an attempt

i’ve had an exciting few days!! university starts on the 2nd september, so i’ve started collecting a few essentials. the academic diary was a gift from my mum (and the pens are actually my sister’s but i think they’re pretty so i borrowed them for the photo!) this morning i officially registered onto the course, which felt crazy! i also got a job interview scheduled for saturday, which is reassuring because although i’m still living at home, i want to be more financially independent.

hello !! this is a list of tips for those going to university (as opposed to college). personally, i live at home (off campus) so a lot of these tips are things that i’ve learnt in my first year of uni

you might not have class everyday but that doesn’t mean you should sleep in on the days you don’t

plan time for your friends as well as when you study

you don’t have to join a club but they’re a good way for making friends if you don’t live on campus

follow all the main social media for students - make an effort to find out all the tricks and when the cheap food days are on

try to make at least one friend in your tutorials/labs - a simple “hi, how are you doing?” on the first day can become notes for when you’re sick

when you have early classes, it seems easy to just buy food from uni - try to prep it the night before

have some “set” outfits that you can rely on when you can’t decide on what to wear

you don’t have to hit the gym everyday, getting off a stop early and walking the last part can be an alternative

if you do walk for part of your commute, taking the shortest path might not be the most fun. you can live somewhere yet not know the neighbourhood

if you’re going to nap on your commute, set an alarm for 5 minutes before your stop

in your first weeks of uni, make it your goal to find out where the best bathrooms and drinking fountains are

know the layout of your uni’s library

find a place to study in your university’s library - now find 3 more study spaces around the school

if you have readings, you can do them in cafes with a cup of coffee - reading doesn’t have to be a chore

always carry a pen and a piece of paper in your pocket

be realistic about how much work you can do - pack accordingly

if you have a hard time remembering your timetable, set it as your phone lock screen

always carry a water bottle

your university email will probably give you discounts to services - learn which, know that you don’t need all of them

if you’re a first year, it doesn’t mean you’re inferior to upperclassmen - you are the future so say your opinion, voice what you need, attend faculty meetings, apply for leadership roles

you can go to a lecture and not pay attention but that doesn’t mean you can go to a lecture and distract

you don’t have to be friends with everyone. you won’t be friends with everyone. 

you don’t have to be friends with your tutors, you just have to talk to them if you go through things

writing an apology email for missing studio sessions/tutorials/labs is basic courtesy and could save your grade

i think those are some of the general points i can think of but if anyone has anymore then feel free to add them on !!!

just a disclaimer first, this is an incomplete list and it's just based on my personal experience! everyone's level of anxiety and experiences with it is different so some of those might not be helpful. feel free to add your own!

PLANNING. We know planning is important. But it's also exhausting and maintaining a planner in which you write every day seemed very hard for me. I was already stressed out about it in mid-September! If you find yourself in a similar situation, my advice is: homework calendar. Take a little calendar to class every day (little ones don't weigh a lot) and whenever you get homework or a test date, write it down! It isn't as stressful as a whole planner and you still remember about homework!

HOMEWORK. In the perfect scenario, students do all of it. But it's not easy, especially when you have anxiety or go through depressive episodes. Figure out who actually checks homework and who doesn't. My math teacher gives us tons of homework and never checks it, so I save those for test prep.

TEACHERS. If it's possible, talk to them (or have a trusted adult do it) about what's going on. I know it varies from teacher to teacher but some of them are really understanding. A school's counselor opinion could also be helpful.

SCHOOL COUNSELORS. Again, experience varies here. If your counselor is okay, make a deal with them (like "is it okay for me to come over when I feel a panic attack coming?"). It feels a little safer, knowing there's a place where you can go and calm down.

THERAPY. If it's possible, go to a therapist! Try to set the meeting hours directly after school so you don't have the time to sit at home - once you do, you will not feel like leaving.

TIME MANAGEMENT. Sometimes it feels like leaving things for later is a brilliant idea. It usually is not. Try doing little things, like bits of research or reading: on the bus, during breaks...

AVAILABLE SPACE. If school breaks get too loud for you, go to the library. You can just sit there in peace and quiet! The advice also refers to your home. Change rooms where you study. Or change places in one room. Even sitting on the other side of the table makes it more interesting to my brain.

A PLAN JUST IN CASE. Having a panic attack at school is definitely not something enjoyable and I sincerely hope it never happens to you. But have a plan in case it does! Knowing the exact steps calms me down a bit and I don't have to worry about that thing adding to my anxiety.

NO ALL-NIGHTERS. It's actually important for everyone. But I learned it the hard way, all-nighters and anxiety don't mix well. Sleep before a test because even low quality sleep is better than the jittery feeling of anxiety and sleep deprivation.

STUDY METHODS. Anxiety really takes a lot from your energy. Study smart, not for long. My recent method is reading my notes outloud while gesturing with something (I'm using a plastic pitchfork, and I have used a sword in the past).

SELF-CHECK. Yes, anxiety sucks. And it makes you feel bad. Whenever you feel it hit, ask yourself some questions. The basics are: did I eat? Did I drink water? Am I getting enough fresh air? Have I done anything nice today? (I created a special printable table for myself with questions like that, I could upload it if anyone wants to use it!)