Hello again! Leaving home to start uni can be a big step, although it isn’t as daunting as you may think! However, one thing I’ve definitely needed some practice with is learning how to adult. When it gets to week 7 and your washing is piling up, your diet consists of instant noodles and coffee, and you’ve run out of absolutely everything except toothpaste, you might start to miss living at home. So here’s some advice on how to try and be a functioning human being who doesn’t live solely on chicken nuggets!
The best thing to do is attempt to find a routine. This can be hard at first – you’ve moved into new accommodation with new people, and suddenly you’re the only person who cares what time you actually get up in the morning. Trying to stick to a routine will do you wonders, as going to bed and getting up at the same time is probably better for you than binge watching Netflix until 4am and then wondering why you’re knackered the next day. Planning your time will also help you sort out the little things that you might not have had to worry about at home, like washing clothes or shopping for food.
Another important thing is trying to eat properly! Usually when I get home from campus I don’t like spending a lot of time in the kitchen, so a really useful thing to do is cook things in big batches, freeze them, and then defrost them the night before. That way, if I spend all day in the library but then only have a short time to eat before a society thing or a night out, my food is ready to whack in the microwave, and it probably will be something that actually has veggies in it!
Not every single week is going to be perfect though, and that’s okay. To motivate yourself, just imagine how proud your mum will be when you go home for Christmas and can do more than just boil an egg.