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Ultimate Survival Guide For First-Year Uni Students

January 29, 2024-3 min read

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 audioheadphones and study tips.

A female student works on her laptop at a communal table with other students

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.

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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 Jason Tavoletti, 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

Lenovo Yoga 7i EVO 14 Touchscreen i5 16GB 512GB 2in1 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

Product image of the DeLonghi Evaporative Cooler in White

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 young male student enjoys a coffee break while checking his smartphone

“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

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 tabletsphones and headphones.

Cleaning tips & hacks

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Want stain-free rugs and carpets? A sofa that looks new again? Spotless car interiors? You’ve got them with Hoover’s clever ONEPWR CleanSlate Pet Cordless Spot Cleaner

Designed for expert cleaning and everyday messes, this powerful cleaner makes short work of even the toughest stains. From smelly pet messes to pesky pasta sauce stains – and everything in between – this spot cleaner’s new compact and cordless design is made to remove messes as they happen, and be on-hand to clean up after life’s biggest oops moments. 

Where there’s a stain, there’s a Hoover floorcare solution! Here’s why your hectic household needs the latest Hoover ONEPWR CleanSlate Spot Cleaner.

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Mother and Daughter happily complete washing in family laundry

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One of the best things in the whole world has to be fresh laundry. Clean sheets can make your whole bedroom feel like a fancy hotel, and fresh clothes can give you the confidence to crush that to-do list in style! But if your current washing machine isn’t bringing you joy and you’ve decided it’s time for an upgrade, we’ve got all the info you’ll need to find the best washing machine. From knowing what to look for, to the biggest trends and new technology – including the latest auto dosing washing machines – we’ve got your back!

Need a new dryer to go with your washing machine? Check out our Dryer Buying Guide for all the tips and our best picks

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A smiling young woman removes freshly dried clothes from the heat pump dryer in her laundry

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Are you a large household? Life on the laundry treadmill can feel like Groundhog Day. The sports kits, the school uniforms, the work shirts… don’t even get us started on those endless towels (and the whopping energy bills that come with them!). Step up heat pump dryers, the new whiz kid in the laundry. A boon for bigger broods, these star appliances use super-efficient heat exchanger technology to deliver big savings for the planet, your bank balance, and the lifespan of your clothes. Best of all, with no need for ventilation, heat pump dryers can be installed anywhere (even under the staircase!).

Let’s find the best family-friendly heat pump dryers for your needs:

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Woman vacuuming her couch with her Pet LG Stick Vacuum with dog watching on an arm chair

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Time to buy a new vacuum cleaner? You might be wondering … how do I choose? Updating an appliance in your home, especially one as important as your vacuum cleaner, can be a difficult task. There are so many different types, models, tech, and brands to choose from – you might be wondering: where do I even start?

Choosing the best vacuum for you means thinking about much more than its weight, suction, functionality, and features. What really makes the difference when choosing between the best of the best is considering your environment. Start by thinking about what surfaces you’ll be vacuuming and the layout of your home. You will also need to consider if you’d prefer bagged or bagless, corded or cordless, and so on.

We know, there is a lot to consider, but do not despair – The Good Guys are here to help! Read on to find the best vacuum cleaner for you and your home.

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A woman holds a handheld garment steamer up to her striped shirt on a hanger to remove the creases

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Getting your clothes spick and span (and crease-free!) has never been easier thanks to the latest wrinkle-busting irons and garment steamers. With their heat-wielding powers, these are the appliances no dedicated fashion follower – or neat and tidy type – can live without. But how do irons and garment steamers differ? And do you need both in your clothing-care regimen? Read on to discover which of these laundry legends is right for your needs.

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