different, but you can handle anything as long as you balance your workload and plan ahead. I can guarantee that the night before your deadline, when you’re rushing to type out those last 800 words, your new friends will try as hard as they can to lure you out of the library and into the nearest bar. The easiest thing to do is to
separate your workload into small, easily doable chunks over a few days. A 2000 word essay might seem intimidating, but if you decide to tackle 500 words a day over four days, then you avoid overworking and overwhelming yourself. Don’t leave your work until the last minute, and you won’t have to worry about missing out on that guy Dave trying to rob a traffic cone, or a weird meet and greet with The Chuckle Brothers in the club down town (yes, I’m serious. I missed out on that one).
So what about friends? I know that’s a scary word when you start somewhere new, but don’t panic if you
don’t know anybody at your uni – it turns out, everybody is in the same boat. You’re going to meet hundreds of new people within your first few months, so you’ll have loads of people to get to know and build a bond with. Course mates, flatmates, students in the SU, and societies! Societies are a great way to meet new people, pick up a new hobby, or keep in touch with an old one. They look great on your CV too.
With university comes a lot more responsibility. If you’re living away from home, this might be your first experience of complete independence, which can be really nerve-wracking. You have to take into account that you now have rent and bills to pay, food to buy and cook, bathrooms to scrub, and laundry to do (without shrinking anything or turning anything pink). All of this is on top of your coursework, exams, and social life. Oh, and trying not to get lost in a new place. Phew! But let me relieve some of your stress – it’s not actually that hard. Here are some tips to help you balance everything out, and keep things organised.
First, set aside the money that you
have to pay for your rent and your bills so that you know you won’t be short. If you organise your
money from the start, you’ll thank yourself for it later.
Secondly, learn how to cook some basic meals. This one might seem obvious, but you don’t want to be living off takeaways and microwave meals. Yes, they’re easy, but your body won’t be happy. Find some simple recipes online, or even ask family members for tips.
Thirdly, buy all of your cleaning products as soon as you move in. Just make sure you have the basics like bleach, antibacterial spray, washing up liquid, and laundry capsules. Keep on top of your cleaning a little bit at a time to avoid wasting hours scrubbing at your room.
Lastly, learn how to properly separate your laundry, and remember to check the labels of your clothes in case they have any special requirements.
And as for getting lost… well, there’s always Google Maps, right?
