TIPS FOR GETTING THROUGH THAT THIRD AND FINAL UNI YEAR OF UNIVERSITY

September is here yet again, and for the first time in three years, it's the first time I won't be going back to any sort of education and most importantly, university. 

I know this post is titled 'tips for getting through that third and final year' but this is also relatable to those few hard working freshers or the people who have suddenly realised year two actually partly counts towards your final grade.

Whilst university really wasn't the hardest time of my life. With year one and two being filled with drinking, having fun and socialising. The workload side of it really can be daunting and not so fun. Naturally though...drinking your weight in beer is going to be a lot more fun than drinking your weight in tea at the library.

Now that I'm some sort of survivor of uni and soon to be graduating I feel have a few little tips to share.

TIP ONE - JUST DO IT. No, I'm not talking about Nike, but they do have a point, just do it. Just open up your laptop and a word document and type. I spent far too long worrying that what I first put onto a page had to perfection, which just made me not type at all. SO, just do it, type away and get into the assignment and communicate with your tutor. This is the only way your word count is going to go down. *I know this sounds ridiculous*. But honestly, getting started is the hardest part so JUST DO IT.

TIP TWO - FIND YOUR PLACE. The best way to get some serious work done is to find your place, the place that you work the best and most. You learn the hard way with this one and with experience you will know if working in your room with a TV, iPad etc. surrounding you is the best or if going to the library away from so many distractions is for you. For me it was the library, so I went pretty much everyday and I am so thankful for it (reality check: at the time I hated it).

TIP THREE - PRIORITISE AND PLAN. I'm a bit of an organiser, I like to know what I'm doing when so when the workload was a little bit full on I would simply prioritise and plan. My priorities in my third year was learning from past mistakes when it came to my work (*COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR TUTORS ALL. THE. TIME. EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT*) and working hard to get a First Class. With this, my social life pretty much died I will admit but I look back and my first and second year were incredible so I had my share of fun *no regrets*. The library was my second home. When it came to planning, I think it's so important to figure out your word count and get organised so you have goals and targets to reach every day and week. E.G. write 600 words today. Simple as that. In every notebook of mine scribbles of goals and word counts would be all over the place and that is really what motivated me.

So there we have it, my top three tips for getting through that third and final year. A little bonus tip for you all is to also remember to have FUN. Although for me uni work was my upmost priority it's still so important to let off steam once in a while, have a few days of when needed etc and to not feel guilty for doing that as trust me, you deserve it.

Sophie xx

STYLE | STYLING A DENIM SKIRT FOR WINTER

With winter upon us, it's time to get out the jumpers (or like me go out and buy loads more) and find the winter boots you shoved to the the bottom of your wardrobe. For me, the worst part about winter is that it means you can't leave the house without having to wear a coat that 9 times out of 10 makes an outfit go from a 10/10 to a solid 3/10. Nonetheless, layering and styling summer staples into more winter friendly pieces I am a fan of.

Take one of my favourite skirts from the summer, now perfectly acceptable on a more mild winter day with tights, and not forgetting a good old pair of boots. This combo is one of my favourites. This khaki jumper (one of the many many I own) I recently purchased from Primark for just £10. I bought it oversized to have the baggy look when tucked in to a skirt/pair of jeans. 

The finishing touches of this outfit are definitely what makes it. The brown leather belt, and the leather tassel bag, makes the look all the more autumnal/wintery. 

So there we have it how I love to style my denim skirt for a winter look!
xx

UNI | THE 3 THINGS I'LL MISS THE MOST

With my third year being in almost full swing now, and the word dissertation looming just that little bit more also comes the thoughts of what the heck I'm going to do when it's all over. Which lead me to thinking about what I'll miss most when it's all done and dusted.

1. So, first things first, I'll miss my best friends. Katherine and Monique aka my little chickens. I didn't come to uni expecting to meet two better people. Firstly Kat whose put up with me from day dot and then Mon who was the best friend we didn't know we needed till she ended up moving in with us in second year. Even the thought of us this time next year not living together makes me want to cry. So yes, seeing my favourite lil chickens everyday will be one of the things I miss most.
2. The freedom. Moving away from home is weird, you're just one day fully independent - no having to do the dishwasher or be forced into walking the dogs. So yeah freedom to do whatever I want whenever is up there.
3. The spontaneity. I'm going to miss the random nights that myself, Kat and Mon share in the kitchen. With us trying to be nice to each other for 5 minutes and not lasting 5 seconds, to the random dancing and singing and all those girly chats. I'll also miss the spontaneous trips to the pub, and the random last minute decision to get drunk playing card games in Harry's room on any day of the week (come back Harry). 

So there we have it. The three things I'm not quite sure how I'm going to live without when uni is officially done.

UNI | HOW TO SURVIVE MOVING TO UNI

University. A word that either feels people with dread, or excitement, or maybe even a bit of both.

If you've applied to go to Uni and have just received your results you're probably feeling a definite mix of emotions. For me I always knew I wanted to go so didn't think a single thing about it until moving day. Moving day? I was filled with dread, nerves beyond belief and a sudden desire to never leave home. However, fast forward two years and it's the best decision I've made in my 20 years.

So how did I survive? For those who aren't like me and actually want to read something that might just help ease the nerves or get you more excited. This ones for you.

TOP TIP NO. 1 

BE PREPARED 

Go with pretty much everything you need so once you get there you can just move in and relax, and focus on socialising rather than getting that last minute duvet cover from Dunelm before they close. To help with this I made a long long list of everything I need, looking back there was a lot of things on that list I don't think I've used in my two years but hey at least I've got third year to try. You can easily find really helpful ones online everywhere, some uni accommodation actually supply them too!

Another way to prepare is to get on Facebook and join your accommodation Facebook page and put the most cringey post which everyone does of 'Hey I'm Sophie, I'm going to be studying Marketing and I live in room...'. Trust me I did not want too by far one of the most cringey things but it works and for me I found my best friend who lived 3 doors down from me (yes, it's you Katherine). 

TOP TIP NO. 2 

BE SOCIAL

This applies for before you go and when you get there. Me and Kat spoke a little before we moved in on Facebook which made moving that little bit less scary.

Another tip to learn here is not to worry about if how the people come across on their Facebook doesn't seem like ya cuppa t cus in my case, Kat was worrying we weren't gunna get along and two years later we're the bestest of friends and I actually wouldn't know what I'd do without her. As well as accommodation, you can find people on your course from going on your uni's freshers page and finding or writing another cringe post.

Naturally that type of socialising is a tad easier, with not actually being in the same room as them but I think whether your the most confident person or not when you initially move in there is nerves coming from everyone, cus really until you find someone you click with it can be lonely. For me it didn't take long with Kat making friends before I got there I tagged along, the rest being history. Important note to remember here every single one of you are in the same boat.

TOP TIP NO. 3 

RELAX

Although the first two weeks are undoubtedly the hardest, with home sickness not ever seeming to go and tears also being a common thing. It's very important to remember that because for most of us the first 18 years of our lives everything has been the same, the same kids at school, the same group of friends, your best friends living 5 minutes away. Suddenly, your best friend has moved away themselves, or still at home and your mum isn't there to cook you dinner and it's all a lil' strange.

What you're facing is change and personally it's one of the best changes I've had, with Cambridge now feeling like home to me, with having found some of the best humans about from moving there (and yes, Harry, you're on the top of that list, cus if it weren't for you who else would make me laugh so much??)

So I think the biggest tip I can give is to relax, so the people you thought you would get a long with at first really turn out to not be your type of people, or you make a mistake, after time you'll find your feet and naturally find your type of people but in the meantime it's important to relax and enjoy yourself however you do, whether it's going to every event or hanging out in your kitchen with flatmates till late hours nothing at uni is scarier than the first two weeks. So just make the most of it.

I just wanna say obviously this post is very much based on my own experience, for me two weeks is all it took me to settle but I know for others it can take longer or even shorter. Regardless of the time factor I wanted to make this post for those going to uni and petrified or even those who aren't going and wanna read how others survive moving away. 

Soooo, to round this post that's ended up lengthy I'll probably be doing more of these sort of posts creating a lil' 'uni' series. So keep an eye out and if there's any specific uni related topics you want me to discuss feel free to comment.

Till next time x