Surviving University

Hello again my lovely readers!

It's been a while since the last time I posted, so my apologies. I guess I got a little wrapped up in my own little world, and forgot the importance of taking a little time to sit down and clear your mind. Blogs are an amazingly useful tool, even for something as simple as giving you a chance to vent all those niggling thoughts in the back of your brain. It's kind of like spinning plates... You get so caught up trying to keep everything going and try so hard not to let anything fall, that you don't give yourself a chance to just be yourself. But once again, I digress. Here goes.

So in the second year of university, I think the biggest thing I've learnt is what NOT to do. Unfortunately I learnt the hard way, but on the bright side, hopefully by reading this you will have the sense to avoid making the same mistakes! And although some may seem like obvious blunders, it doesn't take much to make something appear like a great idea. Maybe a little persuasion from the right person, or you're having a bad week, or maybe you just getting absorbed in the uni lifestyle. But without further ado, here's my top three tips for the wonderfully weird life of the university slacker-- sorry student...

1. Grocery money is NOT alcohol money!

Trust me, that little allowance you put to the side for food items, can melt away in seconds when you're walking down the alcohol section of your local supermarket. You can tell yourself that you're saving money by getting it now, that you need to stock up for predrinks, that it's cheaper than buying drinks when you're out, and all manner of excuses. But stop. Because before long, you'll find yourself hungover one morning, with nothing in your cupboard but an empty bottle of Jack Daniels and a sorry looking dented tin of baked beans.

2. Your deadline is the LATEST you can hand in - NOT a target date!

Don't procrastinate too much and leave yourself in a gut-wrenching mess reading an essay topic you've never heard of before, the day before a deadline, because you put it off for so long. By all means, have fun and enjoy yourself! But be sure to have your assignments planned and organised before you get carried away. That way, you know how much you have to do and how long it's going to take! You can tell yourself it's fine, you'll pass anyway. But don't do yourself out of a higher grade just because you couldn't be bothered, because later on you WILL regret it!

3. Early mornings SUCK, but so does poor attendance!

You were out late last night having a movie marathon with your flatmates or playing drinking games until you forgot your own name, whatever. And now it's time to face that dreaded 9AM lecture when you can barely manage brushing your teeth without falling asleep. You tell yourself there is no point in going in, you're not going to listen and learn anything anyway... You may as well get some sleep and be well rested! We've all been there! Problem is, you get too used to talking yourself out of going, and you'll start missing more than you can catch up on! Plus, your tutors won't be best impressed. No, it's probably better to have a cold shower, grab a coffee and bunker down for a looooong day. And hope that you remember this next time you're planning on doing an all nighter!

I hope this goes some way to aiding you on the crazy, reckless journey that is university life! If it helps, let me know and i'll follow up with some more!

Thanks for reading, over and out...