College is the time to discover who you are and what you want to do with your life. It is a place where you can boost your knowledge, learn key career skills, and make new friends. From curating a social life to growing professionally to discovering parts of yourself you didn’t know existed, attending college can be a life-changing experience.
At Sunrise Village, we want you to thrive throughout your collegiate experience. We suggest taking these five key steps to help you get the most out of your time: find a balance between school and fun, make your space feel like home, respect BYU-I student housing room etiquette, prioritize mental wellness, and try new things.
1. Find a Balance Between School and Fun
It can be overwhelming trying to adjust to your new routine and added responsibilities. You have to learn how to navigate your academic life, making sure you show up to classes and stay on top of homework. Further, your social, financial, personal, and professional goals can add quite a bit to your plate during this busy time.
One of the most important parts of college is learning how to find a healthy balance with all of these things. Though it can take some time to figure out, there are things you can do each week to set yourself up for success and reduce stress.
Planning your weeks in advance can help you find this balance. Try sitting down each Sunday and writing everything down in a planner. Account for class times, homework sessions, and other obligations you have, and leave room for free time as well.
By going into each day knowing what you need to get done, you can divide your workload into manageable amounts for each day. This helps to avoid procrastination and stress down the road. Leaving spaces in your day for other things will allow you to prioritize social activities, hobbies, and other goals that are important to you. Planning accordingly like this gives you the freedom to have fun without tasks hanging over your head.
Another important way to establish balance is by taking breaks. Sometimes, your brain just needs a little reset. Rest is just as important as work, and you need both to succeed in college and throughout the rest of your life. Try to take short breaks during study sessions to give yourself some time to recharge.
2. Make Your Space Feel Like Home
Our apartments at Sunrise Village come fully furnished, providing you with a starting point of comfort and coziness. You can also put your own personal touch on the place through decorations that make it feel like your own.
Setting themes is a fun way to help you in the process of personalizing your space. You can decorate your room in a way that allows you to express yourself individually, through colors, wall art, organization, and more.
You can also coordinate with your roommates on themes for your common room. Putting up lights, having cozy blankets and pillows out, and incorporating seasonal decor can make the place feel homey.
Another important part of keeping the place comfortable is making sure to maintain a standard of tidiness. Washing dishes, taking out the trash, and regularly cleaning ensure your space stays nice, which is important both for you and for the people you live with.
3. Respect BYU-I Student Housing Roommate Etiquette
Living with others for the first time can be quite a shift from being at home with your family. Whether you choose to live with people you already know or complete strangers, it is always an adjustment learning how to share your space with others.
It is important to make sure you are contributing to a positive roommate environment. Your living area should be a safe space for you and the people you live with, and everyone in the apartment should respect each other, regardless of whether they are close friends or strangers who have just met.
Roommate etiquette means honoring every person in the apartment’s stance on sharing, cleaning, schedules, media, and guests. The best way to ensure you are respecting roommate etiquette is through communication.
For example, let’s say you want to make sure everyone does their fair share of cleaning. Sit down with your roommates and let everyone share their thoughts, including different schedules, preferred chores, etc. This way, everyone will be on the same page, which can prevent disagreements from happening down the road.
4. Prioritize Mental Wellness
Your mental health should take priority over everything else. Students often struggle to make mental wellness a priority due to their busy schedules, but when this area of life declines, all other areas can suffer.
It is imperative that you’re looking after your mental wellbeing so that you can thrive personally, socially, and academically. Practicing habits of self-care, getting enough sleep, fueling your body with good food, and exercising are all ways to contribute to your well-being.
Even with all of these healthy habits, sometimes you need help from sources outside of yourself. It is completely normal and healthy to ask for help and receive support. Talking to your friends and family is a great way to work through challenges, as well as seeking professional help.
Therapy allows you to talk through your struggles in a safe space, and it can be nice to discuss these things with someone who doesn’t know you. This welcomes an outsider’s perspective and helps you feel free to share without the judgment of someone close to you.
5. Try New Things
College is the perfect place to experience new things that you might not have come across before. You can expand your social circles, experiment with different side hustles, and even look into fields that you hadn’t previously considered.
Instead of putting all of your eggs in one basket, embrace the mindset of giving everything a try. Invest in multiple friend groups, learn about various professions, and explore different places for food and fun activities whenever possible.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by being open-minded and trying new things. If something doesn’t work out, then you can walk away from it knowing that you gave it your all and having a better idea of what is for you and what isn't.
And by doing this, you just might open the door to something amazing. Whether you make a life-long friend, come across a professional opportunity, or discover something about yourself that you never knew, trying new things might just be exactly what you need on the path to building the life you want.
Schedule a Tour with Sunrise Village for BYU-I Student Housing
There are plenty of ways to create a positive experience throughout your college career, and that starts with the right accommodation.
Finding the right housing helps you create your home away from home as you cultivate the person you want to be. Whether you are studying, spending time with friends, or trying something entirely new, you need a place where you feel comfortable as you learn what thriving looks like for you.
Schedule a tour with us today so you can take the next step on the path toward creating a memorable college experience at BYU-Idaho.