One of the hardest parts of transitioning into college is losing the comfort of your own home. I often find myself missing the smell of my mom’s cooking, my dog sleeping on my bed, watching golf with my dad and the comfort of being in a familiar place. Moving into a new dorm, you’re forced to forgo whatever has made where you’ve called home feel like a home. While I can’t recreate my mom’s lamb chops in my communal kitchen or buy a plane ticket for my dog, I’ve picked up a few tips to making my dorm feel like my own happy place. Here’s what I’ve learned from my month of adjustment:
1. Lighting
You’d be surprise at the impact lighting holds on your mood. Studies have shown that the amount and wavelength of light does affect the various functions of the brain, which includes influencing a person’s thoughts and feelings. The fluorescent lighting we are blessed with in our dorm rooms has actually been shown to drain people of their motivation and productivity. So, when the sun is out, keep your blinds open to let in that positive natural light, which helps keep you alert and attentive. Then when the sun sets, you should invest in better lighting to create a cozy and comfortable environment. I’ll link some of my favorite alternatives to fluorescent overhead lighting.
- String lights are good to hang on the wall, closest to the ceiling as possible, around your dorm to provide just enough lighting that you need to use at night.
- Himalayan salt lamps are not just pretty, they are so helpful. Here are just a few benefits salt lamps provide: they release negative ions to help purify air, better your sleep, and reduce allergies.
- Desk lamps are super helpful when you need to study late at night but don’t want to distract your sleeping roommate with too much light. In addition, when you need a boost of lighting, moving the lamp head and bulb to shine upwards on the wall adds the perfect amount of light at night.
2. Scent
Nothing beats the smell of dorm room but, there are ways to make your dorm smell more enjoyable. Because most residence halls prohibit burning candles and incense, essential oil diffusers become even more amazing. Not only do some double as a humidifier, they also produce any aroma of your choice to cater to all of your varying needs. My oil of choice is lavender, but vanilla, orange, and eucalyptus are other popular choices. Essential oils can also be integrated into your beauty routine from all the benefits they provide.
3. Your Bed
A comfy bed is the number one key to thriving in college. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a good night’s sleep is vital to your academic success. Adequate sleep can improve your life and memory in every way possible. My suggestion is to customize your bed in the comfiest way you can to the best of your abilities. Here’s how:
- Find the best mattress topper for you to put over your generic dorm mattress
- Wash your sheets every two weeks
- Try to always make your bed (it is the best way to start off every day on the right foot)
- Find the right number of pillows to put on your bed in order to create the coziest place to study (and Netflix)
4. Snacks
It doesn’t hurt to have snacks always kept in your dorm for those late night study sessions! Keep stocked in your room whatever you consider the dining hall to lack, little things to nosh on while studying, homemade cookies your mama shipped you, etc. A few of my stocked snacks include:
- RX bars
- Best protein bars! All the ingredients are natural and simple and super healthy. I love packing these in my backpacks when I head off to class to serve as a pick me-up in the middle of very long lecture.
- Pretzel Chips and Hummus
- This is one of my favorite study snacks because hummus adds a very filling and nutritious aspect to the mindless noshing one can do when snacking on pretzels.
- Greek Yogurt and Granola
- Packed with probiotics and protein, Greek yogurt easily serves so many benefits to keep you healthy throughout a busy semester! Also, by adding granola, fruits, and topping it off with a honey drizzle, you can easily create a drool-worthy breakfast to make everyone on your Snapchat jealous. #goals
- La Croix
- The seltzer water might be the brunt to some jokes but there’s a reason it’s a current craze. Giving you a little more flavor and texture than plain water with none of the sugary setbacks of juice or soda, La Croix and other seltzer waters are a great drink to keep around.
- Oatmeal
- Oats are literally one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat. To-go 1 minute packs are great when you’re on the move from dorm to class but still want a healthy breakfast. Oatmeal also doesn’t break the bank and you can customize it with whatever you want like nuts or fruits.
- Chocolate, of course
- Do I have to explain?
5. Decor
Last but not least, put up decorations! Print out pictures of the people you miss and love the most to hang on your walls and corkboards. Tape up posters of your favorite albums, movies, bands, cities, role models, etc. Grab some friends and paint pictures for your walls, this also releases creative energy and makes for a fun bonding experience. Get festive during the holidays. Decorations turn the blandest of white walls to the most colorful of white walls. Some good sites to find posters are Etsy, Redbubble, and Society6. You can upload photos from your camera roll to Amazon Prime and order prints, which ship right to your package room, in less than a few days; you don’t even have to leave your building!