Dos and Don'ts: Uni Packing!

It's nearly term time, so I'm back!
Here's a quick list of things I'd say don't bother, and things I would say are (almost) essential!
ps. some stuff may be tailored to York as, ya know, I've only gone there, but I've also asked around among friends

DO
- DOORSTOP: Kitchens get warm (if you're lucky enough to not have a kitchen door alarm), and being able to wedge your door open makes halls feel a little less like a hotel
- DRYING RACK: I can guarantee that you will get sick of paying £2.50+ just to dry/damage your clothes, I got very lucky and had flatmates who were willing to lend me theirs
- POSTER/WALL HANGING: You're going to want to make it your own, posters are the fast way to do this. Many rooms have premade pinboards or poster rails so you won't damage the walls! Whiteboard pens are a good shout for kitchens with whiteboards
- SHOWER BASKET: If you're in a room where the bathroom gets cleaned every few weeks, moving stuff in and out is a hassle, plastic baskets are the super easy answer
- (MINI) SPEAKER/AUX CORD: Pres in the kitchen are far better with music
- PREPARE COSTUMES: Especially with York Freshers week where there are pre-arranged themes, several people said to get these in order, even think forward to halloween as it'll be around before you know it!
- BOOK BAG: Yes it sounds cheesy like we're back at primary school, but a bag you can fit a folder and notepad in for lectures is an essential. Oh and a water bottle, freshers flu is real and coughing through lectures is not cool.
- LAPTOP: Came up several times in peoples answers, by far the easiest way to do your work, far better than a desktop computer as it takes up less space, and can go with you everywhere (I have an ASUS ZenBook and would recommend it if you're looking atm, it's the size of A4 and weighs about 1kg so perfect for rucksacs)
- COUGH MEDICINE: freshers flu is real, please be prepared for the sake of everyone else in your lectures 

DON'T
- PRINTER: Printing in the library costs very little, maybe 4p per page, and if you do certain feedback surveys, you can get free print credit. Connecting your devices to the university printers is usually explained on the IT Services page
- FUSILLI: So it's not something you'd take to uni, but when you do your first shop, don't go mad and buy the mega bag of fusilli, if you've seen Fresh Meat you'll understand (for those of you who haven't: you'll hate it and never finish it)
- EXCESS KITCHEN EQUIPMENT: It's likely you'll only ever use one mug, maybe 2 plates if you can't be bothered with washing up, and definitely no cake slices or place mats. Similarly with irons and toastie makers, it's likely you'll end up with several per flat, many of which will never be used. However, tupperware is v useful
- FANCY CLOTHING: Going out at uni is generally a pretty laid back affair, especially in York, heels are dangerous with cobbles
- BOOKS: Textbooks from 6th form are unlikely to be of any use, and a bit of light reading is something that you generally won't have time for. Unless you're an english student in which case it's not for relaxation. Recipe books as well, google holds all the answers for simple student food.

I hope you're all super excited to start your first term, and that this helps with any objects you're debating about taking.
All the best,
Bea x

Notifications

Bit of a jumble of thoughts today, but here goes...

It's a funny thing this technology age.
Part of me loves it, and part of me hates it. You see, there's something great about being able to go off the grid, but if you dare to do so, even for a few hours these days without telling someone, people seem to assume something is wrong. The stress that appears when a message is only showing as sent and not delivered, where could they be thats not on wifi, is their phone broken, are they okay?
Some people out there will try and convince you that wifi and the radio waves used are bad for your health. Personally, I find this hard to believe, but interpreted another way you could argue that it is. I don't think the waves are the harmful bit, I think it's the dependency. There's such a desire to be liked in society today, not in an emotional way, but in a click of a button way, this is what causes harm to people.
I went for a swim this afternoon, I was in the pool for no more than 45 minutes, 18 notifications waiting for me on my phone once I was back in the changing rooms. What's so beautiful about swimming is there is no wifi, no phone signal, no radios, no music. It's like putting yourself into airplane mode. It's just up and down, counting my strokes and my breathing, trying to line up the breaths with the markers on the pool floor, judging the distance for the turn. I guess it's a state of mindfulness. Focusing on nothing outside of that moment.
Last year when stress was coming from every angle possible, on my half days I'd drive out to the New Forest (Hampshire) and go for a walk. Often not planned but I always managed to find my way back to the car. Funily enough, there's no wifi there, or phone signal for that matter. Sometimes I'd take a camera, it's amazing how you find yourself looking so much more carefully at what's going on around you when you're holding a lens. Thinking critically about will that make a good photo. Not for Instagram, but just would it make a good photo.

A weird thing I've found myself doing since starting Uni is watching trash TV on my laptop everyday, often for several hours. Yesterday, even when I was hanging up my washing. What has this come to, can I not function without some narrative or noise going on at the same time, am I really that dependent on technology? I made a point of not taking headphones to walk to the gym, going to attempt to wean myself a little
I'm pretty sure I've gone about this in the most roundabout way possible but I guess I'm trying to say to take time out from technology. Whether it's setting up quiet hours on your phone (mine is 10pm-8am) so you can properly sleep, or just going to talk to a flat/house mate rather than messaging them (guilty of this). Find a place or activity where it's just you, no external thought or pokes or notifications or buzzes, whilst gadgets are popping up everywhere to do everything for us, it's important to take time off. You are an independent human being who doesn't need noise in your ear every hour of the day.
All the best,
Bea x

10 things every concert band member will know to be true

1.  Bandcest = relationships: Often contrasting sections, a very common one is upper woodwind and lower brass. Expect awkwardness 24/7 as there are always people breaking up and getting together
2. One drink down, and if there’s music there’ll be over-expressive singing and harmonising. God forbid there be a guitar nearby, let alone bongos. Key change? Everyone loses their minds
3. No rehearsal in the history of concert bands has ever started on time. It’s just one of those things that cannot physically happen
4. That one kid who never shuts up and we must all bask in their amazingness
5. The frustration that forms when you see an actor/actress/statue playing your instrument wrong
6.  Band kids freaking love biscuits
7.  It’s not considered even vaguely weird to listen to band pieces in your spare time, sometimes even while on the sesh
8.  Every band will have a different layout and note they tune to, just to screw with you
9.  Doesn’t everyone start Christmas in mid-November? Can’t forget sleigh ride! Let's not even start on busking...
10. Stereotypes and clichés were not created out of thin air