What challenges will you face as a new university student?
Starting university is hugely exciting. It can also be daunting and challenging. Suddenly from the familiarity of your home surroundings, family and friends, you are thrust into a very different way of living. You need to deal with everything for yourself, from budgeting, making new friends, the daily tasks of shopping, cleaning and laundry and – of course – there are the pressures of academic life. You want to do well. This means juggling many things and being very well organised.
You will have some hours of lectures and tutorials, but also a lot of free time. This means being well organised and using your time effectively. It’s easy to waste time when you have a lot of it; it’s also easy to spend time on socialising to the detriment of your studies in this new and exciting experience. So (a) how can you use time well and (b) how can you build a great study/life balance?
Things to think about
- It’s vital to write things down, such as appointments, rather than simply hold them in your head.
- Routine is a key factor in organisation and success, and having a productive morning routine can set you up for the day.
- Meeting new people and having fun is one of the great experiences of university life. Take up opportunities to socialise, and join the clubs and societies that interest you, where you can meet like-minded people.
Here are seven simple steps
These simple steps will help you feel more in control of your time and life
- Using either a digital or paper calendar, enter your lecture dates and times for the term. If it feels too much to do in one sitting, you can break down this task and enter your commitments a month at a time over 3 consecutive days.
- Enter other appointments and events that are fixed and not moveable feasts.
- Start the morning well and decide your early morning routine: wake up with an alarm and aim to get up at a reasonable time. 8am is better than 11am! Decide what routine best suits you for breakfast, shower etc
- Check both your commitments for the day and your free time for study; check your to do list for the day
- Use the Pomodoro Technique for your study time; it’s great for motivation and concentration. Adapt it for yourself. Decide on how long you can concentrate fully at one time. e.g. a 45-minute Pomodoro (focused work slot) and 5-minute break or one hour Pomodoro and 15-minute break, for example. Set your watch or phone to buzz you after 45 or 60 minutes. Study without break for the set time. Now take a break. Repeat your Pomodoro’s and breaks.
- Develop a good study-life balance, so that you complete your assignments and balance it with time to socialize and relax. Enter in your calendar regular (routine) events, and non-routine as you hear of them. Try to keep a pattern, such as Tuesday is the gym, Thursday is Film Society and so on.
- At the end of each day, write a to do list for the next day.
Help is at hand
I hope these tips help for starters. If you feel more that the more personalised, sustained support of 1-2-1 Life Coaching would be beneficial, do get in touch with me.
You can speak confidentially about both concerns and ambitions in the knowledge that, as your coach, I have your best interests at heart. I will help you to achieve what you wish for yourself. For more advice, please visit my time management page. You are welcome to book a free 20-minute call to find out how coaching can help you. Do get in touch via my email or website.
