Leaving home and going off to university is a scary thing for anyone. Some people are better at hiding it than others but the reality is, everyone’s a little bit confused. There’s so much (exciting) new stuff going on in the first few weeks, but after that the academic work kicks in and brutally reminds you why you’re at university.
During such a chaotic time I think that it’s really important to make sure that you look after yourself. It’s also such an impressionable time, and it’s a good idea to start building positive relationships and establishing the framework of your life at university. This isn’t to say, by any stretch of the imagination, that your experiences of the first few weeks at university are the be-all-and-end-all of the next few years of your life, but it’s always good to have a positive start, right?
Love your liver
Most people enjoy going out. Fresher’s Week is crazy for drinking and clubbing and it’s great fun. It’s a really good way to put any worries aside and get to know people, as well as the city that you’re in. Throughout Fresher’s Week there are events every single night, and in the weeks following there are lots of events too. I love dressing up and going out, but don’t feel like you have to go out every single night of week, especially when the academic timetable is in full swing.
Savour your sleep
During the late nights out clubbing, it’s important to remember that your body and brain need sleep. Lack of sleep drains you and runs you down, making you more susceptible to illness (yes, Fresher’s Flu is a real thing – ask any current university student). Also, it makes you grumpy as hell. Even though it might seem “easy” to get up for a 9am lecture after years of getting up pre 7am for school or sixth form, trust me, it hurts. You will probably spend the entire lecture thinking about sleep. Do yourself a favour and make sure that you get a few early nights (or even a nap!) every now and again.
Enjoy exercise
You will never have the same extent of opportunities available to you as you do when you’re at university. There are so many societies to join and sports activities to get involved in. Most of them are cheap to join, and gym membership usually works out at a decent price if you divide it by the months in the academic year. After weeks of drinking (sorry to break it to you, but liquid calories are actual calories!) and ordering drunk takeaways, there’s nothing better than doing some exercise, especially if it’s fun. It doesn’t have to be sweating away in the gym, you can do anything from zumba classes to korfball practise.
Positive relationships
I think the most important piece of advice I can give you in relation to your health and mental health is to build positive relationships. Don’t pretend to be someone that you’re not and don’t do anything purely because other people are. Hold your own ground and respect yourself, honestly, it’s more substantial than being a sheep. Have an open mind and be friendly to everyone (within reason), but stay around people who you think are genuinely going to care and love you. I think a lot of the time you can just tell. Don’t waste your time with anyone who is blatantly using you – and distance yourself from people who do.
University is such an exciting time. Obviously there’s some academic pressure, even from the start, but it’s a whole new social experience. It’s a time for personal discovery and reinvention. It’s amazing. Just make sure that you keep an eye on your own physical and mental health. Talk to people if you’re starting to find things difficult or if you’re feeling unwell. University is a time for establishing independence – but you don’t have to do it on your own.
Edited by: Amy Hawthorne
Sources:
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