Transition
What will the transition between different phases of education be like?
Meeting New People
Starting a new venture away from all your home comforts and friends can feel daunting. It is important to know that this is normal, and everyone will experience this anxiety. Having no choice but to mix with new people and socialise with strangers within your first few weeks will automatically increase your confidence- and some of these people will most likely become your friends for life!
Changing your mindset from finding this intimidating to exciting can instantly boost your self esteem, making it not feel so overwhelming. The different people you meet, the backgrounds they come from and lifestyles that they lead will contribute to widening your acceptance of new people and new things.
Loneliness moving away from home
Moving away from your home luxuries can be a huge shock to the system, however, it can be great for your self-growth, and you can make this new environment feel like your home.
This adjustment will take time for some people, but it will become your new normal after a period of time. Life beyond 18 is all about stepping out of your comfort zone. This may take a while for you to adjust, but there are ways to make your new space feel like home. For example, taking your possessions and photo's from home, will make your new space feel familiar and comforting.
It is important to remember that everyone experiences feelings of loneliness when in a new environment, so you can find comfort that you’re not alone with these feelings! Embrace the change and you’ll leave university with a stronger head on your shoulders than when you started.
Financial Responsibility
Taking responsibility of your finances may be something you have never had to do up until this point, however it is an important part of maturing. Building a budget is the key to avoid overspending.
Putting aside your fixed expenses, such as your rent and food money per month allows you to see how much you have left over, which can then be allocated to entertainment, socialising, and other non-essentials. Importantly, having savings is great for if you find yourself in an emergency or just as a general practice. Studying at university means you can now enjoy student discount! A large range of shops, restaurants, lifestyle, and fitness brands offer student discount when you register with Unidays, or Student Beans, so make sure you make the most of the discounts whilst they are there.
Accountability over workload
Taking the jump from post 16 education to university can feel incredibly daunting when considering workload. By using your time wisely and planning your weeks, you can make sure you get time to complete your studies, whilst also having free time to enjoy the company of others and make new friends. You could make a study plan of some sort, this will steer you away from procrastination, and then your workload will be much more manageable, and you will be able to enjoy your free time as well as completing your studies.
It is valuable to remember to communicate and seek support from your tutors if you’re feeling overwhelmed or finding something difficult- it is important to remember that this is what they are there for and there’s no chance you’re the only one feeling that way.
Learning to cook
Cooking is a great way to relieve stress and take your mind off the pressures that university brings. If cooking isn’t something you’re used to, you can start off simple and build your skills over time. YouTube/TikTok tutorials can help guide you, along with cooking with your flatmates/friends. You may not get enough time to go out all the time, so a healthy meal is a great way to reward yourself. The cooking process also gets your mind off studying and gives you a short break for an hour or so. When you buy the ingredients for a recipe, you’ll soon realise the amount of money you can save by cooking your own meals.
Wellbeing in Transition
In your life Post-18, there will be lots of new experiences, it is therefore important to look after your health and wellbeing. We have spoke about some of the things which may be a big adjustment for you, so what should you do if you start to struggle?
Always speak to your friends and family, they know you best and so they might be able to tell you the best ways to help your situation. Remember to seek support at student services at your institution, this can also be important to ensure that you are supported with your workload and you can get extensions on your deadlines if necessary.
Not sure about how you feel? Try the NHS mood self-assessment:
How to Manage Stress:
The NHS recommends:
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10 stress busters – including getting started with exercise and setting aside time for yourself
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using easy time-management techniques to help you take control
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utilising calming breathing exercises
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planning ahead for stressful days or events – planning long journeys or making a list of things to remember can really help
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considering peer support, where people use their experiences to help each other. Find out more about peer support on the Mind website
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listening to free mental wellbeing audio guides
LiNCHigher Learning
We have some great videos on our Virtual Learning Environment, LiNCHigher Learning. The content is all free, just sign up for an account here:
What can help me on LiNCHigher Learning?
We have selected the following videos to best support anyone struggling with transition:
- John Stacey series - John Stacey from MenTalk Lincs covers Imposter Syndrome, Growth and Positive Mindset, Making Mistakes is Ok, Practicing Gratitude and Stress Management
- Wellbeing sessions - UoL Transition and Wellbeing team cover some great topics such as: Getting Ahead, Fresh Start and Emotional Fitness
See a preview of Emotional Fitness here...
