Moving into student accommodation is, for most of us, the first time we fly the nest and live away from our family setting or childhood home. You’ll learn to cook and clean and do your own laundry, of course, but there are some other (surprisingly valuable!) skills that this time in your life might teach you. They’ll shape your life and benefit you long after you graduate…
Conflict resolution
You’ll be sharing your space – the kitchen and living area – with multiple other people, who you most likely won’t have met before. Of course, disagreements will be inevitable as you start to navigate this new scenario. Whether it’s noise levels, washing up duties, taking the bins out, or someone creating a mess, these things can get a bit awkward when you have to discuss them. You’ll learn how to address these issues calmly, working together to find a solution that suits everybody and putting boundaries in place where necessary. Compromise is often key here!
Reading the room
Naturally, while living with other people, your emotional intelligence and empathy will become sharper – you’ll be able to really notice and pick up on how your flatmates are feeling. From tough days and homesickness to just realising when everyone is in the mood for a takeaway or night out, you’ll become a pro at reading the room. This is a skill which definitely transfers well from student accommodation to educational and professional settings.
Budgeting
You might have learned about budgeting and money management in theory, or taken note of how your parents do it, but living away from home gives you the chance to do it yourself. Bills, food shopping, academic materials, nights out, new clothes, transport… it’s all got to fit into your budget, and this is a brilliant opportunity for you to learn how to manage your spending. You’ll make mistakes, of course, but these are teachable moments that will hopefully set you up with great spending habits as you progress into adulthood.
Time management
When you were younger, you might have been used to your parents or guardians setting your routine for you – waking you up for school/sixth form/college, getting you to and from sports clubs or other hobbies, reminding you to do homework and making sure you had enough time for dinner. While living away from home in student accommodation, you’ll be in charge of your own time. This can take some getting used to! From careful planning to making use of your calendar and alarm apps, you’ll really learn how to manage your own time: a crucial skill in the world of work.
Cultural awareness
This is a really important skill in today’s social and political climate. Being away from your hometown, surrounded by students from all over the place, is a huge chance to be introduced to a variety of cultures. You’ll learn about different perspectives, beliefs, habits and more, which will help you to become a more well-rounded and understanding person.
There is so much to learn when living away from home in shared student accommodation, and so much of it will set you up really well for your future career and adult friendships. Grab this opportunity with both hands!
