Surviving Life in College Dorms

Keep your room clean. This sounds so basic—but it makes a huge difference. No, mom and dad aren’t here to tell you to clean it up, but it will feel so much better to come home at the end of the day to a clean dorm room with a made bed. More clutter means more stress. So, keep clutter off the floor, don’t use your bed as a catch-all, and maintain an orderly, paper-free desk, which should be easy with the help of some good software. Your oh-so-picky roommate may actually thank you for keeping your side of the room nice and tidy. If your roommate skews slobby, you can relax a little knowing that at least your section is organized.

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Personalize your space. You will spend a few months living in your dorm, if not almost an entire year. Make it your own by organizing and decorating it your way. Hang a few posters on your wall, place picture frames on your desk, put down a small area rug, and use some cool lighting. Be respectful of your roommate when it comes to your choices. This is their home, too, after all. Keeping the peace in close quarters makes for a much better college dorm experience.

Keep snacks close by—but choose wisely. As a busy college student away from home, you may be tempted on many occasions to grab some fast food—or scarf down some cookies and chips from the vending machine. Instead, keep healthy snacks that you like close by. A mini-fridge filled with things like water, zero-sugar drinks, yogurt, fruit, and cheese snacks is a good start. Keep items like baked chips, butter-free popcorn, dried fruit and other healthy faves on hand, too. Having accessible snacks keeps you from foraging to the fried side and facing down the dreaded Freshman 15 —the 15 pounds of weight gain many college newbies experience their first year away from home. If you have a full kitchen, brainstorm healthy meal ideas in advance.

BYOE (bring your own entertainment). Chances are, you’ll make friends who have gaming consoles, computer games, a collection of movies, or whatever else you like to do during your free time. However, you shouldn’t rely on what other people have for your entertainment. No matter how good of friends you have, there should be a line with personal property. Having your own devices and movies can go a long way toward helping with your sanity while living in a dorm.

Invest in noise-cancelling headphones. Dorms can get noisy. There are a lot of people in close quarters, so it doesn’t take much for the noise level to get beyond where you’re comfortable. A nice pair of noise-cancelling headphones can help drown out some of the noise and make it easier to focus on what you’re doing. They’ll also be nice when you’re studying on campus and want to listen to some music without disturbing those around you.

Find an oasis (or two) away from your room. If headphones don’t do the trick, it’s not a bad idea to get out of your room and find a quiet place on or near campus. Find a few go-to spots where you’re comfortable—the library, student center, coffee shop, chapel, garden—or anywhere else you’d like. Think of it as a little retreat for when the dorm (or life in general) gets crazy. Having a few prime locations picked out near each of your classes also helps make sure you get there on time.

Make some friends. Figuring out how to survive dorm life on your own can be hard, but you don’t have to go it alone. Make some friends on your floor and throughout your building. Get involved in activities, clubs, and campus events. Some of the relationships you develop in college will turn into lifelong friendships.

Stock up on cold medicine. Did we mention there are a lot of people crammed in a small space in a dorm? Unfortunately, living that close to that many people makes you susceptible to getting sick when cold and flu season rolls around. Be prepared with cold medicine to help you get through it, so you don’t miss a few days of school or work. Make sure you’re up-to-date on all your required vaccines, as well.

Learning how to survive dorm life comes by doing it—but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have some tricks up your sleeve. To further maintain your sanity—stay organized and on top of all your assignments by taking advantage of exclusive student deals on productivity software, including all the popular apps you need to stay on top of college life.