A short guide to help you settle into your new home

Starting university and moving into halls, which to many means living independently for the first time, is a big change in your life. You may encounter many challenges, such as homesickness and difficulty making friends and settling into your new routine. In this post, I will give my best advice on overcoming these common challenges.

Homesickness

Homesickness is very common when you're living away from home for the first time. Here are my top tips for dealing with homesickness:

• Frequent calls to family and friends back home. Regular contact with your loved ones will help you feel connected to them.
• Prepare foods that remind you of your home. Maybe you can introduce some of your local specialties to your flatmates?
• Decorate your room and make it your own. Making your living space feel cosy and personal will help you settle into your new home. You can bring items and decorations from home and print out photos to hang on your wall.
• Keep yourself busy. Establish a routine that includes doing things you enjoy. Having a routine and scheduled activities will give you a sense of stability and distract you from feeling homesick in the first weeks.
• Make London feel like home! Go out and explore, find new coffee shops and parks you love, and immerse yourself in everything the city has to offer.

Making friends

Making friends is one of the most common concerns students have when they first move into halls. You can be assured that there are plenty of other students who are moving into halls without knowing anyone and are also worried about making friends. Indeed, halls are a great place to meet new people and make friends across different subjects and departments. If your hall is catered, daily dinners are the best opportunity to meet and talk to new people. Your hall committee is also setting up events in your hall during the first weeks. On campus, exploring different societies and sports clubs is a great way to meet like-minded people. The best opportunity to explore different societies and clubs is during the Freshers Fair that is held on campus. You can also find and contact most societies and clubs on social media and the SU website.

Time management

It is to be expected that settling into university life and establishing a new routine may take some time. In the beginning, you may find it challenging to balance all your classes and lectures, readings, extracurricular activities, and social life. It's normal to take some time to figure out your routine and how to manage all your new responsibilities. Here are some tips to help you get settled into a healthy routine:

• Use a calendar: A calendar (virtual or paper) helps you visually structure your day and build a productive routine. Seeing your schedule laid out in advance can help manage your mental workload and reduce stress.
• Discover different study techniques: the Internet is full of different study techniques that can help you increase your productivity and make the most out of your study sessions. If you're struggling with time management or simply want to improve your study skills, you can turn to LSE LIFE study advisers.
• Finally, be patient with yourself: starting university is a big change in your life and you don't need to have it all figured out immediately.

Well-being and taking care of yourself

Living away from home for the first time can feel overwhelming and stressful in the first weeks. It's crucial to remember to take care of your well-being during this transitional period.

• It goes without saying, but simply having a balanced diet, healthy sleeping schedule, and daily physical activity go a long way.
• Make sure to reserve time for yourself. Whether it's going for a run or baking your favourite sweet treat, doing things you enjoy definitely helps recharge your energy and improve your mood.
• Limit your screen time. Since most of us study and work on laptops and tablets, trying to stay away from screens in your free time is an idea worth considering. (I know it's easier said than done!)

Where to find support if the challenges become too much

• The warden and subwardens in your hall are there to help you with any personal issues you may be facing. They can also help you access many services within and outside LSE. You can find your pastoral support team's contact details here.
• Peer supporters are students who have been trained to provide a confidential and non-judgemental space for other students to discuss any issues, whether personal or academic. If necessary, they can also signpost you to other services within LSE. You can contact the peer supporters by filling out this form.
• Student Wellbeing Service (SWS) offer mental health support and counselling services to LSE students. They are also the first point of contact if you have a diagnosed disability or a mental health condition and need adjustments to your studies. You can find more information about their services here. 

Written by Jenni

Resident in Rosebery Hall