Listening to music can be a great way to stay motivated and concentrated. Music has such a powerful impact on our daily lives, and can even be a strong source to help us get through lengthy assignments and exam prep.&nbsp;

Many scientific studies have shown that music can improve motivation as it causes the brain to release dopamine: a chemical that regulates goal-oriented behaviour. Some studies even show that if you listen to soothing, relaxing tunes it can&nbsp;<a href="https://fedora.kug.ac.at/fedora/get/o:30677/bdef:Content/get">alter brainwave speeds to induce a meditative-like state.</a>

However, soothing music is different for everyone. Some might prefer soft, classical piano while others might prefer faster beats to accompany their study session.&nbsp;

In this blog, we gathered some great music playlists for students from YouTube and Spotify.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkgylOJSdhE">Rainy Day Coffee Shop Ambiance</a> | YouTube

This video is three hours of soft and soothing piano music set to background ambiance of raindrops falling fast around you. It offers a warm and cosy vibe, giving off the feeling of being somewhere comforting and safe. This is a great playlist for tasks like drawing or calculating. Formulaic and methodological tasks that lets your mind feel at peace.&nbsp;

<a href="https://open.spotify.com/">Melancholy Instrumentals</a> | Spotify &nbsp;

This playlist is a collection of beautiful and melancholy instrumental pieces that are easy on the ears. Listening to this playlist gives you the feeling of being in a large, ancient library. With soft amber light, comfy couches, elegant and long timber tables as well as layers and layers of large shelves filled with books from all over the world. There’s a quiet atmosphere that no one dares to break. This is a great playlist for when you need to sink yourself into research and get through reading journal articles or research papers.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgI6PjEq0O8">Midnight Aura</a> | YouTube&nbsp;

This video is a combination of jazzy lo-fi songs that have soothing and serene beats. It feels like sitting in the quiet night time air, where there’s not many people and only occasional sounds from outside. This is a great playlist for those late nights when you’re playing catch up on homework or assignments.&nbsp;

<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWV7EzJMK2FUI">Jazz in the Background</a> | Spotify

This Spotify playlist compiles a range of sultry jazzy tunes to keep you company. Listening to this selection gives off the feeling of sitting in a cosy café as you watch people walk along cobbled streets. It’s a great playlist for those days when you want to get some writing done. Brew some coffee in your favourite mug, get comfortable at your desk, pop on this playlist and let those words flow.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjhfczNR0sE">Butterfly Hug</a> | YouTube&nbsp;

This YouTube playlist has a gorgeous collection of mellow beats that are sure to put you in a relaxed yet focused mood. It’s a great one for when that mid-afternoon slump hits and you’re finding it hard to get on with your tasks. Take a few deep breaths, make yourself some sweet tea and let the tunes from this playlist slowly guide you back to productivity.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP9NLzsN_uE">Daydreaming with You</a> | YouTube

This YouTube playlist has a lovely collection of sweet and uplifting tunes that are sure to brighten your day! This is a great playlist for when you want to get some light cleaning or reorganising done. It fills the air with optimism and a fresh perspective, making it feel like you’re giving yourself a new start.&nbsp;

Build Your Uni Playlist with Campus Living Villages&nbsp;

At Campus Living Village we offer premium student accommodation across the world. It’s the perfect place to build your life and experience the wonders of studying with a whole community alongside you. Each person you meet will be a new track to add to your life’s playlist! Explore your options at <a href="https://campuslivingvillages.com/">Campus Living Villages today!</a>

Looking for playlists to get you focused and motivated to tackle all the tasks you have as a uni student? Here is a collection of playlists that do just that!

Soundtrack to your Uni Life! Playlists for the Student Mind

Moving into your place is an exciting adventure – you’ll get more independence, freedom and a chance to grow into your own person. But for many, moving straight into your own place might not be financially viable. And it could be easier navigating this life change with others in a similar situation.&nbsp;

Which leaves the option of renting a space with other people. Living with housemates can be a great experience and help you learn about yourself. However, it does come with its own challenges.&nbsp;

Campus Living Villages has some advice on how to make your apartment a happy and comfortable shared space.&nbsp;

The first thing to ensure is everyone in the house practices open and honest communication. The first step is to set some ground rules as a household. Learn what everyone is and isn’t comfortable with. From there you can start a group chat for easier communication and if necessary, hold monthly house meetings just to check in and see how everyone is going.&nbsp;

If there is something that is making you uncomfortable or a habit you don’t like, it’s important to flag it with your housemates and have a discussion to avoid any arguments or fallouts. Conversely, you need to be open to hearing any criticism or advice given to you by your housemates and change your behaviour accordingly.&nbsp;

It’s important to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of your home. And to ensure that everyone is doing their share of the cleaning, it’s good to create a roster. You can divide the chores up into equal parts, and switch between housemates every cleaning session.&nbsp;

It’s good to take this opportunity to determine a cleaning schedule as well as how you would like to go about doing more smaller tasks: like throwing out trash, taking the bins out and clearing dishes from the dish rack. Some households might like to have a schedule while others just go with whoever notices the task needs to be done. The most important thing is making sure everyone living in the house is comfortable with the arrangement.&nbsp;

Aside from rent and utility bills, there are many other communal household expenses that tend to crop up. From buying cleaning supplies to shared products and kitchen utensils. Create a spreadsheet or have a system to keep track of how much everyone is spending on these extra expenses.&nbsp;

It is usually too much of a hassle to divide the price every time someone buys something for communal use. The easier method is to track everything in a spreadsheet and work out the spending at the end of each month.&nbsp;

Sometimes being constantly surrounded by people even in your home can be a bit much. Knowing your housemates’ schedule can help you plan for moments when you need a bit of alone time in the house.&nbsp;

But on top of that it can also help you be mindful and respectful of each other’s space. If you know your housemate has a 6am start the next morning, you can do your part to ensure you’re not watching things loudly or creating any ruckus late into the night.&nbsp;

Finally, it’s always better if the people you live with can be your friends too! It’s a great bonding activity for housemates to hang out. Plan a trip to the movies or organise a fun day out hiking, it gives you the opportunity to do exciting things and get to know the people you’re living with.&nbsp;

Find the Perfect Shared Living Solution with Campus Living Villages&nbsp;

We have a range of apartments available across many different countries. So if you’re looking for your first home away from home, we have the <a href="https://campuslivingvillages.com/">perfect solution</a> for you.&nbsp;

Worried about living with other people? Campus Living Villages has some advice on how to make your apartment a happy shared space. 

Advice for Living with Roommates: How to Make Your Apartment a Happy Shared Space!

Starting university is an exciting, overwhelming and unique experience for everyone. From meeting new people to living in new places and a completely different learning experience—there’s so much on the table.&nbsp;

One area that should be given attention, is your approach to finances. For many, university is the stepping stone towards becoming a proper adult. You have more responsibilities and are more accountable for taking care of yourself. So, here we have some useful, insightful tips on budgeting and managing your finances as a university student.&nbsp;

The first step is knowing what you want to do. Do you have a savings goal? Do you just want to ensure you’re not spending more than you have? Set yourself realistic and achievable financial goals and then go about planning how to meet them.&nbsp;

Spreadsheets are a great way to create a visual picture of your cash flow. Record your monthly earnings and overall balance. Set monthly, weekly or even daily budgets. Give yourself some rules to follow and start listing ways you can fulfil those rules.&nbsp;

Tip 2 | Take Advantage of Your Student Card&nbsp;

Having a university student card brings many great benefits. Places at your university as well as franchises and stores outside, offer a range of discounts and savings for university students. It can be something as simple as a 10% discount on coffee or savings on textbooks and other study material.&nbsp;

Any small amount you can save, will definitely go a long way. Don’t be afraid to check which places offer student discounts and do research into what type of savings you are eligible for with your student cards.&nbsp;

Tip 3 | Keep Track &amp; Analyse Your Spending&nbsp;

It is also important for you to be aware of where and how you’re spending your money. Create a little expenditure section in your spreadsheet to keep track of spending.&nbsp;

This is great for visual accountability, but it also gives you the chance to analyse your spending and make improvements for the future. If you notice you are spending a bit too much on eating out, you might need to make more effort with taking packed lunches to University. If you notice that you’re needing more university supplies than you expected, you can move your budget around to increase spending in that area.&nbsp;

This is a great method to help you understand your spending habits and give you insights into how you can better manage your day-to-day finances.&nbsp;

Tip 4 | Plan Your Grocery Shopping &amp; Look Out for Specials&nbsp;

It’s easy to go overboard with the grocery shopping sometimes. To make sure you are not buying more than you need, it is better to create a grocery list before you head to the shops. Whether it’s a physical list to hold as your browse through the aisles, or just a note on your phone that you can cross check before paying at the counter, it’s better to have a plan.&nbsp;

Many grocery stores also have sales and specials on at various points of the year. Follow their social media or subscribe to email alerts, so you know what these specials are. It’s always a good idea to stock up on non-perishables when there’s a sale for significant savings.&nbsp;

Another great way to save money, is to opt for second-hand items instead. From textbooks, to clothes and even furniture, there’s many choices even when going second-hand. Your local op-shops are a great place to check out for clothes, books and homeware items. Websites like gumtree and giveaway Facebook groups, are great for second-hand furniture. Plus, there’s always garage sales and second-hand markets that pop up from time to time.&nbsp;

Buying items from these places can save you anywhere between 20-70% off retail price so it’s definitely worth going a bit off the beaten track.&nbsp;

Start small and work your way from there&nbsp;

Budgeting can seem like a huge task and you can feel slightly out of depth. However, the key takeaway is that you should start somewhere and be diligent about maintaining thrifty habits. Even if it’s just limiting your weekly spend or committing to takeaway food only on the weekends. Any start is a good start. And before you know it, you’ll become a budgeting whizz.&nbsp;

Starting university is an exciting, overwhelming and unique experience for everyone. Here are have some useful tips on  managing your finances as a university student. 

Tips for Budgeting Finances as A University Student

We are so fortunate to be living in the era of technology. Knowledge, information and the ability to observe many different perspectives are available right at our fingertips. As students, now is the best time to immerse yourself into a range of different realities and use this opportunity to learn more about the world around you.

Numerous movies across all languages and cultures allows you to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and teach you to empathise with those you might not have met yet. Here are some fascinating movies to broaden your perspective.

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind | English

This science fiction romantic drama film explores themes of love and loss, as well as the fleetingness and resilience of our memories. The film centres around a couple who went through a painful breakup and have decided to erase all memories of each other. It explores the depths of the human experience of love and emotions. Why do we try so hard to forget pain and hurt? Is it worth getting rid of all your memories of a person—even the happiest ones? If you do have a spotless mind (no memories of the times your heart hurt, or your fists clenched, or moments where all there was to do was cry), do you get eternal sunshine (happiness always)?

If you’re in the mood to explore the joys of romance and the sorrow of break-ups, this is a great watch!

This movie won four awards at the 2020 Oscars, including the esteemed Best Picture Award. Well-written, well-shot and with fantastic acting—this movie explores class discrimination and greed in Korea. The film centres around the destitute Kim family as they try to worm their way into well-paying jobs from the wealthy Park family. This movie portrays class struggles in an eye-opening way, really showing how money affects people’s thoughts, behaviours and actions. It’s a great perspective into how capitalism functions and how it hurts those at the bottom of the hierarchy.

This movie takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, from laughter and tears to anger, heartbreak and fear. The entire spectrum of human emotions neatly wrapped up in 2 hours and 12 minutes.

Her, is a science fiction romance film that explores humanity’s ever-growing attachment to machines and things. The plot follows a sensitive man that is going through heartbreak and loneliness after his marriage ends. During this time, he becomes fascinated with a new operating system that develops a unique and intuitive identity—think an extension of the Siri and Alexa programs we have today. He eventually starts developing feelings for this artificial intelligence (AI). This film does a great job at navigating our deeper reliance on technology, especially AI. When we talk and converse with technology, how does it affect our relationship with this inanimate object? Can we still get attached to something that isn’t human, but talks, responds and makes you feel like you are interacting with one? Is this a potential reality given the rapid development of AI and other human-like technology on the horizon?

A beautiful movie with a lovely score to match, this film will have you rethinking your relationships with your smartphones and other smart devices.

Taare Zameen Par (Like Stars on Earth) | Hindi

This beautiful, feel-good movie explores the importance of having good educators and the struggles of having different learning abilities. The movie follows a young boy, Ishaan, who has dyslexia and is constantly being put down for not being able to do things ‘normally’ at home and at his boarding school. A newly transferred art teacher, Ram Shankar, notices his struggles and starts helping him discover his potential despite his differences. This emotional drama shows you how our societal structures can be so ingrained that we forget to make room for those that are different. Something simple for some can be a monumental and difficult task for others.

Laugh, smile and cry as you watch Ishaan break barriers and help those around him learn to understand and embrace him for who he is.

A never-ending supply of exciting experiences

These are merely some of the thousands of movies created by the artists and creatives of our world to help inspire and teach. We love hosting movie nights at <a href="http://groupclv.com/">all our village campuses</a>! So, if you have a particular movie that you’ve been wanting to watch, why not make it an event and get some friends to join in so you can learn, grow and laugh together.

Movies are more than just entertainment. You can learn so much and get a broader perspective of our world and the many different experiences we have in it.

Learning Through Entertainment: Movies to Broaden Your Perspective | Campus Living Villages

Learning Through Entertainment: Movies To Broaden Your Perspective

Are you a future marketing/communications professional looking to get some experience?

Or do you have a knack for writing and you’re looking for a platform to share your talent? If yes, you could get published on the CLV blog!

If you want to make it as writer or work in a communication related field, having a portfolio of published work is crucial to getting your next gig, and we’d love to help. 

We’re opening up the CLV blog for student submissions, and we’d love to see your writing.

To get published, here’s what you need to do:

1.	Read and understand the CLV values and blog guidelines

2.	Have a look at our existing blogs to get an idea of the style of content we publish, and make sure your idea is an original one that we haven’t covered before

5.	Submit it through this form, with a short bio about yourself.

Each month, we will select some of our blog submissions to publish. If your blog is selected, we will email you to let you know, and send you a little thank you gift. We get a lot of submissions, so it may take us a while before we get to yours.

We look for original, interesting content that shares a student perspective and provides value to other students. Blog submissions we publish are high-quality writing that reflects the writing style/tone of the CLV Blog

Note that we will only accept blogs that meet our values and guidelines, so please make sure you have read them carefully before you start writing.

•	The CLV blog is about sharing support, encouragement, advice and useful information that is relevant to Village and Campus life

•	All of our blog posts are respectful, positive, supportive and inclusive, and provide value to our residents and readers

•	Being inclusive means not using inside jokes people wouldn’t understand, not being negative (especially about others), not leaving anyone out, and remembering that our students are diverse, and are often international students or speak English as a second language

•	Your writing should be professional and not contain mistakes; however, it is a more friendly, conversational style than a uni essay. Think about how you would talk to your friends and family.

•	All content must be unique, original and written by you and must not contain any personal or confidential information about yourself, others or a business.

•	We would love to see unique/original images you have taken, to accompany your posts, but we cannot publish other people’s images. If you do not have an image, we will find one.

•	We do not publish anything that goes against our aims of having a happy, welcoming, inclusive, healthy and safe community. 

•	We will not accept or publish anything that is offensive, inaccurate, political, or overly critical of individuals or companies — this is not a site to air grievances.

•	We reserve the right to edit your article to meet our guidelines and objectives, for accuracy including writing a new headline or making edits in the future to ensure the content still stands.

•	Link to your sources – you don’t need full citations, but if you state facts, statistics or claims, you should link to a verified source to back it up (hyperlink the text)

Blogs should fit within one or more of the following categories:

Here are some writing prompts to help make sure your is accepted. If you have a different idea that doesn’t fit within these prompts, first, make sure it fits into one of the categories above, then have a look at https://campuslivingvillages.com/blog to see the style of article on there and decide if you think it would fit. Then, submit the form with your pitch for the article (before writing it), and we’ll be in contact to let you know if we think it would suit.

•	Local Guide – what are the best places in your local area? From cheap eats to cool bars and fun activities, where would you tell someone new to the Village to explore near you? What are some must-do experiences at uni and in your local area?

•	Advice I wish I knew – what advice do you wish someone told you before you came to uni? To the Village? What piece of advice did you receive that totally changed your uni experience?

•	Study tips – what are your best tips for study success? How do you balance life and studies?

•	Healthy Living – how do you keep your mind and body healthy with the stresses of uni? What advice do you have for students? You might like to tell us about your experience trying meditation or going to a new type of fitness class, or give us a great workout to do from a cool space in the Village

•	Masterchef – do you have an awesome recipe that your flatmates love? Share it! Don’t forget to take a photo of your masterpiece and tell us why you love it and how you came across (or created) it.

•	Lifestyle on a budget – what advice, ideas or experiences can you share with other students about living on a budget? From travel and experiences to saving money to shopping smarter

•	Uni insider – what inside knowledge about the university do you have to share with your fellow students?

•	Humans of the Village – got an interesting friend at the Village who’s doing cool things? Interview them and write a profile about them. Don’t forget to take a picture. We’d love to know: what are they studying? What has their experience at uni been like? The Village? What are their career aspirations? What are their hobbies? Why is their story interesting?

While these prompts are quite general, blogs that area really interesting often zero in on a particular topic, for example under the Local Guide prompt, you don’t need to do a total guide to the neighbourhood, but you might get more specific such as ‘A new Axe throwing experience just opened and here’s why you should try it’ or for Health and Wellbeing you might write about ‘How having hobbies outside of study can improve your wellbeing’ or ‘How to make sure you’re getting enough sleep to stay happy and healthy’

•	Make sure your article has an intro, body and conclusion.

•	Make it easy to read by using headings throughout and bullet points/lists (people like to skim-read blogs).

•	Your writing should be professional, but conversational and friendly. Blogs are not formal like essays, but still, need to be well structured and explain your concepts well.

•	Not sure what that means? Have a look at the CLV blog for an idea or professional lifestyle blogs such as Concrete Playground or Urban list. Something like Pedestrian TV is often too informal/not professional enough.

•	Keep your writing straight forward – long, formal words are not required in a blog, and shorter sentences are better than long, complex ones. Avoid unnecessary filler words – use your natural voice.

•	Paragraphs should be no more than three to five sentences long.

•	Think of a catchy, short headline that will capture people’s interest and make them want to read more. 

There are some great free tools you can use that will help show you when to cut down or simplify a sentence, such as http://www.hemingwayapp.com/

Submit your blog <a href="https://form.asana.com?k=dH7CSEvCzb2Vkm0YonWOgA&amp;d=404321618843350">here</a>!

Get published on the CLV blog!

O’Week changes depending what year you’re in…

Uni’s all over Australia are about to kick off their O’Week’s, and if you’re just starting uni, now would be a good time to pencil it in to your calendar. O’Week is about starting the year with a bang, by introducing you to clubs and societies, meeting new people and completely immersing yourself in campus-culture. Depending on what year you’re in, your opinion about O’Week will change, and you’ll notice it.

Yes, that’s you. You are the puppy. You’re a fresh-faced school-leaver with a clean slate, so O’Week is the place to be if you plan on jumping in with both feet – which you should. You and the rest of the newbies will run around campus eating free food and collecting bags of freebie pens that you definitely won’t use, but hey, free stuff. You’ll also join a bunch of clubs and then unsubscribe a few weeks later when the novelty starts to wear off, but you’ll stick with one or two and get involved with them. This is a good thing! O’Week for 1st-years is about throwing yourself into the thick of things and finding out what you enjoy. Go forth, young padawan.

By the time you hit your second year of uni, you’ve had enough time to realise how precious food is, and how difficult it is to manage your money if you’re doing it for the first time. O’Week is a 2nd-years freebie heaven – free food, stationery, lollies, coupons, discounts, giveaways, raffles – if it’s a tangible object and it’s less than full price, you’re probably about to swoop on it. There’s no shame in it, take advantage of every student discount and free packet of noodles available to you – student budgets are real, so take a big bag with you and reap the benefits of societies trying to recruit you through handing out Mi Goreng. That’s dinner sorted&nbsp;

You’ve been here for three years now, and you’re aware of what happens at O’Week – the question is, can you be bothered checking it out? I mean, you’ve got work in a few hours, and uni starts next week so you want to make as much extra money as you can before you have to cut down your work shifts for classes. Your friends are keen to check it out, but you know it will be the same as the last time you went and you’ll walk away with a free pen and a uni-bar coupon that you’ll forget to use because it only lasts for one week. Eventually you’ll pick a day to look at the stalls, get a free chocolate milk and go home. You’ve done this all before.

Group chat: Wanna go check out&nbsp;campus?

By now, a school-leaver looks like a toddler with a smartphone. You forgot it was O’Week and showed up to campus to buy your textbooks, only to realise you’re well into your early-twenties and first-years are&nbsp;ev-ery-where. Luckily, you know your way around campus so weaving through buildings to get to the bookshop is easily done and you won’t get side-tracked. You might check a few things out if it suits you, but you’re not focused on it. You know what clubs you enjoy being a part of, so the novelty of trying new things has worn off. You’ll probably head home and get a head-start on your readings.

Everyone is different, and O’week is for everyone, no matter what year you are in. Your priorities just shift over time, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But still, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of free ramen either, if you can get it&nbsp;

Uni’s all over Australia are about to kick off their O’Week’s, and if you’re just starting uni, now would be a good time to pencil it in to your calendar. Depending on what year you’re in, your opinion about O’Week will change, and you’ll notice it.

O'Week: How It Changes When You're Not A Newbie

I’ve done a few stupid things in my life to blow my money before Christmas. So by that score, I have eternal knowledge when it comes to the student ability to spend money on things that have absolutely no meaning or importance to you whatsoever. We tend to go a little overboard after uni is finished – we have drinks with friends, buy takeout food, and indulge in the euphoric freedom of being released from the shackles of academic obligation. And while you definitely deserve to let loose, here are a few things worth remembering when you ponder your next impulse purchase.

If the answer is yes, put your wallet away. You don’t need a snowboard, this is Australia. You’re high off finishing exams, and money isn’t a concern for you right now. But trust me, if you buy that thing you’re gonna stare at it with resentment one day when you realise you’ve never been a snow sports person and try to sell it on eBay for half the price. Walk away.

I’m speaking as a female, but I have a sneaky suspicion this applies to men as well (call it market research) – I like the feeling of having a new top to wear, or something different going on when I’ve hit a big milestone, like finishing exams. Did I need to cut my hair? No. Was I in dire need of that $249.95 playsuit? Of course not. But it’s pretty so shut up. My point is, you don’t need that stuff if you’re just buying it out of excitement, if you’re cashed up then go for it… But are you really cashed up?

Is there something I need to save money for?

Self-explanatory, I know. But I’ve spent money on a case of beer before I needed to pay my rent, and it’s not a great feeling when you can’t take an impulse decision back. Sure, the beer was great, and refreshing, and I deserved it, and I had fun… What was I talking about again? Oh right. I couldn’t pay my rent, and that’s bad. Buy a 6-pack.

Do I want to give everyone I-O-U’s for Christmas?

Don’t be that guy on Christmas morning (or evening, depending on what you’re into) that comes up short with gifts. If you’re not the gift-giving type of family then this section isn’t important, move on. If you’re family does give gifts, then they’ll probably raise their eyebrows when all you managed to buy them was a packet of Sultanas and a $3 iPhone case. Hint: if you’re low on funds, buy them a book, or an assorted bag of lollies and chocolates that you bought in bulk from Coles – no one complains about that.

Because if it is, lack of money is going to take a baseball bat to it. Wanna go halves on a pizza? Nope. Keen to see a movie? Sorry. You get to sit at home and eat ramen until you cry. One of my roommates once said “Wanna split a milk?” and it was possibly the most accurate reflection of how it feels to be a broke uni student. You literally can’t do anything with your friends if you spent all your money on something you didn’t need, so make sure you budget for a social life – it doesn’t have to be much. Just resist spending money on things you don’t need. Resist.

Just to be clear, I’m not saying you shouldn’t treat yo’self for finishing exams, definitely pat yourself on the back for getting through that noise. But Just reign it in, yeah? Chrissy will be way better if you’re not broke AF.

We tend to go a little overboard after uni is finished. And while you definitely deserve to let loose, here are a few things worth remembering when you ponder your next impulse purchase.



How To Budget Your Way Through Christmas

There are more than a few things to consider when you’re moving out of home, and it’s a daunting prospect if you’re living on your own for the first time. Sure, it’s probably going to be one of the most exciting times of your life, but it’s also a big step into adulthood, and there are a few things to consider before you rush in. Here are the pros and cons of living in student accommodation on campus – from someone who lived there for four years:

Particularly if you live at a CLV Village. Living off campus means your internet and utilities are controlled by different providers, so bills come at different stages throughout the year. Money is most likely going to be at the centre of all your decision making when you move out of home, so knowing your utilities are included in the rent price is great for a little peace of mind. No nasty electricity bills sneaking up on you is definitely in the pros list.

Your social life is practically a sure thing

When I moved in to the Village I had no idea what to expect. Would I make friends? Do they have apps for friendships? What if no one likes me? You’re definitely going to ask yourself all of these questions (and maybe download some questionable apps) before you move in, but once you get there and start attending events, your social life will be sorted. I couldn’t go 48 hours without hearing about an event, or seeing free food being served nearby, or being invited to some sort of beach day outing.&nbsp;

I remember in my first year when I was trying to figure out how much pasta to cook for one, I was generally cooking about 6x more than that and eating 3x what I should have been. It’s very easy to just sit back and eat instant noodles when you’re busy with uni or low on money. Sometimes living on campus means you’re confined to a bit of a bubble in the community, and don’t get me wrong, most of the time that’s an awesome thing, but in terms of cooking and putting effort into keeping yourself healthy, it’s very easy to get lazy. Keep this in mind when you start to notice more Mi Goreng than fresh food in your kitchen!

Uni is hard. There’s no getting around that fact – it’s academically challenging, you’re most likely in a new city, and you start out not knowing anyone. That can take a toll if you’re a bit nervous about settling in to your new life. One of the best things about living at the Village was the support network I had – at no point in the four years that I lived there did I feel like I didn’t have anyone to talk to. Even the cleaning lady was one of the nicest people I’d ever met. And yes, you might not feel comfortable talking to complete strangers about feeling lonely or homesick, but the RA’s at the Village have most definitely been through the same experience. The community of like-minded people on campus is definitely a point in the pros column.

Whichever way you go, moving out of home is an exciting time, and you’re bound to have fun either way. Me? I’m an on-campus girl. Some of my best memories were from living at the Village, and I met some of my best friends there. However you look at it, just make sure you have the right balance of academic support and social life – that’s all you’ll need to get through uni&nbsp;

Here are the pros and cons of living on campus – from someone who lived there for four years.

Living in Student Accommodation: the Pros & Cons

Lets face it, food rules everything we do.

And if it doesn’t, then you’re kidding yourself, because food is probably one of the greatest joys to grace the planet. Many of my most memorable days have something to do with a large selection of seafood, and if I go to a party I am almost exclusively the person lingering at the snack table. No shame, just a fact. While food takes up 80% of the better moments of my life, it’s very easy for us to forget when a healthier alternative is available. No, I don’t mean swap a Chicken Schnitzel for a garden salad (please, I’m not a monster) – I just mean that there are standard ingredients out there that are very easily incorporated into your meals so it’s not cutting years off your life. For example:

While it’s refreshing AF, drinking OJ basically ensures you’re not getting any of the natural fibre content. The pulp and skin is usually removed from the juices you can buy at supermarkets. It also means there’s a lot more sugar included than you think. Skip the juice altogether and head to the fruit &amp; veg aisle – you’ll feel fuller and you’ll actually be reducing your calorie intake*.

Yes, okay, I know deep-fried food is often the key to happiness, but in this case the happiness isn’t worth it if you only live to 45. You can still crisp the hell out of your food by pan-frying your veggies or meat in a skillet with cooking oil. Easy swap.

Now before you run in the other direction at the thought of any do-it-yourself task in the kitchen, calm down. Using basic oil and balsamic vinegar as a dressing is a lot better for you than the processed dressings you can buy in the supermarket. A “less is more” approach to dressing will usually taste better, you’ll feel better, and you won’t be spending anywhere near as much money. You’re welcome.

If this one hadn’t already occurred to you, Greek Yoghurt serves the same purpose as most dishes that have sour cream, so you’re amping up the protein without too much of a change in taste, consistency, or price. Not to mention it’s less calories (if that’s what you’re counting).&nbsp;So yes, burrito’s are technically still on the menu…

I could sit here and write a whole blog on the great things that avocado does for the universe, but I don’t have that kind of time. Sure, butter lasts longer in the fridge, but if you buy under-ripe avocados and let them sit for a couple of days, you’ve instantly got a natural butter alternative, and it tastes amazing. Spread that bad-boy out over toast and add some sea salt.

There is absolutely no shame in asking for a doggy bag when you can’t finish your meal in a restaurant. I did it for the entirety of my uni life and I still do it now. Often when we go out to dinner we tend to overeat because the food is just sitting there. When you realise you’re getting full, take the rest home! That’s your lunch sorted for tomorrow.

If food swaps aren’t your thing,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-200-calories-look-like.htm" target="_blank">check out this website</a>&nbsp;that compares portions of food that equal 200 calories. I apologise in advance for all the shocking revelations you’re about to have about your all-to-frequent M&amp;M binge (again, no judgement, I’m eating chocolate right now).&nbsp;

A healthy body means a healthy mind! Here are our top food swaps that will help your delicious meals be just a little bit healthier.

Easy Food Swaps To Help You Survive The Summer

What with assignments, exams, presentations and classes still happening, you tend to forget about your well-being. A lot of the time when uni gets stressful I tend to eat like crap, and sleep comes&nbsp;secondary to deadlines. While this seems like it might be the most efficient way to get things done, it’s not. Your mental health needs just as much attention as your uni work. If you’re starting to feel the weight of uni assessments start to get too heavy, try a few of these.

Duh. It seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how long you can go without drinking water during the day. If you’re downing coffee and RedBull like it ain’t no thang, maybe throw in a glass of water in between your caffeine. It’s fine if you want to get an energy kick, just make sure water is part of the equation. Dehydration can impair short-term memory function and long-term memory recall – kind of important if you’re studying with the purpose of remembering stuff…

Another no-brainer to people who pay attention to their mental health needs. But not to everybody. Fresh air wakes you up and energizes you – outdoor exercise leads to a boost in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20532772,00.html#make-friends-with-fresh-air-0" target="_blank">natural killer cells, neutrophils and monocytes</a>, which ultimately increases immune functions. Basically you’re less likely to get sick from being stuck in the library with a bunch of other sleep-deprived students.

Not all the time, but just for the super busy times of year. Sleep is so important, and there are a bazillion reasons why. It’s involved with increasing immune function, memory and learning. It also curbs inflammation which is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis and premature aging. Need I say more?

It may seem like a chore, but setting time aside to cook your meals can make a huge difference to the way you feel. Apart from getting to eat, there are a few reasons why cooking gets you in a better state of mind:

Whatever your remedy is, it’s important to incorporate all of the above if you want to make it through assessment time without having a mini-meltdown. Just allow yourself the time to take things at your own pace and don’t forget about looking after your head.

What with assignments, exams, presentations and classes still happening, you tend to forget about your well-being. Here are a few things you can do to keep your mental health in tip-top shape.

Spring Clean Your Mental Health

While we’re a holiday destination ourselves, we live pretty close to some awesome holiday locations. You have a lot at your fingertips if you have enough money saved up. And the best part? It’s not that expensive to begin with… Here are a few of the best holiday destinations just hours from your Aussie home. Thank me later.

A pretty obvious pick for anyone who is visiting Australia for the first time. Our distant-cousin-of-a-country is just a few hours away and stands alone when it comes to beauty and natural phenomena. If you’re into mountaineering, hikes, treks and snow sports, definitely head to NZ. If the physical demands don’t appeal to you, it’s also bursting with gorgeous scenery and Lord of the Rings tourism. Hit up Rotorua or Lake Taupo for some great walks and sight-seeing, or head south to take in the Remarkables. Trust me, google it.

If the cold climate doesn’t appeal to you, that’s cool, because just north of New Zealand sits a&nbsp; series of island countries that seem to exist solely for the purpose of taking your breath away. Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji are popular getaways for Australians looking to escape the grind – and if you head over there you’ll see why. Crystal clear water, snorkelling, diving, rainforests and beautiful seafood. It’s a no-brainer, really.

You won’t need your passport for this one. Tassy is the Southern-most point of Australia – and yes, if you were wondering, it is part of the country. Don’t let the body of water fool you. A modest tourism scene that treads a fine line between Australian and New Zealand scenery, Tasmania manages to be a holiday destination and a small town at the same time. Take in some beautiful bush-walks, check out the art galleries or relax by some of the bluest beach water Australia has on offer.

A lot of the students who visit Australia and spend their time on the East coast will forget that we’ve got an amazing city on the other side of the country. I was born here and I still forget how big Australia is, but if you take the 5-hour flight across the desert plains, you’ll find yourself in a beautiful Australian city that is totally underestimated for its local Australian flora and fauna. Head out to Rottnest Island and hang out with the Quokkas, hit up the Little Creatures Brewery and other great restaurants in Fremantle, or road trip down to the gorgeous Margaret River for some famed Australian wine.

You don’t have to visit New Zealand to see mountains. Yes, the NZ mountains are definitely incredible and unrivalled by anything in Australia, but the Blue Mountains region has a charm all of its own. Oozing the ancient history of the Aboriginal tribes that once lived there, the Blue Mountains have some amazing walks and natural sites to take in. The best part? It’s just a train ride away from Sydney. If you’re on the East coast, definitely put this on your list.

You probably won’t get to see all of these during your time studying (and if you do, wow, well done), but if you tick one or two off the list, you’ll be all the better for it. In this part of the world we’re very lucky, so why not take advantage?&nbsp;

Here are a few of the best holiday destinations just hours from your Aussie home. Thank me later.

Semester Breaks That Wont Break The Bank

By that I mean: “how the hell does life work outside of the Village…” It very suddenly occurred to me, as I was lining up apartment inspections, that outside of the Village no one really cares if you’re feeling ready for the real world or not. Do you have money? Are you sane? Cool. You qualify for an apartment the size of a shoebox. Go off into the world and be a good little adult (*real estate agent pats your head patronizingly*). Here are five sobering realisations you will have&nbsp;when you finally move out of the Village.

No more all-in-one bills to pay – everything is divided and controlled by different companies. You might be lucky and get into a building that manages all of those expenses, but that’s not generally something you can rely on or expect. Get ready to budget the crap out of your life. Internet, gas and electricity bills might be deducted at different times. Set alarms on your phone so you don’t buy a $15 burrito and have your lights turned off.

You don’t get any control over your neighbours

At the Village you might have been able to deal with noisy neighbours by knowing that rules are in place to control the noise – this does not apply. Sure, there are stipulations within leases that require good behaviour from apartment tenants, but that doesn’t mean you’re not going to share a wall with a screaming newborn. If you’re living in the city it’s a matter of luck as to who your neighbours are. You might get some great neighbours! And if you do, let me know. I need a new apartment.

Staff aren’t there to turn on the power

If there’s a storm and your power goes out, sorry, ain’t no RA around to venture out into the dark for you. Either you are expected to do that yourself, or you'll have to wait for your property manager to organise someone to come out - which can take days. It all depends on what kind of place you’re living in. When something breaks, you can’t always pop down to reception and ask for a replacement.

This one hit me the hardest. I was so close to all of my friends at the Village, we always saw each other because there was never any effort required to hang out. As soon as you move off campus you need to start putting in the effort to see these people. They aren’t ten metres away from your front door anymore, and they’re probably as busy as you are. You’ve really got to work at it if you want to keep up with your mates from your Village days.

Moving to a new apartment is actually awesome. I might make it sound scary or something you should dread, but it’s actually a great part of gaining your independence, and when everything is set up it feels awesome. You might just have a few months looking like this when people ask you how your new apartment is going.

Thinking about moving out of the Village? Here are some life lessons you'll learn when move out!

Things I Realised When I Moved Out Of The Village

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