University is a time for freedom and expressing yourself, but it is also an awful time full of studying and stress. (Let’s be honest, it’s also a lot of crying.) Living on your own is difficult, especially when you have to take care of yourself (with no help for the first time). Here are a few hobbies and skills to work on before starting school to make life easier for you!
1. Workout
University is a unique experience where you end up eating ramen and drinking beer for four years or more. Those eating and drinking habits do not lead to a fit body, hence the freshmen fifteen (the weight freshmen put on during their first year of college). I went through it and so did lots of other people.
You are finally on your own, but you still need to care for your body. Schools typically have a gym that you can access. You can try working out a little bit if only to keep you healthy.
2. Bullet Journaling
Bullet journaling is meant to keep you organized. You have no idea how much organization it takes to get a degree in university or college. All of a sudden, you have more reading to do in the next month than you had for a whole year in high school. Anyone who has ever been to university can tell you how awful that is.
Bullet journaling is the perfect tool to keep you on track with all your projects and readings. No, it doesn’t stop you from having to do the readings, but at least you can be organized.
3. Computer Programming
Computer programming/coding is always a helpful tool to hack into the school computers and change your grades… Just kidding! (Seriously, don’t do that!) Programming is great to keep your computer functioning.
I wish the stereotype of the broke college student was false, but it’s definitely not. Most students can’t afford anything, especially not a new laptop. If you can program, at least you can fix minor problems on your computer without having to spend money.
4. Biking
Again, college students can’t really afford much more than ramen. Some schools might be generous enough to pitch in free bus passes, but not everyone does. If you have a car, that’s even better. Yet, you still have to pay for gas.
If you live close to your school, biking is a great option. Yes, you do have to buy the bike, but you can buy them second-hand. You’ll save money in the long run.
Biking is also perfect for exercise. You get to save money on travel and exercise at the same time. Nice!
5. Pub Trivia or Bingo
You would be surprised how often trivia and bingo come up at university. The clubs and groups have trouble coming up with other events to host. You end up playing lots of games with the other students on campus.
There are usually prizes too. So it’s not a bad idea to improve your trivia skills now. (I don’t know how you would improve at bingo though. Sorry!)
6. Meditation
University is one of the best experiences of life, but it is also one of the most stressful. Your work is never done. Breakdowns are not an uncommon occurrence in college. I know I experienced quite a few in my time!
Meditation is a well-known activity for relaxation. And you are going to need relaxation! It might not be something you do all the time, but every once in a while, you might need some calm in your life.
(P.S.: Meditation is also good for your mind, so it’s worth it!)
7. Interior Design
You are moving into your own place for the first time. It is so exciting! But you typically only get a small room to yourself in a dorm or an apartment. To make the space work for you, you need to design it with your own style. It wouldn’t hurt to learn some design to make the room as functional as possible.
You might love some fairy lights or some photos of friends and family on the wall. It might be beneficial for your space if you move around some furniture too. Don’t forget all the textbooks you now have to find room for. Either way, it is always a good idea to know how to make a room work for you.
8. Writing
Sadly, the projects you hated in high school are not over in university. You still need to write all those papers. Even worse, the projects require even more writing. I have written papers with 10-15 pages each (and more). It is not uncommon, especially in the upper years.
Writing those projects, however, is so much harder when you are bad at writing. You will definitely benefit from improving your skills.
9. Proofreading and editing
Better writing also includes proofreading and editing. Points are always docked for bad grammar and spelling. You will regret not working on your skills earlier.
Your friends will also appreciate you if you help them go over their papers. Proofreading and editing is a skill that will always be useful. College is the perfect time to improve your editing (since you have so much to write)!
10. Listening to Music (study playlist)
Before starting school, you are going to need a studying playlist! I won’t sugarcoat it. Studying is hard! Concentrating on one subject, or even multiple subjects, for hours at a time is almost impossible for some of us. It was very unpleasant for me.
A good playlist gives you enough of a distraction to continue reading without needing to pull your hair out. I loved to listen to classical piano while studying. Classical music is calm and easy to study along to. Others also listen to more upbeat instrumental songs.
11. Yoga
Yoga might not be possible for every because it requires room to stretch and pose. For those of you with enough space in your room, yoga is a great form of exercise. You get to stretch and exercise a little after spending hours studying in the same position.
Yoga can also help relax you. It is one way to improve your mood after a bad day too.
12. Public Speaking
As much as we would all love for presentations to be over after high school, that’s not how it works. Depending on what classes you take, there are still moments where you will need to speak in front of the class. Asking questions in front of everyone is also a possibility.
It would be so much easier for you if you practice your public speaking before having to present in front of a class of 200. (It’s terrible! Trust me.)
13. Cooking
Depending on your living situation, you will likely be cooking meals for yourself. It might even be the first time you are cooking alone. Not everyone is good at it though. They might opt to order in instead.
Yet, knowing how to cook is basically an essential skill for survival. Even if you are just making ramen or a mug cake, you should absolutely learn to cook!
There you have some great hobbies to try before starting university/college! University is a great but stressful time. Therefore, you sometimes need a little bit of help from some hobbies to make it the best university experience you can have!
