The first year of your university career can be a huge wake up call. Things will be completely different than anything you’re used to. These helpful tips are very little things that any collegiette can do to simplify their time in university.
1.) Plan your outfit for the morning
It’s hard to try to look good when you’re probably lacking sleep and in constant stress mode. But if you’re still trying to maintain appearances, make life easier by setting out an outfit before you go to sleep so you know what you’re going to be wearing the next morning. Simply planning it isn’t enough. Lay it out and get it ready so that you just do a quick change. It saves so much time and energy in the morning. Planning ahead reduces stress, as well!
2.) Lay out the makeup you use the most
If you still have one giant makeup bag filled with every kind of product you own – stop. Get the things you use daily – things that are your go-tos – and lay them out in front of the mirror so you have an assembly line of makeup. Stop searching through your bag for the right product and have it ready to go for a quick morning. Beauty doesn’t always have to take up so much time.
3.) Make a list of go-to meals/snacks and pack for school
A lot of people avoid making meals and packing them for school because they assume it’ll take a lot of time to cook and eat. But use 5-10 minutes of your day to pack a salad, cheese and crackers, some fruit, and a simple sandwich and you’re set for the day. If your diet is specific and requires a lot of cooking, do a mass cooking day on Sunday (or whichever day works for you) and pre-pack all of the meals so you can just grab and go throughout the week. This will help you plan around a healthier lifestyle and will save you wait time and money throughout the year. No one wants to be stuck in that mile-long Tim Horton’s line between classes.
4.) Clean as you go and do one big clean once a week
Especially around exam time, it’s hard to have the motivation to clean around your house, dorm, or apartment. Things just seem to pile up as the workload increases. But if you do little tasks throughout the day (e.g. picking up the dishes that you leave around, dusting, etc.), the workload won’t seem that daunting. Set one day a week to do the larger tasks that you don’t have time to do daily. Keeping a cleaner and more organized area will reduce your stress and keep a less cluttered mind.
5.) Resist naps
This is very hard. The first week of classes is especially difficult for students trying to figure out a proper sleep schedule. Lecture after lecture and lab after lab can wear out your mind. Sometimes that coffee just isn’t enough. But don’t nap! Stay awake and you’ll eventually get a second wind. This way, you can prepare yourself for a full night of sleep (if time allows) and you have a better chance at waking up refreshed every morning.
6.) Do as much as you can in the morning
When you wake up, you’ll have more energy than you will later on in the day. Doing as much as possible in the morning will reduce your workload in the future and will diminish procrastination habits. If you’re lucky, you’ll actually have time to make plans in the evening with friends or family. That party won’t be an impossible dream, after all.
7.) Set priorities and to-do lists
Immediately prepare yourself for the day by setting a list of things to do. Set priorities in case you can’t complete all of those tasks in time. For instance, I might have to miss my evening workout if I don’t read that biology chapter. And I might have to cancel dinner plans if I don’t finish my essay on time. There will be other times to do things that you love. Right now, school should be a priority (though, there are times you just need to live a little).
8.) Bring a water bottle everywhere!
Water will keep you feeling fresh and keep you from feeling bloated. Just having it on you will be an invitation to sip on it throughout the day, hopefully meeting the generalized requirement of 8 glasses a day. Water clears skin, flattens the tummy, washes out toxins, and countless other things that will overall better your health and appearance. So when you’re not downing the coffee, sip that water! It’s also free, so you’ll save money compared to buying three cans of Coca-Cola a day.
9.) Pack the night before
Every day you have a different set of classes that requires different textbooks and notebooks. Pack your bag the night before with the appropriate books so you’re not scrambling in the morning and bringing the wrong tools for your day (I’ve made that mistake more than once).
10.) Keep everything you use a lot accessible
If your backpack has a lot of different compartments, keep the things you take out the most (e.g. pens, glasses, calculator, wallet) in a very accessible place. Don’t waste any time scrambling through your bag or purse for what you need. This simple routine will keep your stress level down and reduces wasted time just looking for things!
11.) Make playlists
Your emotional and mental well being will alter drastically throughout the school year. From making new friends, leaving old ones, the grind of the exam season, and the stress about the future, everything is changing and you need to prepare for it. Music is a very therapeutic way to deal with emotions. Make a calm and concentrating playlist for studying, an angsty, powerful playlist for working out, and a happy, energetic playlist for your walks from class to class. Let music guide you into a positive state of mind for when the world seems to be swirling around. Keep your head up and your music loud; it’s gonna be a fun year.