When starting at university, juggling your social life and studies can be difficult. Building a routine is beneficial for any university student and can reduce any stress or anxieties. Having a routine will positively impact and improve your mental and physical health, as well as improving your time management, your studies and lifestyle. 

Below are a few tips on how to build a routine that fits around you, and your studies, whilst at university. 

Create a structure to your day  

Structure is something that we tend to take for granted while we are at school, but it isn’t something that is necessarily followed at university. You create your own structure at university and hold yourself accountable for sticking to it. This may be a struggle in the beginning, but it will be worth it in the long run. 

You can structure your days by adding in university work, social events and hobbies. When it comes to structuring your academic work, the benefits are endless, as you will find that you’ll have better time management, you’ll build consistent study habits, and it can help to reduce procrastination and stress. 

Creating a structure to your day also has multiple mental and emotional pros such as generating a healthy work-life balance. A structure is empowering and gives you a sense of control and achievement, and again, reduces any stress or anxiety. In time, the structure will ironically provide you with more time for socialising and hobbies. 

Schedule regular breaks 

Taking a break while studying at university is as equally important as the actual studying, and here’s why. Typically, the brain can only concentrate for around 45-90 minutes, so taking a break (even just a short one) can enhance productivity and leave you feeling refreshed. 

Constant study sessions could potentially lead to a burnout.Ensuring you schedule regular breaks will allow your mind a chance to refresh and take in any information you’ve learned, before jumping back into it. 

Regular breaks can also improve physical health, as well as mental health. Long periods of staring at a screen can cause eye strain, back/neck pain and poor posture. So getting up to stretch your legs, even for 5 or 10 minutes, can be extremely beneficial. 

Invest in a diary 

Investing in a diary, a calendar or a planner is a smart move when starting university. Having things mapped out in a diary can make such a difference to your life in a new city, and the bonus is that it’s always there to refer to whenever you need. 

Having a diary enables you to stay on top of significant deadlines, reduce mental clutter, improve your time management and track your own progress. You can also reflect on certain days and weeks to see what you still need to mark off. Keeping a diary also allows you to allocate specific times for study, socialising, lectures etc which leads back to creating a structure for each of your days. 

Set a goal for each day 

Setting a daily goal may sound like a time-consuming thing to do every single day, but after a few days, it will soon become habit. It is important that these goals are achievable, realistic and purposeful – to you, as this will look different for everyone. 

If you set a goal each day, it will boost your motivation, give you a clear direction and build discipline into your university life. Some examples of these small goals could be: 

• Take a proper study break, for at least 20 minutes 

• Attend today’s lecture and positively contribute at least once 

• Text that friend you’ve been meaning to text 

Maybe start by writing a goal down each morning, for a week, and revisit it each night, soon it will become an integrated part of your routine. 

Make time to socialise 

Socialising plays a huge role in everybody’s university experience; many people meet friends for life while studying away from home. It’s extremely important to set time aside for socialisation to make these vital connections. 

University is all about meeting new people! You meet people from all over the country, sometimes even the world, and they could lead to lasting friendships. Connecting with people will be easier than you first think, everyone is in the same boat at university – may be far away from home, anxious or upset – and even casual interactions can create a sense of belonging.  

Creating bonds with people at university can also lead to unforgettable night outs in your new city, lengthy study sessions together in the library and could lead to even more friendships.  

Eat well and exercise regularly 

This one seems self-explanatory, but when you are busy at university, you may slip out of an exercise routine or fall into the trap of just eating fast food. It is often over-looked you’re busy! However, it is vital to remember the basics. 

Eating well and exercising regularly will sharpen your mental focus and of course, benefit your long-term health. Both have a significant impact on your mental health and ensuring you’re eating healthy, and exercising will really help boost you. If you feel you are not finding enough time for cooking healthier meals or a quick work-out (even if that is just a walk), then you will benefit from investing in a diary and creating a schedule so you can make time. 

Also, just as important, but stay hydrated! Coffee and energy drinks are tempting when you’re in a long lecture, but your body and mind will thank you for drinking water. 

Ensure you are putting sleep first 

Sleep is a necessity while at uni, while it may be tempting to cut your sleep out to study more or spent more time at the local nightclub or pub. Sleep is the most effective study tool, it is a natural stress manager and boosts your productivity. If you regularly sacrifice your sleep, it will have an opposite effect on you to the way it’s supposed to. 

Most young adults between the ages of 18-25 needs around 7-9 hours of sleep at night. If you are consistently getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night, then this is likely to start having a negative effect on you. Having a consistent sleep schedule will really help your mental and physical health, while balancing the study and social that comes along with university life. 

Ultimately, building a routine that works for you, as a student, is essential for staying organised, reducing stress, and achieving a healthy work-life balance. It helps you to manage your time effectively, stay on top of all academic responsibilities, and still make room for rest, social life, and self-care. A well-structured routine creates consistency, boosts productivity, and supports both your mental and physical well-being—setting you up for success not just at university, but beyond.