As exciting as fresher’s can be, starting university and living away from home for the first time can come with challenges. Research has found that 1 in 3 university freshers will show symptoms of a mental health disorder and 35% of university students will suffer with their mental health during university.
Luckily, there are many ways that you can improve your happiness and enjoy your university experience. Fresher’s is a time for trying new things, meeting new people and enjoying yourself. To make this possible, here are our top tips for a fantastic fresher’s experience.
Top tips for a fantastic fresher’s experience
Make room for down-time
Moving to university is an exciting time with a huge number of opportunities on offer. As a student, you will have to balance your lectures, independent study, assignments and social life with tasks, such as food shopping and cleaning, that will come with your new-found independence.
With so many things to juggle, it can often seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day! Amongst the business of being a student, it's vitally important that you take time to relax, rest and most importantly to take care of yourself.
You should try to clear at least 1 hour each day for down time. This will give you a chance to clear your mind and get some much needed rest. All freshers enjoy clubbing and drinking but taking time out for yourself is just as important for your wellbeing.
Budget
One of the biggest challenges that freshers face is making the student loan last. It is incredibly tempting to splurge during fresher’s week and spend more money than you need to on alcohol, takeaways, clothing and social activities. While you definitely shouldn't stop doing things that you enjoy, it is also important to budget your money.
Budgeting will prevent you from falling into financial hardship, which can cause significant amounts of stress. A good idea is to make a list of all of your monthly expenses and work out how much you will need in your pocket each month to afford these things. Then, you can work out how much money you will have left to splash on less important purchases.
Seek help if you need it
Research from Public Policy Research (IPPR) showed that “Almost 50% of students with a mental health condition are choosing not to disclose this information.” This means that millions of students across the country are currently struggling in silence.
Seeking help when you need it can make a huge difference to your happiness. The best way to ensure that you have a good university experience is to reach out to friends for help and support. All university students face the same stressors and challenges which means that other students will understand how you feel.
Try to avoid bottling up your worries. This will only make the problem grow which can lead to even more stress which could damage your mental health. If you’re nervous about asking your new friends for help, most universities will have resources, online information and a team of student services staff on hand to help you with any problems that you may have.
Join a society
One of the best ways to have fun while at university is to join a society. Most universities will have a huge selection of clubs that you can join, offering everything from Rugby to creative writing. Joining a society is an excellent way to meet people who have similar interests to you. Taking part in a fun activity each week is also a great way to de-stress and take your mind off of your academic work for a few hours.
Make your mental health a priority
Mental health can take a huge toll on freshers and is a significant problem at universities. The reason for this is that, while it may be fun, university can also be an incredibly stressful time. You will have deadlines to meet, rent to pay and brand new flatmates to get along with. All of this on top of passing your course can be overwhelming!
For this reason, you should make your mental health a priority at university. This means setting clear boundaries and doing things that make you feel good, despite what your peers may say. Looking after your mental health also means eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting daily fresh air.
By looking after your mental health, university can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Having fun at university goes hand-in-hand with doing well and by following these tips, you are sure to have the best time!