Healthy habits to incorporate into your daily routine

Undergraduate student Elysia shares her top tips for how you can build a healthy routine at university.

Balancing the three ‘S’, studying, socialising and sleep, is what I’ve found to be essential at university. It’s not always easy, but here are some healthy habits that helped me manage it all and enjoy university life at its fullest:

Build a study routine that works for you

One of the best things you can do is figure out when you’re most productive, whether you are a morning person or a night owl. Knowing this saves you a lot of time and frustration. Trust me, nothing’s worse than staring at your 20-word intro for a 3000-word essay, while daydreaming about lying down on a beach in Barcelona.

Working more doesn’t necessarily mean you will get better results. Instead, efficiency is the key. One thing that’s helped me a lot is finding a note-taking system that works for me. For example, I realised Notion is my go-to, but others prefer OneNote, Goodnotes on iPad, or even classic pen and paper. Regardless, the important point is finding a system that helps you stay organised (especially when some lecture slides are just full of graphs and random images).

Also, try getting into the habit of reviewing and annotating your materials regularly. It will save you a lot of time and stress during exam season. Once you’ve got a solid study rhythm, you’ll have more time to enjoy the other two S’s.

Say yes more: join societies and try new things

If I could start my first year again, one piece of advice I would give to myself is: join the society even if you don’t know anyone. The truth is, that’s the whole point – to meet people and try something new.

Whether it’s a sport you’ve never played or a hobby you’ve always wanted to try, go for it. You won’t know what you enjoy until you try! These activities help you de-stress, build up a weekly routine, and do wonders for your mental health. Not to mention, I find it the best way to meet new people by bonding over shared interests. For me, it was photography!

So, make it a habit to say yes to events, random new experiences, and anything outside your comfort zone. You’ll thank yourself later.

Prioritise sleep (I know, but it’s true)

Sometimes sleep feels negotiable when there’s a deadline, a night out, or a 3 am chat with your flatmates. While staying up to watch sunrise with your friends is indeed a core memory, it’s all about balance.

Sleep isn’t just about not feeling tired. It helps with your memory, mood, mental health, and even your skin. So, before you buy that new supplement or fancy skincare serum, maybe try getting enough rest first. Developing a consistent sleep schedule, even if it’s just most nights, makes a huge difference. Running on no sleep is basically like opening 30 tabs in your brain and watching them all crash.

Learn to cook and meal prep

Last but not least, food. Some people eat to live, but honestly, I say live to eat. Still, late-night takeaway cravings are surely amazing, but they add up quickly, which isn’t great for my body or bank account

What’s helped me is getting into the habit of cooking and meal prepping. Nothing too fancy, just having a mix of grains, greens, and protein. It’s cheaper, healthier, and honestly tastes better (depending on your cooking skills, of course).

With microwaves in places like the Green Room, the Library, and the WBS building, you can reheat meals on campus easily. And if you are still not into cooking? Convince your flatmate to cook an extra portion while you do the dishes and volunteer for the grocery run.

At the end of the day, university life is all about balance. Incorporating small, consistent habits into your routine can make a huge difference. Just start with one and the rest will follow.