Preparing for Student Living (our 6 TOP tips!)

It’s never too early to start thinking about who you’re going to live with and where you will live, in the next academic year. We recommend that if you’re applying to live in one of our properties get them in ASAP to make sure you’ve got your first choice. Now is the time to start thinking about who you want to share that new beginning with.

Choosing flatmates should take some level of consideration. After all, you’re going to be literally living with these people for a year or more so it’s extremely important you make the right choice. You don’t want to be tip toeing out into the communal kitchen, hoping you’re alone or being stuck with other people’s dirty dishes to wash because the kitchen is that dirty and no one is pulling their weight.

Making sure you’re picked the right people to live with can be daunting and making the right choice of student hall, but it doesn’t have to be. There are a few things to keep in mind when looking at this. Amro Vantage share 6 top tips;

1.MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE PERSON YOU’RE ASKING

When we say know them, we mean really know them. They can be close relatives or good friends. Things to consider are; Do they leave their washing in the communal washing machine after it has finished its cycle or clothes in the tumble dryer? Do they live by night and only come out after sunset when you prefer to live by day? Do they love having people over and you’re more of a “my own space” type person. Make sure you know the person you’re going to live with. You don’t want to fall out in the first semester because of the way you all live. Whether they’re super on it with cleaning, messy, out all night, studious, sociable etc, it needs to work with the way you lead your life.

2.THINK ABOUT WHO YOU’RE GOING TO ASK

(photo taken at Bright House showing a typical Friday kitchen hangout!)

The easy option is to ask your current flat mates or on your course but your current flat mates isn’t always the best option. Spending too much time with people, regardless of how much you get on, isn’t always a great thing. Too much of anything is not good for you. If you go to tutorials, lectures and live together, it might be too intense to handle. If you fancy someone, don’t live with them. Chances are it’s only going to end up super awkward, frustrations and disagreements can occur. You stand more chance to get together if you are not living in the same flat.

It might be a good idea to consider asking people from other parts of your university life, for example friends you’ve met through clubs and societies. Having a variety of people in your flat is also a good idea. Your bestie might be your course mate so asking someone else from another social circle helps balance out the work/play aspects of your life.

Flat shares aren’t for everyone. That’s totally fine. Don’t feel any pressure to move in with people or a person if you don’t want to. Living alone is perfect for people who want their own space, prefer their own company or just want to have a quiet sanctuary. There are loads of studios available that can let you have all the privacy you need.

3.HOW TO ASK SOMEONE TO LIVE WITH YOU

It’s not a marriage or a mortgage so don’t make it a big deal. Ask how you’d ask someone out for a night out. Casual, over text or while you’re out walking to lectures are great ways of taking the pressure off. The worst that someone is going to say is that they’ve already found somewhere to live with another group. No one will ever say “No, I don’t want to live with you.” We’re all adults, it never happens!

Creating a circle of people who are focused on their studies, organisation, getting up early could be great if you need some motivation to make better choices, the perfect accompaniment to your existing priorities.

On the flip side, that sounds hellish if you’re the one who’s known for being big on parties all the time. It’s not just you either. Think about the impact you could have on the other person. Ensuring your priorities and university goals correlate is essential for a healthy living situation.

4. THINK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF STUDENT HALL EXPERIENCE YOU WANT

Moving to the right student halls can make all the difference, it can make or break your university experience. Let’s not kid ourselves moving into halls which is not right for you can make university life nightmarish, meaning you miss out on enjoying it to the max. Are you interested in sharing a kitchen which is great for meeting new people and socialising over lunch or the opposite whereby you’d prefer to go alone and choose to have people around when you choose to.

You may wish to have a communal room where you can relax away from your room and watch TV or watch a movie. Do you prefer large spaces? You may wish to live as close as possible to your place of study so after that great night out, getting to Uni will not be such a challenge when the alarm rings 2 hours later. Having lots of light might be your thing or not. Choosing the room in the right location of the building should also be considered. If you are a night owl you’d prefer a west facing window for example. Does the student hall carry out regular events? It is also important to arrange a viewing prior to booking or arranging a virtual tour to get an idea if it is a place you are going to love or loth.

5-SOME IMPORTANT FLAT RULES TO CONSIDER

student rules

Set flat rules from the get-go – and we mean now, before you even have a place confirmed. Establishing rules and expectations around housework, having people over, bills, food, work schedules etc. needs to be done before you move in so you’re all on the same page.

Some of your friends might have a job, different lecture timetable, large groups of friends, hate/love cleaning – sharing and creating a framework of how you’re going to manage the flat makes life easier in the long run. Trust us when we say, it never sorts itself out.

6.START THE PROCESS EARLY

It’s no joke when we say the best places get booked up fast. After you nail who you’re going to live with, make sure you find a place ASAP.

Check distances to university, amenities, flat size etc. and anything else that’s important to you. Chances are, you won’t be the first person to want it all so get cracking. More often than not there are more students than bed spaces in the closest proximity. Making sure that you have finances to cover the costs of your student life prior to booking is also essential.

It is important to have some time to yourself, just to relax before another busy week ahead. When you are in a good mood and full of energy, you will be able to concentrate more on uni exams, perform well at work and just be a better company to your family and friends. Here are 3 tips on how you can quickly recharge when you need it most.

Tip 1. Disconnect

Can you (honestly) answer few questions for yourself: ‘Do you use your phone during the meal time? Or maybe you being on your phone whilst watching Netflixor that new vlog on YouTube?’ Well, studies have shown that majority of young people feel lost and bored if they are not on their devices and not connected to the Online World.

Around a third of people say they feel either cut off (34%) or lost (29%) without the internet, if they can’t get online, and 17% say they find it stressful. Half of all UK adults (50%) say their life would be boring if they could not access the internet. 

But we all need to have a break! Social media has an influence on our mental health, where is phones and laptops on physical. People who spend a lot of time on their devises often experience headaches and eye discomfort from constantly watching the screen. This does not help when you are trying to relax. We all need sometimes to switch off and get a fresh air. Disconnecting for a day does not mean ignoring the world around you, it means enjoying a day without any distractions.  

Tip 2. Have a Fresh Air

Speaking of fresh air, if you are based in Winchester Student Accommodation – consider yourself lucky. Within the city center there are green parks to have a walk in the evening or enjoy a morning run, the great example would be North Walls Recreation Ground. Being outdoors makes such a huge difference to your health and mind. Even better if you can exercise, for example every Saturday at 9 a.m. there is 5k run which is open for public. This way you will boost hormone serotonin which impacts the whole body, lifts our mood, improves sleep and energy level.

Tip 3. Be present

When you finally decide to give yourself a break from studies, take it slow. Literally, start your day with no hurry. There are plenty of ways to enjoy present moment, for instance cook a healthy breakfast or go to the cafe that you always wanted to go, but never had a time before; Josie’s on 28 Jewry St, Winchester is definitely a good option. Also, don’t forget your good old-fashioned book to read, pick one that would make you feel positive or listen to it, Audible has a great selection.

Another, way to be present is meditation. It has been proven that meditation helps with our health; it regulates the anxiety, helps to increase length of attention and improves sleep. Good start for a beginner would be guided meditation, which helps to understand how it all works. You might heard about Headspace, Breathe or Calmapps before,if you have not, why not give it a go? We all need to be more present and mindful to ourselves these days.

We’ve all looked at student accommodation and wondered how we can turn a house into a home. Make your room Instagram-able with these handy tips!

1. Home Comforts
Everyone has one item that they can’t live without. Be it a dressing gown, a cushion or a teddy (yes even adults have these), bring these to your halls with you for a piece of familiarity.
Home décor to liven up your room will always help so think clever and purchase storage boxes with an arty pattern or reed diffuser to make the space truly yours.

TIP: Look at our Instagram for inspiration of a decorated room!

2. Photos!
Surround yourselves with photographs of your family and friends. This will be comforting when you are feeling a little home sick; especially in the first few weeks!
Add to these throughout the year with your new friends and memories made whilst staying in Winchester Student Accommodation.

TIP: Try using a piece of string or ribbon and print off polaroid to make it more creative.

3. Bring the Outdoors In
Believe it or not there will periods of time where you will be studying in your room; so bringing the outdoors in will allow you the best of both worlds.
Here in Winchester we are lucky enough to have vast amounts of greenery so bring a taste of this into your room; plans are said to have a calming effect and will also boost your oxygen levels so win win whilst studying.

TIP: Something easy to look after is key – go for a cactus.

The Fantastic Clubs and Societies 

The first thing you will want to do once you have settled into your accommodation at Kingston University is to start exploring everything the campus has to offer. You can start by looking into all the different clubs. You will find over ninety societies and clubs available at Kingston University. You can make a connection with your community, political group, faith or country. You can join other people interested in your subject for entertaining and educational events. You can make new friends, enjoy a wide selection of films, fun games, great music and delicious food. You can join forces to promote numerous worthy causes. You can even begin your own society to share new ideas and concepts with the other students.

The Sensational Campus Events 

One of the best things about having an accommodation in Kingston University is attending the wide variety of events on campus. The college frequently hosts events on campus such as theater performances, lectures, dances, movie screenings and so much more. These events are usually free for the students, provide the opportunity to meet new people and are much safer and more satisfying than attending a wild Uni party.

The Variety of Jobs on Campus 

The various Kingston University campuses offer a wide selection of available jobs. You can choose to be a part of the bat staff, help out in the library, organise different events, etc. There are a lot of worthwhile opportunities.

Student Government Participation 

You can be a part of the student government. You can even do a lot more than just join. You have the opportunity to become involved with the important matters happening on the campus and improve your resume at the same time. You will improve your leadership skills, be able to show you have been a participant in an activity for making central decisions and connect with a diverse and wide body of students. One of the best parts is you are going to hear about all the upcoming events at all of the Kingston University campuses. You will enjoy just getting out and attending these events.