When you arrive for your first day of college, it feels like you have all the time in the world. But before you know it, the years have flown by in the blink of an eye.
One minute, you're heading to your first class on campus, and the next, you're walking the stage and grabbing your diploma. The post-grad life is an upcoming reality and not a distant dream.
At Hillcrest Townhouses, we want you to make the most of your journey. We have some practical hacks to help you thrive during your BYU-Idaho student housing experience: embrace the beauty of routine, take advantage of available resources, start a side hustle, keep your options open, and embrace progression.
Embrace the Beauty of Routine
Routine doesn't always sound exciting. Students often feel that college is their chance to break away from the routines that parents, teachers, and coaches have enforced and live their lives however they want. However, most people who live on their own for the first time learn exactly why those rules were set up in the first place.
Ironically, the structure that many people fight so hard to get away from can actually lead to a much freer life. The beauty of routine is that it establishes balance, creates consistent habits, and encourages productivity.
Take academics, for example. Let’s say you begin a new routine where you wake up and go to bed at the same time Monday through Friday, show up to all of your classes, and set aside appropriate amounts of time to study every day.
Devoting this time to school does not mean you have to miss out on fun; in fact, choosing times to focus on academics and sticking to them can help you work more efficiently. By doing this, you free up your schedule for later. You won’t have to say no to that last-minute invite from friends, because you will have kept up with your workload.
On the other hand, if you approach your studies without a plan or a sense of structure, you will often find that it can lead to procrastination, increased stress levels, and missed opportunities that can come up later in the week.
In terms of sleep, waking up and going to bed at consistent times can increase your energy levels throughout the day and help you switch off at the end of each day. Without a sleep schedule, you might struggle with falling asleep, lower energy levels, and difficulties with time management.
Take Advantage of Available Resources
School can be overwhelming at times, but you don’t have to figure everything out alone. The online world offers a wide range of tools that can help you thrive academically.
Online tools are a no-brainer. They can offer guidance with studying, grammar, citations, sources, organization, and more. Here are a few examples of great resources:
- Google Scholar can assist you in finding proper sources for your work.
- Grammarly can help catch spelling and grammar mistakes that you might have missed.
- Headspace is a resource for mental breaks and managing stress
- Khan Academy provides free lessons and tutorials.
- Notion can be used for organisational support, deadlines, and to-dos.
- Purdue Owl provides help with citations and essay formatting.
- Quizlet is great for flashcards and quick-fire revision.
But support doesn’t end with online tools at BYU-Idaho. They offer a wealth of campus resources to help you succeed that reach beyond academics. Some available resources include:
- Academic support centers: Receive assistance in various academic areas such as math, writing, reading, and more.
- Academic advising: Find help with choosing a major, explore career options, and learn how to succeed in college.
- Counseling Center: Access mental health resources and speak with professional counselors to identify and resolve mental, emotional, and interpersonal issues and work toward a state of well-being.
- Dean of Students Office: Experience a supportive environment where students receive guidance to navigate personal difficulties and mental health concerns.
- Student activities: Get involved with activities on campus such as mentoring, devotional ushering, campus recreation, ROTC, and more.
- Tutoring Center: Boost your academic performance and gain a deeper understanding of topics with the help of a tutor.
Start A Side Hustle
A side hustle is a great use of your free time in college. Whether you work part-time, full-time, or focus mainly on academics, side hustles are perfect for students because you can fit them around your busy schedule.
They can help you gain experience in areas you are interested in, experiment with new things, and open up your social circle. You might start something as a side-hustle and find that it leads to professional connections or opportunities you never expected. You may even find that it helps you discover what you truly want to do in the long run.
Here are some side hustle ideas to help you get started:
- Becoming an event staff member
- Creating personal social media content
- Delivering food orders or groceries
- Designing graphics
- Managing social media for businesses
- Selling clothes and shoes
- Taking on freelance writing jobs
- Tutoring other students
- Walking dogs or pet sitting
- Working a part-time remote position
Keep Your Options Open
In college, the world is your oyster. This is the time to discover who you are, what you are passionate about, and what you want your future to look like. You will face countless opportunities throughout your collegiate experience, and some will be things outside of your comfort zone or things you have never considered before.
It can be tempting to decline opportunities that feel unfamiliar or scary, especially if you have set plans in place for your life. But sometimes, the best opportunities come from pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, remaining open-minded, and trying new things. You will never know if something isn’t for you until you give it a fair shot. And even if something doesn’t work out, it might teach you a valuable lesson.
Internships, student jobs, and networking are great ways to gain experience while in college. If you find one that interests you, consider trying it out even if it is outside of your field. You can also try attending networking events, where you can speak with industry professionals and make new connections.
The more things you are willing to try, the more you realize what you do and don’t want to do. Open-mindedness allows unexpected doors to open. You just need to be willing to step through and see what's on the other side.
This mindset is great to apply to your social life as well. College is the perfect time to expand your circles and make new friends from all walks of life. Consider joining groups, introducing yourself to strangers or classmates, and branching out into more than one friend group.
At Hillcrest Townhouses, our living areas are the perfect place to spend time with your friends. From our cozy student lounge area to our theater room to your own individual space, we want you to make lasting memories in a place that feels like home.
Embrace Progression
In college, imperfection is inevitable. You’ll face unforeseen challenges, learn quite a few lessons, and make your fair share of mistakes as you discover more about yourself and the life you want to build.
Luckily, the path to success is not linear, and failure can actually be a really positive thing even if it doesn’t feel that way at first. Learning how to embrace both successes and failures is a strength, because there are valuable lessons to be learned in both.
Let’s say you had an interview that didn’t go well. You could decide that you are bad at interviewing and give up, or you could learn from the experience. Ask yourself what did not work so you can determine what you can do to better prepare for your next interview. Figure out how to use every failure as an opportunity to grow.
Sometimes, progress happens slowly, so celebrate every small victory along the way. Dreams are not achieved overnight; they are the result of consistent and steadfast progress. Learning how to embrace the journey is the real secret to success.
Establish a BYU-Idaho Student Housing Homebase
Your BYU-Idaho student housing should be more than just a roof over your head. It should be a place where you can develop a routine, try new things, spend time with friends, and make progress toward your goals every day. It should feel like home.
At Hillcrest Townhouses, our affordable living options offer you the perfect place to enjoy your college experience as you invest in your personal, social, and professional life. Schedule a tour with us today to see exactly what we’re about.