Living away from home is super tough, and definitely a roller-coaster of emotions but sometimes I like to sit back and reflect on all of the things I’ve learnt since being at University so far. It’s refreshing to do this once in a while because you often don’t give yourself enough credit as a person and the achievements that you are capable of, I know I’m certainly guilty of this!
So here are my five things.
- If you’re not happy – change it. This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised as how many people complain about their way of living, yet continue to carry on anyway. This statement can be applied to so many things during Uni life. You don’t like your course? Speak up about it. Bored of waking up to the same setting day in day out? Switch it up! That doesn’t necessarily mean pack up your belongings and move – changing my furniture around and reorganizing my storage always helps me to feel cleansed and ready for a fresh start.
- Money can’t buy you happiness. It’s clear that it definitely helps with all the ‘I’d rather do my crying in a Porsche’ kind of thing (which personally I would rather be in my bed wrapped up but each to their own). However, when I get down I typically binge splurge with retail therapy and it kills the sadness for an hour or so, wasn’t really worth wasting my student finance on though.
- The outdoors world is beautiful. I spend far too long lounging around my poking little bedroom that I’ve hardly explored Southampton and what it has to offer. I will typically sit by my window and take gorgeous photo’s of the sun streaming into my room or when it sets later that evening. However, I don’t need to be seeing it through a screen when I have a good pair of eyes that work in excellent condition.
- Deadlines come sooner than you think. I have always believed that I work better under pressure, and throughout college have left my work until 2 AM, ready to hand in just a few hours later that day.. University hasn’t been much different for me and my awful habits. The most annoying this is, that I constantly plan over and over throughout the day. I map out schedules of what I want to complete on that night and the minute I enter my accommodation I get crazily distracted and side tracked. Slowly but surely changing this tactic as I learnt from my first semester that sleep is a powerful thing. It got to the point where I was napping for two hours before dinner and staying up from the rest of the day, and working through the night too. Not on.
- Finally, I’ve learnt to take time out for myself. A book I’m loving right now is the ‘712 Things To Write About’ from UO (Sale £4), and the title gives everything away. I thought about picking up an adult colouring book, but realised I hate colouring, but love writing.. So this was ideal. I do wish we could light candles in halls, but fairy lights and a hot chocolate still set the mood for a chilled night in. I just cut off from the digital world and focus on what my body needs. I write and write until the words start to look blurry – then it’s time to sleep!
I acted on number three not long after putting this post together, and I managed to take a few pretty photos when I was out walking with my better half.
So that’s everything, I hope to do more of these in the future as it’s always good to look back in a few months – either to be mindful or to pick myself up out of the gutter. If anyone wants more information of Uni life, living away from home or something completely random and off topic, then I have a feedback page that is free to use.
Thank you so much for reading,
All my love. Chlo x
Chloé Cordell 