How to Build a Good Routine at University

Want to know how to make university better and more enjoyable? It starts with the right routine…

Juggling studies and a social life doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, a few small tweaks to your daily habits could make all the difference. Whether you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate student, having a routine is essential in helping you get the most out of your time here.

At the University of Bolton, we’re here to support our students in knowing how to prepare for university life. If you ever feel like you’re struggling, our award-winning Student Services Team or Mental Health Advisors are on hand to help.

Want to know how to make university life better? Follow these top tips!

Firstly, have structure

Being a university student is very different from being at school, because no-one is there to create structure for you. This will become even more apparent in a master’s degree, where you’ll work even more autonomously.

So it’s really important to have structure. Have an outline of what your day or week looks like, and always plan ahead.

Get a diary / planner

Building structure isn’t possible without the right tools, so write things down. Get a physical diary or planner, use a calendar on your wall, and adopt helpful time-management apps to keep on top of lectures, deadlines, events or study group dates.

Schedule regular breaks

Sticking to your day-to-day plans can be hard when you lose motivation. One way to prevent this from happening is to take regular breaks. There are plenty of studies that prove how frequent breaks actually improve productivity. So remember to work smart, not just hard.

This is vital if you want to know how to make university life better at times when there are intense workloads and endless revision to be getting on with.

Exercise and eat healthily

As well as regular breaks, you’ll also want to block out some time for fitness. Exercise is a must for your university routine. Exercise improves learning by optimising your mind, and it also prepares and encourages nerve cells to bind to one another, which is needed for storing new information. Furthermore, exercise promotes the development of new nerve cells in the brain, also essential for learning.

When looking at how to prepare for university life, don’t forget to make time to cook and prepare meals either. A healthy balanced diet can make you happier, healthier and ready to take on the day!

Don’t underestimate sleep

Finally, let your natural sleep pattern guide you in building your perfect routine. A lot of research talks about the benefits of waking and sleeping early. But if you’re a night owl, don’t worry too much. The most important thing is to have a consistent sleep pattern, and to have enough (and good quality) sleep.

If you struggle to get to sleep, try meditation. And if you’re a night owl trying to become an early bird, slowly adapt your sleeping and waking hours.

Remember, sleep supports brain function and helps you think, react, learn and work effectively. It’s an often overlooked element of physical and mental health, but it can make all the difference to your studies and your wellbeing.

At the University of Bolton, we believe in creating a friendly and supportive learning environment for students to reach their potential. Having access to support is a major factor in how happy you feel while at university, and that’s why we are passionate about delivering #UniAsItShouldBe.

Looking for undergraduate or postgraduate courses? To find out more about applying in 2021/22, see our available courses.