Source & articles images from @a.ristotle

Autumn is quickly approaching, a sign of new beginnings. For a lot of us, that may include another year of studies but this time, I vow to do more than just about turn up to lectures. This is my final year, so it only feels right to end this three-year experience with something more. More travelling, venturing into new horizons, maybe even starting my blog. Who knows? But one thing’s for sure, I will make this year count.

For some of you though, it may be your first year, making that all-important transition to uni life, so here are some tips I wish I paid more attention to before I started this journey.

1. Start Your Assignments Early

Cliche, but important. There is nothing worse than being trapped between assignments. I mean, its always easy to say, but difficult to follow through. But let me tell you, once the year kicks in and all your assignments start piling on, then you’ll regret it. Not to mention revision for exams. It’s not good for one’s mental health to be drowning in work, so make your life easier, at least just plan out your assignments, it’ll help you in the long run. It also gives you more free time during your week to focus on something else.

2. Get Yourself a ‘Mother Folder’

This is something I wish I did when I first started. All those notes that you’re carrying around, all those loose sheets that you’ve lost, could have been tucked away neatly in a Mother Folder at home, under your bed. That way, you know where everything is and six months later, you know it’s all still there. Then each morning, just pick what you need and go. Whatever you don’t stays where it is. Easy.

3. Cut out Sundays

There’s a reason why this day is deemed the Day of Rest. Cut it out of your week. Give yourself a well-deserved break. Your week should start on Monday and end on Saturday. But on Sunday, no studying, no notes, no stressing. Just you, a nice cup of coffee and a good ol’ book. You may even want to catch up on the next season of ‘How to Get Away with Murder’, (which I highly recommend!) That’s what Sundays are meant for. Good, relaxing vibes.

4. Pack Your Own (Healthy) Snacks

It’s important to control what we put into our bodies. Feeling peckish during lectures is one of my worst habits. I seem to want something to nibble on while making notes, but what’s worse is that these snacks consist of primarily junk. Just calorie after calorie slowing me down throughout the day. I’m less productive, moody and my skin starts breaking out. Not fun. So instead, why not spend a couple of extra pennies on something better, like fruit. Trust me, this is one of the best changes you can make daily, swap that chocolate bar out for an apple, some strawberries, a handful of grapes. You and your skin can thank me later.

5. Travel 

I can’t stress this enough. Travelling doesn’t have to be an elaborate all-inclusive trip to Thailand. It could just be a fun day trip to a city close by, an adventure to a nature reserve with your friends or just visit your local art gallery. Once I started venturing out, making plans, my life seemed to get more exciting and I wasn’t just waiting for each day to end and another to start. Instead, I was looking forward to planning a new trip between studies. It’s such a great stress reliever. I know some may think it’s a distraction from work, but important to have that time away from everything. I did something simple. Made a list of restaurants in my city and now, when I have a free couple of hours, I’ll go and visit a new one and tick them off as I go. It makes me so happy! Try it!

6. Get Used To Your Own Company

“You’ll make friends for life,” that’s what I was told… but honestly, I don’t think it’s true. I’ve made some good friends, but the university is an essential stage in your journey of self-discovery. It’s a time to find parts of yourself that you didn’t know existed, watch old habits die and new ones surface. I spent my first year surrounded by so many people, which was a huge distraction from my studies and by the end of a second, I was left with three or four. That’s what happens initially; everyone wants to get to know everyone because we’ve all been thrust into the same environment, but you’ll soon discover, your own company is best. Learn to be comfortable with it, happy with it. It makes the experience easier.

I’m not here to tell you this is going to be easy, but what I will tell you is that it’ll be worth it. Stay focused, stay healthy and make your uni experience worth remembering.