Moving away for university is daunting, leaving many wondering where to even start. With me being the first in my family to attend university, the idea of packing was extremely stressful. None of us knew what I needed to bring! After surviving my first year in York’s student halls, here are 5 surprisingly useful (but easily forgotten) items you should pack. They might seem random but trust me!
1. Noise cancelling headphones
One thing I did not expect when I first arrived, was how much I would use my noise cancelling headphones. At York, there are many study spots that are of communal use, such as cafes. These can often consist of people chatting or typing on laptops, which can become distracting when trying to complete tasks of your own. By having headphones, all the background noise can be eliminated, improving efficiency and also giving you the ability to listen to all your favourite songs whilst completing tasks. I also loved wearing mine on campus walks or to help me lock in while studying in my room.
2. Mattress topper
Whilst this one may seem random, this is definitely a must buy, in my opinion! As expected, university beds and mattresses are not the most luxury items, so this source of extra comfort was amazing. They are super easy to just place on top of your mattress and they’re also fairly cheap, a win-win.
3. Comfies
Whilst these are a staple at home, bringing them to university can often be forgotten about. Items such as slippers and dressing gowns were a life saver in the winter months. Slippers are also a great way to walk around accommodation without treading dirt around from outside, especially in communal areas such a kitchens or shared bathrooms. Whether you have an en-suite or shared bathroom, I also found my £2 flip flops from Primark were a life saver, especially when showering.
4. Washing essentials
One thing no one told me about when starting university was the sheer amount of washing you do. Sometimes the most boring things are the most important things to buy. With that in mind, don’t forget laundry pods, a basket and bags to haul your clothes to and from the laundry room. These essentials can often be found on Amazon, or from local homeware shops, such as B&M or Home Bargains. In my own experience, I used the dryers in the launderette to dry all my clothes after a wash, but just bear in mind it cost extra money to do so. If you would prefer to dry clothes in your room, I would recommend a maiden to hang clothes on.
5. Drawing pins
This one may seem random but drawing pins are essential if you want to put photos on your wall. For me, I used drawing pins to put up previously printed photos of my friends, family, pets and life from home. Plus posters of my favourite films! This allowed my room to feel a lot more homely and personal to me, helping me settle in a lot better.
Whilst these 5 items may seem completely random, they were things I, myself completely forgot to pack, which ended up being essential in my life at university halls. I hope they can help others who may be lost in what to pack for their first year.
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