Why Choose Shared Housing with Unihousing

 Why Choose Shared Housing with Unihousing

From a university student's perspective, shared housing can be one of the most practical and rewarding decisions. Living with housemates at university offers a unique blend of economic, social and personal benefits, as it not only eases financial burden but also enriches the overall University experience by providing a supportive community and valuable life lessons. Interested in living in shared accommodation? Keep reading to find out more.

Cost-Effectiveness: One of the most significant advantages of shared housing is the ability to split expenses, groceries and bills, making it even more affordable compared to living alone. This arrangement can help you as a student save some money to be allocated to be spent on other personal essential expenses.

Builds a Supportive Community: Living with housemates creates a sense of community. University life can be challenging, especially if you are used to being around your family and friends. You may start to feel homesick and sometimes overwhelmed. Shared housing provides an opportunity to build strong relationships with your housemates and go through the emotions together, whilst also helping you build your social networks.

Gives a Boost to Your Social Life:  With your housemates around, you are more likely to engage in more social activities and even make friends quickly. You can share experiences, join clubs as well as attend events together. This will give you a more enriching and enjoyable university experience.

You Learn to Compromise and Communicate: Living in a shared house with a group of friends opens you up to learning some invaluable life skills such as effective communication, compromise, and conflict resolution. Successfully living with other people requires understanding and respecting different boundaries, preferences, and schedules which in turn will promote personal growth and maturity.

Shared Responsibilities: Housemates often divide household chores, such as cleaning, cooking, and grocery shopping. This not only saves time for individual students but also instils a sense of responsibility and teamwork.

Academic Support: Living with fellow students who are studying similar courses can help you achieve your academic goals. This will also help create an environment conducive to academics, and you could even try having group and individual study sessions during the week! These study sessions will help you all have a culture of learning and academic support.

Safety and Security: Sharing housing with others can provide an added layer of security. With multiple people present, the chances of encountering safety issues or emergencies are reduced. Additionally, students can look out for each other, promoting a safer living environment.

More Space and Amenities: Shared housing often provides a bit more space and amenities. You get to enjoy access to a fully equipped kitchen, larger living areas, and sometimes outdoor spaces too.

Flexibility and Freedom: By living with housemates, you will always have a group of friends to go out with, and you will never make the journey home alone either. You can all have fun together, but you can also look out for each other during events and on nights out.

Free Lifts: If any of your housemates drive, you will likely be able to get free/cheap lifts if your schedules coincide. This will help you save money and you can avoid the long walks and extra time spent travelling too! 

Preparation You For The Future: Shared housing serves as a transitional step between living at home and being completely independent. The skills you are learning during this phase will be invaluable when you eventually move into your own space one day.

In conclusion, choosing shared housing can be a wise decision for you if you are seeking a more social and well-rounded university experience.

Looking for Student Accommodation? Unihousing Can Help!

 

Unihousing is a student accommodation provider near the University of Birmingham, operating since 1984. All of our accommodation in Selly Oak is owned by us, so we can respond quickly to any requests using our qualified team of tradesmen. Our property office is located on Bristol Road, only a short walk away from all of our accommodation. This means we can deal directly with our tenants.

 

Unihousing was selected as the Number 1 Student Letting Agent in Birmingham by the UK's biggest fresher community, Unifresher.

 

Contact Unihousing today to find out more!

Tips For Navigating Your First Year Successfully

Tips For Navigating Your First Year Successfully

Starting out at university? It’s a whole world of adventure and uncertainty. You are not alone. Progressing through the first year at university can be both; exciting and challenging as you transition into a new phase of your academic life. Here are some tips to help you navigate your first year successfully:

Get Organized: Always set up a system to help you keep track of your assignments, deadlines, and class schedules. There are several digital tools to do this, but something as simple as keeping a good old diary can help. Staying organised will help you manage your time effectively and keep on top of things.

Attend Orientation Programs: Every university will have an orientation program before the academic year. Such programs are designed to help you get familiar with the campus, meet fellow students, and learn about crucial resources and support services. Be sure to take advantage of such programs offered by your university.

Establish A Routine: Establishing a consistent routine and sticking to it will help you stay on top of your studies and maintain a healthy school-life balance. It's good practice to set aside specific times for: studying, attending classes, socializing, and self-care.

Take Care of Yourself: The reality is that university life can be demanding at certain times, so it's crucial to prioritize self-care. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, exercise regularly, and manage stress through relaxation techniques or activities you enjoy.

Utilize Campus Resources: Take time to familiarize yourself with the various resources available on campus. These include academic support centres, libraries, counselling services, and career development offices. These resources can provide valuable assistance and guidance throughout your first year.

Be Proactive During Your Lectures: For whenever possible, try and actively participate in discussions, ask as many questions as you can to confirm that you have understood, and engage with your lecturers. Building relationships with your lecturers can be beneficial when you need help or guidance.

Manage Your Workload: Take time to understand the expectations and requirements for your course. This will help you plan your workload accordingly. Break down seemingly large assignments into smaller, manageable tasks, and above all else, avoid procrastination at all costs.

Get Involved in Activities on And Off-campus: You can consider joining clubs, volunteering with charities that help in the community, or sports teams that align with your interests. Getting involved in on and off-campus activities will help you meet new people, develop new skills, and create a sense of belonging.

Find A Study Routine That Works for You: As you start your first year at university, experiment with different study techniques and environments to discover what works best. Some people prefer quiet libraries, while others thrive in more active settings. Find which environment helps you focus and retain information effectively and go on with it.

Seek Help When Needed: Don't hesitate to ask for help. Whether it's academic support, mental health services, or assistance with personal challenges, your college likely offers resources to support you. Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Build A Support Network: Surround yourself with positive and supportive friends who share your academic goals. They can offer motivation, collaboration, and assistance when you need it. Additionally, maintaining connections with family and friends outside of college can provide emotional support during this transition.

Embrace New Experiences: The first year is a time of exploration and growth. Embrace new experiences, step out of your comfort zone, and take advantage of the opportunities available. University is not just about academics but also about personal development.

At the end of everything, always remember that university experiences and events are unique, so adapt these tips to fit your circumstances and goals. Enjoy the journey and make the most of your first year.

Looking for Summer Student Accommodation? Unihousing Can Help!

Here at Unihousing, we have some of the best properties all around Selly Oak with varying prices and sizes depending on whether you want solo or shared living. 

Unihousing is a student accommodation provider near the University of Birmingham, operating since 1984. All of our accommodation in Selly Oak is owned by us, so we can respond quickly to any requests using our qualified team of tradesmen. Our property office is located on Bristol Road, only a short walk away from all of our accommodations. This means we can deal directly with our tenants.

Unhousing was selected as the Number 1 Student Letting Agent in Birmingham by the UK's biggest fresher community, Unifresher.

Contact Unihousing today to find out more!

Tips On How To Manage Stress While At University - Part Two

Tips On How To Manage Stress While At University - Part Two

With students juggling their busy lives including fast-paced courses, heavy workloads, vigorous scheduling and deadlines piling up, it is not surprising that 37% of university students in England reported experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to a survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. The majority of students appear to be experiencing academic burnout, so here are a few tips to help you cope.

Find Someone To Talk To

Talking can be therapeutic and can provide some stress relief, even if it’s just a mere conversation about what you think is causing you stress. This can be a conversation with a friend, partner, University staff or even your parent. You are not alone! Although it might feel daunting at first to open up, most of us have likely struggled with similar issues. So, speak to someone. A problem shared is a problem halved. 

Identify Your Triggers And Try To Manage Them

Knowing your triggers and avoiding them where possible requires a bit of practice, which only comes from repeated patterns of observation and attention. Nobody will know you like you know yourself, therefore knowing what triggers you into stress is a good step toward being able to manage it. These can be things like social media, crowds, alcohol, lack of sleep, etc. Try to avoid situations that might cause you stress and in turn, you will feel more peaceful. Exercise a little more love for yourself.

Surround Yourself With The Right People

The friends we have and the people we spend our time with will heavily influence our day-to-day lives. People who bring negative energy into your life, don’t encourage you or listen to your ideas will likely also make you feel more stressed. It is therefore important to choose the right company. Nothing will give you a burst of energy quite like some quality time with the people who matter the most. 

Set Realistic Expectations

Setting goals for yourself is a good thing, but it’s also important that you are setting yourself realistic expectations and tasks that you can achieve. Creating goals for yourself that aren’t realistic and therefore are too hard to complete will cause you more stress in the long run. Although it may seem like the rewards are higher the more you work or achieve, this will likely take a toll on your mental health. Pushing yourself too hard, especially if you do not have the resources or the environment to achieve your goals, will cause you unnecessary stress and disappointment. The key point is to assess the resources available, and set realistic expectations based on those resources. This will help in avoiding stress overall. 

Identify Stress Outlets

Make an honest assessment of yourself and figure out what outlets help you ease the stress you already experience. This can be things like laughing, taking deep breaths or getting into hobbies like music, dancing, or reading a book. Getting to know the activities that help calm your mind will ensure that you have more control over your mind and body when you have poor mental health or experience stress.

If you feel your high stress and anxiety levels are causing distress or making it difficult to function in your daily life, it is important to seek help. Many universities offer resources that can help. You can also talk to a parent, another trusted adult, or a qualified doctor.

Looking for Student Accommodation? Unihousing Can Help! 

At Unihousing we have shared accommodations for everyone, from small friend groups to big friend groups and everything in between, there's housing for you and your friends. With our housing being just a walk away from the university it means you and your friends don't have to worry about getting up too early or coming home too late to do anything after uni.

Unihousing was selected as the Number 1 Student Letting Agent in Birmingham by the UK's biggest fresher community, Unifresher.

 

Contact Unihousing today to find out more!