Water your plants and get an eye mask: 48 life rules every student
If you’re a fresher, this may be the first time you’ve ever lived away from home. So how should you socialise, feed yourself and look after your health?
TL;DR
- Food safety basics include refrigerating raw meat properly, avoiding cross-contamination, and never refreezing defrosted items.
- Essential cooking repertoire includes quick protein meals, scalable full meals, comforting dishes, and simple hot water preparations.
- Integrate fruits and vegetables by keeping raw, easy-to-eat options like carrots and apples on hand.
- Ensure vaccinations are up to date before leaving home and register with a GP at your new address.
- Utilize NHS symptom checkers and patient.info for reliable health information, and consult pharmacists for minor ailments.
- Seek medical advice for severe symptoms like persistent vomiting, severe headaches, purpuric rashes, or signs of serious infection.
- When injured, seek help for severe swelling, pain when weight-bearing, or if symptoms don't improve with ice and compression.
- Animal bites, especially penetrating ones, require prompt GP contact for potential antibiotics.
- Practice good hygiene, particularly hand washing, and avoid preparing food for others if unwell.
- Effective cleaning involves separating laundry colours, reading care labels, and regular washing of bedding and towels.
- Maintain a tidy living space by not leaving mess in communal areas like toilets or the kitchen, and consider tidying your room regularly.
- Decorate your space to make it feel less like a prison cell, and keep plants watered.
- For socialising, it's beneficial if someone knows your whereabouts, and don't hesitate to ask if you can join group activities.
- Be open to meeting people from diverse backgrounds and don't overreact to differences.
- Friendships can be intense in close-knit environments; seek a balance by maintaining connections outside your immediate circle.