The Iglu Guide | Blog
Five tips for settling into student life
Is this your first semester at university? Are you feeling a little daunted? You’re definitely not alone, because there’s a whole heap of things to think about. Here’s 5 easy tips to help with settling into student life!
Tip 1: Head to O-Week
The best bit about starting university is that it brings you into contact with students from all over the world. But with so many new faces, it can be a daunting experience for some. That’s where O-Week lends a helping hand. O-Week is probably the single most important thing to do when you arrive at university and gets right to the heart of the student experience. Think cool clubs, quirky events, sausage sizzles, and impromptu performances – not to mention the campus tours, university services and endless opportunities available. It’s your chance to get to know your peers, make new friends, and most importantly have fun. Every university will have O-Week, so get involved, load up on freebies and embrace your new student life!
Tip 2: Create an assignment calendar
For some students, independent study is the biggest change from school to university. With so many classes, labs, tutorials, seminars, and workshops to prepare for, making sure you hand in every assignment on time can be hard to manage. Get organised and create an assignment calendar. It doesn’t have to be fancy or high tech – it could even be a week-by-week sheet pinned up on the wall with every deadline you have to meet. That way, you can easily check what you’ve got coming up every time you sit down to study. Check out some of these easy apps that help you manage your time.
Tip 3: Back up your work
Now you’re a university student, those assignment due dates are pretty non-negotiable – even when it’s a technical error or computer malfunction. Lots of students back their files up on a USB or external hard-drive for safe-keeping. This is the best way to make sure you don’t lose that major assignment you’ve been working on. You might also consider backing up in the cloud for extra reassurance. Google Drive, Dropbox and One Drive all offer free storage space, with paid options to increase if needed.
Tip 4: Make sure you take time for yourself
Independent living comes with a set of stresses and strains, so it’s a good idea to find ways to relax, get some exercise and give your mind a rest. You will have a lot of study to get through, but everyone needs to take a break and reset the batteries. Taking good care of your mind and body will also help improve your academic output and help you avoid burnout, so it’s a total win-win!
- Hit the gym – your building might have one or you might be able to get a good student membership rate at one nearby.
- Do some yoga – great for the body and the soul. Relax, stretch and take you mind off the books for an hour or so.
- Simply head out for a walk – the great outdoors beckons and always helps to clear the mind and refocus.
- Challenge yourself to a screen-free day – you’ll be surprised at how refreshing it is to ‘switch-off’ from the world for just a little while.
- Out of time? Find out how to sneak exercise into your day without even noticing
- Get plenty of sleep and feel the difference to your day.
Tip 5: Choose the right accommodation – and get in early!
The truth is that the best accommodation options fill up well before the start of semester, and with so many options to choose from it’s really important to do your research and get in early. Would you prefer on-campus or off-campus student living? Are you interested in all-inclusive or not-inclusive student accommodation? Do you want to live alone, or with other students? Once you know the right student accommodation for your needs, get it all booked in so you’re ready to hit the ground running.
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
