Here’s a list of things you should do during your first few weeks in Nottingham halls

Essential for a successful start to first year

2 months ago | UPDATED 1 month ago

It’s September, and you know what that means – thousands of silly freshers are moving into halls.

Moving out of your childhood bedroom into a box room resembling a prison sounds awful, but it’s actually seriously exciting, I promise.

So, here’s a list of things that are essential to do on move-in day and in the weeks ahead:

1. Decorate

Decorating your room might be the best part of moving in, especially since you can get your mum and dad to do the boring stuff (making the bed, hanging up the clothes, cleaning a bit) on move-in day so you get to do the fun stuff (put your free print photos up, organise your makeup, hang your tapestry) when you want.

For a lot of people, having a decorated room can ease home-sickness and remind you of your old bedroom. Plus, the prison cells we call halls usually need lots (understatement) of sprucing up.

Don’t make the mistake I did, and leave the boring stuff until days after arrival because you’ll be too hungover to be bothered and won’t have your dad to lift all the heavy things.

2. Get to know your neighbours

After (or during, if you have a door stop) the decoration activities or over the next few weeks, get to know your new flatmates.

If you’re in catered halls, this will include going up and down the corridor slightly resembling a sad Premier Inn and knocking on loads of doors.

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If you’re in a flat, you probably have five to 10 potential friends in the kitchen already. Introduce yourself, find out what events you all have tickets for, make a chun chart, ask what degree everyone is doing until you’re bored of the question, or do whatever you like. But don’t worry – everybody is in the same boat, and these could end up being your friends for life.

3. Stock up on food and drink

On move-in day specifically, ask your mum to take you to Tesco before she hops on the motorway and leaves Nottingham. If you can get your parents to do this every term then it’s a win. You will probably need alcohol asap, and student finance doesn’t cover the nice stuff.

Do a mini food shop, so when you inevitably wake up with freshers’ flu, you’ve got Pot Noodles and tomato soup in the cupboard. If you’re in UoN campus catered halls, you can relax as dinner is ready for you in the hall at 5:30pm.

Definitely stock up on crisps and chocolate throughout the next few weeks, so you have snacks on demand. Top tip: Don’t forget tea or coffee because your room will have a kettle and your IKEA mug has to be put to good use.

4. Nab the space in the kitchen early on

For self-catered freshers, the box of kitchenware is probably the most boring to unpack, but a serious priority.

Space might be limited depending on your flat, so if you’re one of the first to arrive it is your absolute right to dibs a good cupboard (close to the oven, not too low down).

If you’re sharing stuff, sit down with your flatmates and decide how you’re going to organise your kitchen.

5. Relax

Once you’re all unpacked and have met your new flatmates, it’s time to breathe. Social battery is probably on 10 per cent and you may want to retire to your room to rearrange your teddies. It’s totally normal to freak out when you wave goodbye to your family, and to spend some time alone to process the change – it’s a big step living alone for the first time. You’ll have plenty of time to mingle with people over the next few weeks. But also – get excited! The best three years of your life start now.