First year of university: 5 tips for enjoying the first year of university

You have finished the stage of study that precedes university, and you are beginning your steps to become a professional in the speciality of your dreams. It is normal that you find yourself with the uncertainty of how you are going to overcome the transition stage between these two realities of your life; you will probably no longer live with your parents and you will have to learn to manage time and money as soon as possible without stress taking over your days and pushing you to drop out. That’s why we’ve prepared this content to help you through your first year of university with 5 tips to help you enjoy this stage.

Enjoy yourself without losing focus on your studies

It is a reality that the first year at university is a wild time, because many people decide to study away from home and their parents’ supervision.

It is a normal stage for everyone, university life is the best time to accumulate adventures and memories that will last forever as adults.

For this reason you should enjoy it in every sense. But don’t forget your main objective: to study a university degree in the time planned for it, without postponing or repeating subjects.

You enjoy yourself without losing focus on your studies, plan your entertainment and prioritise your university-related responsibilities and assignments.

Go sightseeing, play sports and volunteer for a cause that helps the underprivileged. But be back in time to attend your classes and hand in your assignments.

Be consistent in your daily routine

One rule established by the successful is the need to be consistent in your daily routine. College is no exception to this, because if practice makes perfect, it is because the teacher sticks to his or her routine.

The routine is made up of behaviours that are repeated so many times that they are rarely flawed. Their results are completely predictable: they get better and better.

The magic is to be consistent, to plan and stick to your study hours so that you don’t overload yourself when it’s time for a surprise assessment. Respect your recreation time so that fatigue does not build up and increase the perception that you can leave everything for tomorrow because there is time for everything.

Keep in mind that success depends on maintaining healthy daily routines for everything you do: eating, exercise, training and recreation.

Find time for yourself

Being alone once in a while doesn’t mean isolating yourself from the world. You do it when you seek out moments to yourself, like going to the cinema to watch a sentimental movie without a companion. At that moment you will be surrounded by strangers and your reactions to what you are watching will not be judged by those closest to you, it will be just you and your emotions.

If you don’t like going to the cinema alone, then prepare a bubble bath and put on some relaxing music, don’t allow yourself to be interrupted and enjoy the result.

In your first year of university, these activities help you reconnect with your desire to achieve professional and financial autonomy.

Don’t overspend

During our first year at university, almost all of us become compulsive shoppers. By the end of each month, we’re suffering the consequences of our impulses for a new handbag or pair of shoes.

We are also dedicated to always eating out and this increases the cost of food, minimising opportunities for savings and making our budget insufficient.

So that you don’t get depressed at times when compulsory spending drains your financial reserves, don’t overspend.

Choose well what you are going to buy to consume during the week. Don’t go to the cinema just to avoid being alone at home, if the film is not to your liking, leave that plan for another day and enjoy an ice cream while you go for a short walk.

Choose simple and inexpensive things to do, especially when it comes to killing boredom.

Participate in talks, plans and activities of your interest.

This is the best option when you need to fill your mind with information other than class at university. The first year can be chaotic if you fill yourself only with compulsory academic knowledge, you can choose between motivational talks or entrepreneurship, as well as seminars, workshops and internships on general culture topics that interest you.