My top tips for managing student life

Hi, I’m Catalina. I’m a second year English Language and Linguistics student at York St John University. Moving away from home to go to university is the most fun and scary experiences to happen. There are suddenly a million things to worry about, like food shopping and opening bank accounts. All of this on top of Uni work and learning how to live alone. Moving away meant suddenly having to juggle house admin tasks I hadn’t thought of. My biggest worry was when I would be able to do my laundry and vacuum my room, on top of everything, and I started to become very overwhelmed. Throughout my time in university, I have figured out what helps me to manage my life as a student.  Here are my top tips for managing student life.

A good routine

One of the best things you can do to stay on top of everything is to have a good routine. I like to plan out my weeks using my phone calendar. The calendar contains reminders for lectures, seminars and any other activities that I have planned. There is flexibility, but having reminders and knowing when things are happening helps avoid missed deadlines and feeling overwhelmed. 

To do lists 

I found that the best and easiest way to stay on top of things was having a big whiteboard in my room, on which I wrote down everything that had to be done. From laundry and a food shop, to returning a t-shirt I bought and didn’t like, to an essay that was due soon. Having an organized visual reminder of the things means all these tasks won’t overwhelm me, nor add to the stress. 

A file organizer

Student houses aren’t known for their massive storage spaces. Having an organized and designated space for your paperwork and documents (believe me, you’ll have more that you think you will) means less clutter. These can be a file organiser or sheet sleeves with clear labelling. Having these means I can easily access important documents and lowers the chances of losing them. 

Being a uni student brings so many new and important responsibilities but also brings so much fun into your life. The first couple of weeks can feel daunting. With some help and some adapting, it can mean the best years of your life. 

To discover other ways of organising your life as a student, visit Halyna’s blog.