Advice For Students, From a Final year to a first year

ADVICE For Students FROM A FINAL YEARs Perspective

The countdown to move in is on, and you will likely be feeling all kinds of mixed emotions. Scared, excited, anxious, you name it. Downing Students’ resident Charlotte speaks from experience, providing the best advice for students starting university.

IT’S OK TO FEEL MIXED EMOTIONS AT UNI

One of our favourite points from Charlotte is this. Uncertainty and change are the only constant things in life, so a good idea is to take one day at a time. University is a big culture shock to UK & international students alike, so it is important to remember that everyone is going through the same thing.

YOUR HEALTH COMES FIRST

It is easy to be caught up by the exciting things happening in and around your university and it may feel a struggle to fit everything in. Remember your priorities which aren’t just your studies but more importantly, your wellbeing.

CREATE REGULAR ROUTINES

Take time off for you, doing something that you enjoy. Whether that is regular walks in the park, a pamper evening or a workout in the gym for a change of scenery.

Sleep well enough to fuel yourself for a full day. Late night study sessions and partying might seem like a good idea at the time, but in the long run can cause burn out. Eat a balanced diet with meals at consistent times of the day and regularly exercise to help keep you motivated.

REMEMBER

Everybody’s idea of wellbeing is different, so do what is best for you and do not compare yourself to others.

SET REALISTIC GOALS

TOP TIP:SET SMART GOALS 

It is important to be realistic with how much you can do in one day. Setting yourself too many goals can become unrealistic, leaving you feeling like you have achieved nothing.

Earn small wins by gradually ticking off small tasks. For example, you could start off by typing out an assignment title and writing your first paragraph. In the long run this approach will make it so much easier to stay motivated and continue achieving tasks on your to do list.

OUR FINAL TIPS FOR KEEPING ON TOP OF UNI

One final tip from us it to get connected early by joining university social groups. For example, Downing Students’ have exclusive resident Facebook groups so you can get to know your neighbours and flatmates ahead of moving in.