The Ultimate University Survival Guide
The Ultimate University Survival Guide☺
The transition from school to university can stir up a plethora of emotions. All these emotions and more can make university appear to be frightful, and to put it bluntly... the struggle is real. Despite the challenges you might face, university is a worthwhile experience; here are some tips to ensure this.
Making Friends
Friends can become university students' greatest form of support, especially due to the physical distance from family for those that move away from home (Brouwer et al, 2016). As we only knew very few people going to Warwick- therefore, having to start afresh- we found that the easiest way to socialise was initially sticking with our flatmates. Though it worked for us, understandably, this this method is not feasible for all.
Joining societies has contributed significantly to the friends we have made. A major issue in higher education, especially for ethnic minorities, is feeling a sense of belonging (Arday, 2018). Nonetheless, in joining societies we have managed to find people who have the same faith and similar background to us.
Furthermore, befriending course mates is also essential and to do this can take a leap of faith. We were able to make friends in our course by sitting next to people we would accidentally make brief eye contact with when entering the lecture room, if we saw that they smiled at us, we would introduce ourselves. Funnily enough, that’s how we became friends with each other.
Poor Nutrition
It’s understandable that as we transition into university, our eating patterns may become somewhat disorganised. However, we must emphasise the dangers of poor nutrition as it risks obesity and communicable diseases (Hilger et al, 2016). It was revealed that inadequate nutritional care in their diet was due to lack of time because of studies and food prices, which is why a suggested solution is investing time in meal prepping every week (Hilger et al, 2016).
Preparing entire meals in bulks and storing it throughout the week saves time and allows you to have more control over what you consume. (To make this easier check out meal prep ideas online!)
Source: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/563018696064045/feedback/?invite_code=c22037a721b64b1caff2cb0733ec0552&sender_id=722264996398204499
Another solution is ensuring you delegate your money wisely on the good food items, as money
management allows you to be prepare beforehand and can help in terms of the expenses spent on food. Even though all this preparation may seem overwhelming, it will ultimately be beneficial to your health and help you become more a more disciplined, organised student!
Money Management
Money management is quite difficult as it is something you are never taught but is an expected skill. One way to overcome this is by budgeting. Whether you receive a maintenance loan or have your parents send you money, it is good to decide how much of it to spend each week.
A good example of a budget is £80 on food shopping per month, £50 for going out/activities/society events and £20 on other expenses.
By setting out clear targets, it makes it easier for you to track your spending.
Another more difficult way to reduce spending is to cut down on the number of takeaways. Uni students spend most of their money on fast food and groceries (Thobejane and Fatoki, 2017). It can be very tempting to order food when you don’t have much (especially at Warwick since they’re so far away!) or can’t be bothered. Ordering food is an easier alternative to this but too much of it can drain your bank account. Before you order food, it may be worth considering if the cost is worth it.
Conquering Academic Stress
Navigating the transition to university often brings a considerable amount of stress. The Mental Well-Being Scale confirms the link between academic stress and state of well-being. (Barbayannis et al., 2022) Yes, we understand the academic pressure is real. Many students find it difficult to handle this delicate balance.
Maher et al. (2015) outlines the significance of staying active on quality of life. Contrary to popular belief, exercise does not have to be an intense workout. Even taking a stroll around campus is sufficient to get your blood flowing through your body.
Additionally, make use of your university’s clubs and events as they not only provide an opportunity for physical activity but also strengthen your social connections!
Another effective way to take control of stress is mindfulness. Whether it is learning breathing techniques or keeping a diary of your feelings, it is evident that engaging with mindful practices allow your brain to become more focussed (Hölzel et al., 2011).
Remember finding the right balance is a personal journey, and it’s okay to spend time finding what best works for you. 😇
References:
Arday, J. (2018).
Understanding mental health: what are the issues for black and ethnic minority students at university?. Social Sciences, 7(10), 196. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci7100196
Barbayannis, G., Bandari, M., Zheng, X., Baquerizo, H., Pecor, K. W., & Ming, X. (2022).
Academic Stress and Mental Well-Being in College Students: Correlations, Affected Groups, and COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.886344
Brouwer, J., Jansen, E., Flache, A., & Hofman, A. (2016).
The impact of social capital on self-efficacy and study success among first-year university students. Learning and Individual Differences, 52, 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2016.09.016
Hilger, J., Loerbroks, A., & Diehl, K. (2017).
Eating behaviour of university students in Germany: Dietary intake, barriers to healthy eating and changes in eating behaviour since the time of matriculation. Appetite, 109, 100-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.11.016.
Hölzel, B. K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramsetti, S. M., Gard, T., & Lazar, S. W. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research - Neuroimaging, 191(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.08.006
Maher, J. P., Pincus, A. L., Ram, N., & Conroy, D. E. (2015).
Daily physical activity and life satisfaction across adulthood. Developmental Psychology, 51(10). https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000037
Thobejane, K., & Fatoki, O. (2017).
Budgeting and spending habits of university students in South Africa. Gender and Behaviour, 15(3), 9414-9423.
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