The Importance of University Independence for Students

There is no question about it- starting university is a big change and chapter in life. It gives students a mixture of emotions ranging from nervousness to excitement and confusion. All these emotions are understandable. After all, university independence carries more responsibilities and challenges than just being a student in high school or college. Like with any other thing in life, it does take time to adjust to the surroundings and embrace university independence. To help you navigate better, we’ll explore essential aspects of university independence.

Key aspects of university independence

Embracing the transition to university life often goes hand in hand with gaining independence. For many students, this is their first taste of adulthood and the responsibilities that come with it. Let's look into the crucial aspects of university independence.

1. Following schedules 

The level of responsibilities in high school and university is significantly different. In high school, classes are compulsory and chosen for you by the school. University independence is a lot more than that because you have the responsibility and burden to choose your courses, balance work and study schedules and, at the same time, pick internships that will stack up your CV.
University independence requires a great deal of self-discipline and time management. In high school, your schedule is fixed for you. Whereas in university, there is less structure in the schedule. You have the responsibility to attend your lectures on time, meet deadlines and maintain a healthy work-life balance.  Don’t underestimate the level of self-discipline needed to ensure you are ticking every task list and staying on top of your commitments outside of the university.

2. Attendance 

In addition to this, university independence means you are responsible for your attendance and performance. Gone are the days when teachers check your attendance on their register or parents' evenings when your performance gets assessed in front of parents. In university, it’s crucial to be self-disciplined, self-sufficient and committed to your goals.

3. Managing finances

Being financially responsible is a massive part of university independence. Especially if you are living in student accommodation with all the personal expenses that come with it, we agree that it’s good to have fun by going out with friends or to the cinema. You do need a break from studying. However, like with everything in university, just remember to keep self-discipline with your spending and find opportunities to look for part-time jobs to save up and be responsible. Keep a budget to make sure you aren’t overspending.

4. Maintaining a shopping list

Living away from parents means you need to maintain your shopping list properly. The university assignments and the revision materials are already stressful, but juggling this with shopping lists can get overwhelming for students. From groceries to cooking ingredients to cleaning products, managing your shopping is a massive part of learning to be independent and self-sufficient.

5. Make time for exercise

University independence also comes from taking care of your physical and mental well-being. In high school, it’s mandatory to do exercise in P.E. classes. When it comes to university, you get to decide when to go to the gym, go out for a walk and live healthily. Whatever form of exercise you do, self-discipline is important. Exercising for mental health and keeping a well-balanced diet go hand in hand. For every workout you do, just remember it’s fine to have a day off and enjoy an ice cream every once in a while.

6. Laundry

Maintaining self-discipline, managing finances, and staying on top of the shopping list are all challenges for university students. However, one fundamental aspect of university life is laundry. Nobody likes the view of a laundry basket looking like a mountain of dirty clothes. The fact that laundry is a never-ending chore doesn’t make it easier: Washing clothes, drying, hanging, and then folding them. However, it is a chore that teaches students a lot about university independence.
To properly adjust to the new university life, we do recommend familiarising yourself with the laundry rooms. Finding out the little details, like if the washing machines are coin-operated systems or if you need a laundry topping card, helps. If you’ve rarely done laundry before, we suggest you follow the golden rule of laundry: separate the colours. The brighter clothes and dark-coloured colours need to be washed separately to ensure colour bleeding and efficient cleaning. Another golden rule of laundry is to make sure you are washing with care. Always read the care labels to reduce the chances of your clothes shrinking or the quality being ruined. Ensure you also check your pockets for pens or coins before putting your clothes in the washing machine. Additionally, remember to pack accordingly. Less clothes means less laundry. Not only will this save you money, but it also reduces the pile of dirty laundry in your room.

If your daily life is consumed with university and your part-time job, we do recommend you book with Laundryheap. Laundryheap is a quick and reliable laundry service that does the laundry and dry cleaning for you. They go the extra mile to make sure your clothes are professionally cleaned and folded.
The booking process is as easy as 1-2-3. Once you’ve booked a service, their delivery will be collected on the same day and returned them back to you within 24 hours.
Managing laundry chores will teach you how to be self-sufficient and get used to university independence. By laundering your clothes properly, you will attend every lecture looking smart and formal.

We hope you’ve found our blog useful. Remember to enjoy university and embrace the experience to the fullest! Good luck with the academic year. You’ve got this!