Student blog: How I prioritised my wellbeing during my first year
by Rosie Buckley
When I first started my studies, I found it difficult to settle into a new routine and environment. For a while, this led to inconsistent sleep, and I didn’t balance my responsibilities well, which quickly made me feel stressed.
It definitely wasn’t something that happened overnight, but creating a routine that worked for me made my days feel more organised and kept me grounded. Here are some habits I picked up that really helped with my wellbeing.
Getting everything done the night before
9am lectures can be a nightmare to get to during rush hour; trust me, I know. But what’s even worse is when you wake up late and have a lot to get done before you set off, like making a packed lunch and choosing what to wear. I used to do this, and it would put my day off to a bad start, leaving me feeling rubbish into the afternoon.
To avoid stressful mornings and days, I started getting everything done the night before, such as:
- Preparing a packed lunch.
- Charging all devices, including my phone and laptop.
- Having simple ingredients in the house to make a quick breakfast.
- Packing everything I needed in my bag.
- Picking out what clothes I was going to wear.
Prioritising sleep
Sleep is something I’ve always struggled with, but I really made sure to prioritise it during my studies. Bad sleep made it harder to get work done and stay focused in lectures, but beyond the obvious, it started to affect my wellbeing. I began turning down plans with friends and spending more time lying in bed than I wanted to. Because one day I wouldn’t need to be at work until 12 and the next I had an early lecture, maintaining a structured routine was hard.
Despite this, I started going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day, even if I had free time in the morning to help set my body’s internal clock. Many of my housemates had a nighttime routine before bed, such as reading a book or running a bath to help them settle down for the evening.
Building your social circle
When I first started, making friends felt really daunting, especially because I’m quite introverted. However, having friends around you can help you feel less isolated and support your wellbeing.
My advice is to check which societies your college or university has; you could even try something completely new. Joining one of these is a great way to meet other students who share your interests.
At the same time, make an effort to talk to your housemates and coursemates. This is something I was super nervous about, but everyone’s in the same boat.
Making time for exercise
It’s very easy to stress about the assignments you have to do, but remember, you need to find ways to switch off. I used to walk to and from campus and listen to music, which helped me forget about my studies for a bit. As well as supporting my wellbeing, it also helped me stay active while reducing my travel expenses. I also did a few walks with new friends, which helped me get to know them better.
Creating a study routine that supports wellbeing
At the start of the year, my lecturers explained which assignments I’d be given, which was helpful to know, but it also felt overwhelming. A friend told me that she noted down when all of her exams were and when assignments were due on a piece of paper. I took inspiration from this and did the same, and stuck it on my bedroom wall. This would stop me from forgetting about them and help me stay on top of deadlines, reducing my stress.
When creating a study schedule, I recommend making a planner to help you stay organised. I found that being prepared helped me feel less stressed about the things I had to do. Start by factoring in due dates, lectures, work shifts, and other commitments. Around this, you can then add in studying, time to yourself to recharge, and time to see friends and family.
The key is not to overload your schedule, as you still need time for the things that matter to you; otherwise, you’ll become burned out very quickly. Also give yourself flexibility, as plans can change.
Setting yourself a budget and sticking to it
As a student, it’s easy to overspend, something many others and I did. Financial stress is a horrible feeling on top of college and university stress, so it’s important to take steps to avoid it. I did this by checking my bank account more regularly rather than guessing how much I had. Many digital bank accounts allow you to categorise your spending so you can see where your money’s going and where you can cut down.
At the same time, it’s important to consider less obvious costs, like your household bills. High energy and water usage can lead to costly bills, but you and your housemates can take steps to make household bills easier to manage with small changes to your routines. It took some time to get used to, but I started taking shorter showers, boiling only the water I needed in the kettle, and switching off the lights when leaving the room. Have a house meeting about what you can all do to make a difference so you’re all on the same page.
Using college & university support services
Remember, you don’t need to wait until you’re struggling to cope before reaching out. Colleges and universities have support services available for students.
The Think Positive Hub has a summary of the support available at every college and university in Scotland, with further links and a copy of their Student Mental Health Agreement if they have one in place.
If you would prefer to talk to someone else about how you are feeling there are a range of organisations who are ready to support you.
