100+ Helpful Tips for Surviving and Thriving in Dorm Life

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100+ Helpful Tips for Surviving and Thriving in Dorm Life
December 8th, 2009
Online Colleges

Congratulations, college freshman. You graduated high school, got accepted to the university, and you’re about to embark on the happiest, wildest, scariest journey you could ever imagine. Part of the process is the infamous college dorm. You probably took a tour and saw an empty room, and perhaps it looked "spacious enough." Wait until you fill it with your body and your roommates, plus all the clothes, office supplies and textbooks each of you will bring. Fortunately, we have over 100 amazing tips and techniques for optimizing your space and overcoming any difficulty living in a dorm might impose.

Time Management

Though your dorm room is possibly the smallest living space you’ve ever experienced, it’s filled with more distractions than you know. Manage your time wisely, or your room might just lead you to your academic demise.

1. Ask the Experts: Get Ivy League tips for optimal time management.
2. Plan Each Week: Use this free printable planner to map out your weekly schedule.
3. Beat Procrastination: Learn the psychology of procrastination and the steps you need to take to beat the nasty habit.
4. Keep Track of Due Dates: This user-friendly device develops a work schedule for you based on your assignment due dates.
5. Know Your Daily Schedule: My Daily Schedule allots the 24 hours of your day into 12 categories.
6. Make To-Do List: Todoist is so fast and easy, it has its own fanbase.
7. Remember the Milk: You won’t only "remember the milk" with this tool, you’ll be reminded about important events, like your monthly dorm meeting.
8. Wake Up On time: This practical online alarm clock serves as back up when you have an early morning exam.
9. Learn From Your Own Habits: MyHours is a time management solution that allows you to track your work time, projects you must manage, and tasks you are scheduled to complete.
10. Use 30 Boxes: This calendar application is the college student’s best friend. You’ll never miss a meeting, test, birthday, or party again.

Organization

Welcome to the undersized, overloaded world of dormitories. You probably noticed a sudden onset of claustrophobia soon after you moved in. So what can you do to maximize your small living quarters, and turn your dorm room into a place that feels like home? Follow the tips below to a more comfortable, less suffocating space.

11. Bring Only What You Need: Sure, you’re moving far away and you’d like to take everything you can to remind you of home, but the truth is you really won’t have enough room. Follow the link above to your ultimate packing list.
12. Start with An Organized Move: If you begin your new dorm life with a messy move, you’re probably starting off on the wrong foot. Keep your packing and boxes organized, and you’ll be glad you did.
13. Use Space Effectively: Your dorm should already have some storage space available for you, so make sure you use it to its full capacity.
14. Find Your Floorplan: Before you get settled in, make sure you know how you’re going to define your space. Create your optimal layout for an optimal living situation.
15. Decorate, but Don’t Overdecorate: You might want to put up all your favorite pictures, but overdecorating your walls can make your room look smaller and darker. Stay on the safe side and don’t go overboard.
16. Watch a Bit of HGTV: Like you need an excuse to turn on the TV. These shows feature experts in organization and healthy housekeeping.
17. Break Bad Housekeeping Habits: This site was created to help readers break bad organizational habits within their homes.
18. Donate to Charities: Follow this rule: articles of clothing you haven’t worn in the last year should be donated to places like Goodwill. If you’re not wearing that old pair of jeans anymore, why not give them to someone who truly needs them?
19. Learn to Love Shoe Boxes: Stop throwing away old shoe boxes. You can store your shoes in them, since they stack easier than the shoes themselves, and keeping them is cheaper than buying a special shoe organizer.
20. Use Your Trash Can: If you feel overloaded with clutter, it’s probably because you’re hoarding things (papers, old notes, etc.) that you don’t need. Purge unneccessary documents, and don’t forget to recycle.

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