1. Get Netflix

It's first on the list because for me it was pretty important. A lot of time spent in uni revolved around Netflix and which films we were all going to watch. It was also a god send to have when you wake up hungover on a Sunday morning and all you can do really is just about switch your laptop on to watch an episode of Modern Family.

 

2. Music is a big responsibility

Especially in pre-drinks. Don't worry about it too much though, just remember that if you are in control of the music you are also in control of everyone else's mood before you go out. So just don't play You Raise Me Up before heading out and you'll be fine.

 

3. Don't be selfish

Don't make it all about you, remember now that you live with other people and you need to take into consideration the things they want to do etc. Also if you bake a cake, don't eat it all yourself- share it! You'll probably make friends really quickly...

 

4. Stock up on booze

Before you go, look out for deals on alcohol and buy them before freshers week. Obviously this doesn't just apply to alcohol, but it will probably work out better (money wise) so you can spend your student loan on other things!

 

5. Don't stress too much

You will make friends- I promise! I know everyone says this but honestly, if it's not your flatmates it's people on your course. If it's not people on your course it's people you meet on nights out. And don't worry about the work load too much in first year, as long as you pass then you'll get into second year!

 

6. Don't leave things until the last minute

Don't however, leave essays until the night before because that will stress you out. Because at the end of the day you do actually need to pass. Just start early, take your time to think about it and approach it in a calm, chilled, "I have loads of time to handle it" kind of way.

 

7. First impressions and expectations are not always met

Don't expect things. Don't judge people because you're probably wrong. Just let things play out the way their supposed to. I expected to be best friends with all my flatmates forever. Turns out we didn't get on and I ended up moving out and meeting new people who are just absolutely brilliant. Expect the unexpected I guess.

 

8. Join societies

Basically because you'll get to go out more and you'll meet loads of new people all interested in the same things as you. I sadly didn't join any in my first year and I really do feel like I've missed out but this year I'm planning on joining the Psychology society and maybe a performing club :)

 

9. Don't take other people's stuff

A pretty standard rule but you hear about it a lot in university. People eating other people's food without asking and using things that aren't theirs. I mean it's stealing and not cool so don't do it because people will not like you.

 

10. Let yourself go

Go do all the crazy stuff you want to do and really be yourself. This is a new fresh start for you to try new things and meet new people. Don't let it go to waste and make the new experience the best few years of your life.

 

Hope this helped all of you freshers!

Lots of Love

Moggs

x

Hi Everyone :)

So, I know it's exam season approaching and A LOT of people are trying their hardest to revise (including myself) for exams in January. So I thought I'd help a few people out if their struggling and dragging their feet through the dreaded exam period.

The first top tip I'd recommend trying is to organise your time by making a revision timetable, and to start revising early to give yourself plenty of time to cover all the material and understand it. Below is an example of how you could make one, but I actually like to use a website which helps me prioritise my subjects and lets me enter my commitments (getrevising.com).

Next, make sure you have all the notes and materials you need to revise, this could be a laptop, colours, A3 paper, past papers, anything that helps you revise! I love using coloured pens, because it just makes it a lot more fun and exciting to look at.

Revise in a clean, non-distracting environment. I must admit, I'm so bad for lying in bed and revising, but what I find is that I like to drift in and out of sleep, or if I'm using my laptop, the internet calls my name for hours until I use it! Just try closing yourself off from the world for 45 minutes and then take a 15 minute break surfing the internet or watching tv or something.

Eat healthy. Yes, I know, you're all thinking what? But honestly, to keep you brain fit and awake it needs good healthy food and a lot of water. By eating lots of chocolate and downing energy drinks your body will crash, and it has definitely happened to me (the night before my English A-level exam) and I just fell asleep. Not good. Also, get plenty of sleep, because you'll feel more awake and fresh ready for revision :)

Make sure you know how to revise and what works best for you, for me it's past papers and making colourful notes. But I know lots of people who like to read and recite, make lists, mind maps and journey paths. Also including images might help people with photogenic memories!

Make sure you don't overwork, especially when you re stressed. I like to think of my memory as a bike, if you don't use it enough it will go rusty, but go too fast and you'll fall off. 

I watched a great video on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOTYTuiNaho&list=FLQnqNe2zOfOy-tgxUXv1LIw) which is filled with really helpful tips. There is a great tip in there which is to note down what you learned that day in a diary and to write it down again in a week and then a months time to revise it again, so you are constantly refreshing your memory. This is proving very effective for me this year.

Last top tip: try your hardest and motivate yourself! Getting good grades will open so many doors for you and I can't think of a bad reason not to work hard for good grades. I know it's difficult, but it's so worth it!

Keep going and good luck!

Much Love

Moggs

x