By Suvinita A/P S Thiruvasagam
Lifestyle is the way a person leads their life, and university is a place to enhance our lifestyle. It’s a transformative place that builds students for holistic accomplishment in life. Everyone must have undergone the ups and downs of university phases. Here are some vital lifestyle tips to adapt as a university student.
Time management is the ultimate lifestyle tip. Most students need to plan their day. They attend class and get overwhelmed with the number of tasks. Consequently, it’s the usual routine of burning the midnight oil and excessive caffeine consumption in order to submit their assignments on time.
Listen to your big sister; it’s not a beneficial routine in the long run. Instead, here’s a fun way to tackle time management problems for my university mates.
Make a timetable. A timetable should encourage a student to act and infuse a sense of joyful productivity as it opens a sense of growth. Natasya Remin, 22, a Strategic Communication student, said that her timetable is the driving factor for her successful journey in university so far.
“During my Year 3, I made a fun timetable. I tackled Year 3 with so much ease. Joyful productivity is a way of life now”.
Also, bear in mind that you don’t have to be too hard on yourself. You’re human after all.
The following lifestyle tip is to learn to practice self-care. Be honest with yourself and answer this question — “Being a university student, how many times have you practised self-care?”
Most of you are probably thinking about how to find an answer because self-care remains an undervalued topic among university students despite its significance.
Students should indulge in activities that will nourish their bodies and minds. The key activity to manage physical wellbeing is exercise, whereas mental wellbeing involves having a gratitude journal and prayers. However, this does not mean that you have to do vigorous exercise and purchase fancy journals. It’s as simple as brisk walking, 30 minutes of playing badminton or jogging, and just use a piece of paper for a gratitude list, which is a form of mental health check-ins.
“I have a strict rule for myself: playing badminton and writing on my gratitude journal. This self-care practice has become a turning point in my life. I feel healthier, happy, and productive,” said Russell, 22, with a burst of happy emotions.
Most importantly, don’t forget your prayers.
Next up, let’s discuss healthy eating habits. Are healthy eating habits considered a lifestyle tip? You may wonder.
As students, we are always on the go. It can be classes, attending trips, vacations with course mates and so on. The top favourite food of a university student is instant noodles. Most days, we eat the food we get without considering the ingredients. Track the food you take. That way, you are conscious of the food that goes into your body.
In contrast, while studying in Sarawak, try the local delicacies, too. It’s a wheel of balance. Exploring a diverse array of foods is enriching, yet it is essential to maintain a balanced and moderate approach to ensure optimal wellbeing.
Have you heard about the 80/20 rule? It’s a notion that weight loss is 80 per cent food and only 20 per cent exercise. This notion is a crystal-clear explanation that food is the most significant contributor to our health. As a student, buying fruits such as apples and bananas for snacking is a good choice.
University life can get hectic, but health is the biggest wealth. I engaged with one of the chemical engineering students to gather her opinions about this topic.
“I have an extremely active schedule, but that does not stop me from healthy snacking,” Adele said.
She has prioritised healthy eating habits as a student to help her perform better in university. She has never forgotten to pack healthy snacks like apples. Now, be responsible for your health and pack healthy snacks before class or while waiting to attend lectures.
Furthermore, learning to communicate effectively is something university students should excel in. Do you guys know that communication consists of verbal and non-verbal communication?
Verbal communication is words and sounds that come out of our mouths when we speak, including our voice tones and expressions like sighs and groans. Nonverbal communication is facial expressions, gestures, and body language. Effective and interactive communication occurs when these two factors are put into play.
“No matter the field of study, brace yourselves with the art of communication,” said chemical engineering student, Nur Syazwa, 23.
Effective communication skills are a tool to establish interpersonal relationships. University is a platform for students to practice communication skills through presentations and taking part in competitions. Proficient communicators can educate, convince, and guide their audience. Do not forget that communication is everywhere, from human to digital.
University is an environment to shape our identities, thus presenting a golden opportunity to cultivate essential life skills. Reminder: don’t forget to implement those lifestyle skills and have fun in the process.
- This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Education, Language and Communication, UNIMAS.
