Ultimate Survival Guide For First-Year Uni Students

Being a first-year uni student is a big life change. Whether you are fresh from school or going back to explore a new passion, it’s a huge step and you should be so proud of yourself. These next few years are going to be exciting with challenges, both expected and unexpected. Start things off on the right foot with our guide to the best laptops for uni, plus essential audio, headphones and study tips.

Interested in getting prepped for back to Uni? Check out this article!

How To Stay Focused On Your Studies

At university, you’ll have plenty of reading and homework, so it’s important to have the right organisational tools to help you focus and hit those deadlines. Award-winning freelance journalist Alice Clarke says, “I’ve worked from home, essentially writing essays for 15 years, and my biggest tip is to get a big calendar whiteboard so you can keep track of deadlines. It’s easier to see them all written out, and satisfying to wipe them off the board when completed.”

Her next best tip is to create a ritual when you sit down to study, like making a cup of a particular flavour of tea and then turning on your desk lamp. These little things can help train your brain to know that it’s time to study and reduce distractions.

Shop Laptops

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15" i3 8GB 512GB Laptop

HP Pavilion Plus 14" EVO i5 16GB 256GB Laptop

Asus Vivobook 15.6" i5 8GB 256GB Laptop

It’s also important to make sure you have the right technology. “While a good worker doesn’t blame their tools, they also make sure they have the right ones to begin with,” says Erem Karabadjak, The Good Guys Buyer - Computers, Printers & Monitors. “A good 2-in-1 laptop, like the Lenovo Yoga 7i EVO 2-in-1 Laptop, gives you the freedom to take notes and write essays comfortably and with the flexibility you need. Pair that with a Norton 360 Premium subscription to keep your new 2-in-1 protected.”

Top Pick: Lenovo Yoga 7i EVO 14" 2-in-1 Laptop

“A good 2-in-1 laptop gives you the freedom to take notes and write essays comfortably and with the flexibility you need.”

Your Home Is Your Sanctuary

Whether you live in a dorm, a share house or the family home, it’s important to set up a space that feels safe and nurturing so you can relax into study. Designate a space as your study area and make it cosy. Add a plant and keep the desk as uncluttered as humanly possible. Clarke says, “Trying to work from bed or the couch is a fool’s errand that means you’ll never be fully relaxed in your off time, or fully in study mode when you’re trying to concentrate.”

And don’t forget the De'Longhi Evaporative Cooler to keep you cool all summer.

Shop The De'Longhi Evaporative Cooler

Keep Your Energy Levels Up

Your first year of university will be action-packed and full of learning, so you’re going to need as much energy as you can get. Making sure you get enough sleep is vital, and good coffee is a must for the late nights or early mornings before a deadline. Save money on barista-made brews with the Nespresso Lattissima One Black Capsule Coffee Machine, an easy to use capsule design that comes with a milk frother.

Shop The Nespresso Lattissima One Black Capsule Coffee Machine

Surviving And Thriving Socially

It’s so important to strike the right balance between getting in enough study and staying in contact with friends and family. That balance will look different for everyone because some people thrive on company and will need to make specific times to hit the books, while others will need to be coaxed away from their books to make friends. Uni is an incredibly social time for most people, so make the most of it!

Whether you’re having friends over, or just staying in touch with friends and family online, the importance of good quality audio is hard to understate.

“A good network-connected speaker means you can set the soundtrack for a party or deep chat session without broadcasting phone notifications like you would on a bluetooth speaker,” says Christos Boukogiannis, The Good Guys Buyer – Sound. The Sonos One SL works as both: play over Wi-Fi at home, and use bluetooth when you’re on the go.

“If you’re keeping in touch with friends and family from afar, a headset with a good microphone will make it easier to feel closer to your loved ones. Check out the lightweight and comfortable Sony Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones,” says Christos. 

Shop The Sony Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones - Black

When you’re ready to set up your new study area, come and see us in-store or online for expert advice, the best prices and a great range of computers and tablets, phones and headphones.