How to be your best self at Uni

There is more to uni just than lectures, budgeting, deadlines and exams. Whether you’re starting your first year or heading into your final one, remember that in this time you can meet new people, try new things, make memories and figure out who you are. So, here’s how to make the most of it.

Say yes to new experiences

Especially in the first year, put yourself out of your comfort zone. Yes, freshers can be intimidating and you can feel anxious, but this is the opportune time to join a society, try a new sport, go to that event, talk to someone in your lecture or say yes to a last-minute plan. Freshers was one of the fastest years of my life, make sure to soak in absolutely everything and make sure that you have no regrets of things you didn’t do. 

Not everything will become your new favourite thing, and that’s okay, but at least you can say you tried everything you wanted. 

Importance of self care

Get moving, whether that’s the gym, running, swimming, yoga or simply going for a walk. Exercise can be a great way to clear your head when deadlines start piling up. Also remember to eat properly and get enough sleep. These things may feel impossible when you’re living off a student budget and regular late nights from broken sleep schedules, but it’s so important to get into a healthy routine of taking care of the basic human necessities.

Find something you love

Don’t let your degree become your entire personality. Yes, we know that it’s the reason why you’re at uni, but other things are important too. Pick up a hobby, rediscover the sport or art that you once loved, or try something completely new. Get involved in a society, learn an instrument, take photos, cook, read, create content or join a sports team.

Having something you enjoy outside your course can introduce you to new people and give you a much-needed break from studying.

Make time for your friends

The people around you are really important. After all, when else will you all be young, studying, partying, living together with minimal worries of the big world ahead of you? Make real connections with the people you meet at uni; go for food after lectures, have a movie night with your flat, organise a birthday party, go on a spontaneous day trip, check in on your friends from home, etc.

You don’t need to have a massive friendship group or know everyone in your college or on your course, as long as you have people around you that you genuinely care for and want to experience uni with. 

Go out (but do it your way)

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Nights out are part of university culture, pretty much every city has a reputation of what student nights are like for their university. Even if you aren’t typically a ‘clubber’ or ‘drinker; I would still recommend to try and get dressed up, dance (however badly), go to houseparties, grab some pitiful late-night food and experience that dooming hangover.

Don’t feel pressured to go out just because everyone else is. If nights in are more your thing, that’s just as fine, the best experience is the one that actually suits you.

Do everything

This is especially important to me as I am heading into my final year of university and I want to desperately soak in every memory and every experience. I’ve promised myself that I will take the photos, say yes to the spontaneous plans, explore my uni city more, go to weekly yoga sessions, have more spontaneously random mid-week nights out and ultimately make the most of what time I have left of my undergrad. 

Don’t worry about making everything Insta worthy. As long as you have a few souvenirs that proves your time was spent well (photobooth strips, returners wristbands, drink tokens, train tickets, etc), you’ll be able to remember the finer details of good times you’ve had. 

Stop Comparing

There’s no perfect way to do university. Everyone’s experiences are uniquely different. Some people love clubbing, others prefer cosy nights in. Some have their career planned from day one, others are still figuring it out if they chose the right degree. No one gives you a rule book of what to do straight after you get your acceptance email, otherwise no one would enjoy or anticipate the years ahead. 

There’s a big difference between University and Uni, people often say University is the studying, locked in, professional aspect . Whereas the latter is the fun, creative, carefree, independence that you may crave.

Whatever your definition is, someone else’s may be different, and that is perfectly fine. 

If you’re in your final year…

Don’t spend the whole year wishing it was over. Or overly nostalgic that it stresses you out.

Yes, you’ve got your dissertation, exams, preparing for graduation and whatever comes next. Remember to appreciate the everyday moments that you could be taking for granted, for me this is the casual living room conversations post lecture, the hangover chats we have gathered in our bedrooms on a weekend, the reunion after the semester breaks and the hilariously embarrassing stories that just keep happening. 

Soon, they won’t be everyday anymore. These will all be in the past. Please enjoy every single moment no matter what stage of university life you’re in. Not to sound cliche, but the years really do fly by.