Taking care of your health and well-being is essential to ensuring your mind, body and soul is at ease. This helps you have a better outlook on life and helps you get through day-to-day tasks. Oftentimes, we get so caught up in all the stressors and task that come up, we forget to take a second to prioritise our health and well-being. 

So, here are some simple things you can do to make sure you’re in top shape to handle whatever life throws at you. 

Getting enough sleep is vital to staying healthy. Good quality sleep puts you in a better mood and gives your body time to rest and recover from the day. Plus, there are endless health benefits that come from good sleep: reducing stress, improving brain function (concentration and memory), lowering blood pressure and improving your immune system.

Next, make sure you’re drinking about 2.5-3.5 litres of water a day. Giving your body enough water is crucial as it helps to regulate body temperature, keep your joints lubricated, deliver enough nutrients to your cells, help prevent infections and keep your organs functioning properly. Keeping yourself well-hydrated also helps you sleep better and improve your mood. 

Eating healthy doesn’t always mean strict diets and cutting out anything and everything. It is more about having balanced meals and consuming fats and sugar in moderation. This means trying to avoid instant noodles every night of the week and ensuring you have a good amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet every day. 

Healthy eating makes your mind, body and soul feel good. It shows that you are taking time to care by being mindful of what you’re putting into your body. 

Taking the time to sit down and journal out your worries, anxieties or even just thoughts for the day; just let your thoughts flow out naturally until you have nothing else you want to write. In this modern era, things move so quickly, our thoughts included. Writing things down helps you slow your thoughts and acknowledge them a bit better. 

Journaling is a great way to sit with your thoughts and really be aware of what you’re thinking and how you’re feeling. It’s a moment you can take to connect with yourself again and is a very freeing practice.

Another feature of the world we live in today is the constant communication we have with each other through social media. And while this is great in many ways, it can get overwhelming and distracting. Computer screens and digital devices emit a lot of blue light which can contribute to dry eyes and digital eye strain. 

So, it’s important to take a few minutes or hours a day where you switch off all electronic devices for a bit. You can use this time to read a book or do some gardening or maybe even dance around your room for a bit. Just spend time with yourself, away from the rest of the digital world. 

Meditation and mindfulness practices are a type of mental training that teaches you to slow down your racing thoughts. It offers you the space to let go of negativity and calm both your mind and body. There are many ways to practice mindfulness or meditation, but it generally involves a breathing practice with awareness of the body and mind. 

This type of practice has shown to be super helpful when dealing with mental health issues, stress and worry or even just calming yourself down at the end of the day for better sleep. Either way, trying out this practice is definitely worth it. 

It can seem like all of these habits are too much and too overwhelming but investing even in one of them can help improve your overall well-being. Start small and before you know it these steps will be seamlessly incorporated into your daily routine and you will be on the way towards a better you. 

Taking care of yourself often starts with finding the right living environment, one that you feel like you can thrive in. <a href="https://campuslivingvillages.com/">Campus Living Villages </a>can be that space for you. We have apartments across Australia, so you can really find a location that works. Discover your new lifestyle with us today.

Taking care of yourself is important. Here we have some simple steps you can take to help improve your mind, body and soul. 

How to Take Care of Your Mind, Body & Soul

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!

Sometimes life, university workloads or other circumstances can make you feel overwhelmed and exhausted. In these instances, it can feel like all you want to do is hide from the world under your blanket.&nbsp;

However, as important as it is to feel your emotions, you should also make sure you’re giving your physical and mental health the care and compassion it needs. It can be easy to avoid taking care of yourself when you are feeling low. Here we have a few simple self-care habits that you can take when you are in a bit of a funk.&nbsp;

One of the best and easiest things you can do for yourself is give your face a quick wash. Do it in the morning as you wake up, at any point of the day you’re feeling tired or just before you go to bed for the night. So really, anytime you feel like it. Try to make it a point to wash your face at least once a day!&nbsp;

Feeling water on your skin makes you feel refreshed and slightly more energised. If you’re up to the task, create a small skin care routine. This can even be as simple as spending at least 60 seconds rubbing your cleanser onto your face before washing it off.&nbsp;

Dedicating time to yourself with skin care is a lovely act of kindness you can give yourself.&nbsp;

When you’re feeling burnt out and tired, it can be tempting to live off take away food, instant noodles or forgo eating at all. However, this can actually leave you feeling worse as your body won’t feel nourished. Even if you can’t be bothered making tasty gourmet meals, even the simplest meals can make a difference. 

Breakfast – Toast with Butter, Honey &amp; Cinnamon&nbsp;

All this meal requires is for you to pop your bread into the toaster, spread some butter, honey and cinnamon, and you’re done. All of these ingredients are long-lasting too. If you have left over bread, you can pop them into the freezer to help it last longer.&nbsp;

Lunch/Dinner – One Pot Soup&nbsp;

Soup is a great comfort food. And if you want something nourishing, just get some vegetable stock and your favourite veggies. Chuck them all into a pot and season with your choice of condiments or spices and bring to the boil.&nbsp;

Getting sunshine is vital and great for your mind, body and soul. Sunshine gives you Vitamin D which can help protect against inflammation, lowers blood pressure, helps muscles and improves your brain function. Being out in the sun has also been said to release serotonin in the brain, the hormone associated with mood boosting and feelings of calm.&nbsp;

Try to get in the early morning sunlight for Vitamin D and all other benefits. You can go for a walk or even just step outside for 10 minutes to feel the sun rays on your skin. Just don't forget your sun protection!

Finally, it’s important that you don’t go through this on your own. If you are feeling down, tired and overwhelmed, talk to your friends, family, lecturers, classmates or get in touch with organisations like <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/">BeyondBlue</a> or use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.headspace.com/">Headspace</a> to help manage your stress.&nbsp;

When we are worried and sad, it can often feel like we’re alone. So, it’s important to reach out to the people around us for support. From tagging your friends in memes to organising a facetime call with your mum, any step you take towards loved ones is a meaningful one.&nbsp;

Build Your Support System at Campus Living Villages&nbsp;

Moving to a new place also means moving to a new community and trusted circle. At Campus Living Villages we have <a href="https://campuslivingvillages.com/">accommodation across the world</a>, that not only gives you a house, it gives you a home. When you live with us, you get the opportunity to meet people from across the globe and you will always have someone around to help whenever you need it.&nbsp;

Sometimes life, university workloads or other circumstances can make you feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Here we have a few simple self-care habits that you can take when you are in a bit of a funk. 

Simple Self-Care Habits to Help You Take Care of Yourself

Finally moving out of home is a big step and an exciting one at that. Moving out of home gives you a sense of freedom, independence and the space for you to grow into your own person. It is a chance for you to finally develop your identity and experience being a proper adult.&nbsp;

However, it can also be overwhelming and slightly scary. As wonderful as it is to be in your own space, you are leaving behind the comfort and security you are so used to. Here, we have some essential skills that will help you in your journey to adulthood—especially if it’s your first time living out of home.&nbsp;

#1 Financial Literacy &amp; Managing Your Money&nbsp;

Moving into your own place means getting to create the home of your dreams, but there is also a lot of financial management involved. You now have to pay your rent, utilities, make sure you have enough money for groceries and essentials as well as making sure you have some money leftover for recreational activities.&nbsp;

To make sure you are on top of everything, create a budgeting sheet and make note of when bills and utilities are due. If you are able to, consider a direct debit system to make sure you don’t miss out on any payments. Keeping track of finances is a must-have skill to ensure you don’t over spend.&nbsp;

If you are renting or living in student accommodation, you don’t have to worry too much about maintenance as it is the duty of your landlord or service provider to sort out most issues. Regardless, it is still useful to understand basic home maintenance practices.&nbsp;

It can also be handy to keep a toolkit and first aid kit in your home to ensure you are prepared for any situation.&nbsp;

Living at home you might have only had to do a few basic chores. However, once you have a place of your own or are living with other people, it’s important you take steps to ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of your home.&nbsp;

Every household will have different cleaning needs, but the key step is to establish a weekly and monthly cleaning routine. For a smoother process, try cleaning room by room to give yourself some structure and the ability to take short breaks between each room.&nbsp;

Some simple ways you can reduce the hassle of cleaning up is to clean as you go. Make sure you tidy the kitchen once you’re done cooking, remove any dirt or stray hairs when you’re done with the shower, give your home a little wipe down once you’re done having guests over.&nbsp;

This way you won’t have a long list of things to clean when your weekly routine comes around.

Laundry is one of those chores that can seem daunting, but it is inescapable. Once you know what to do, it’ll become a simpler process.&nbsp;

The first step is to ensure you’re reading the labels on your clothes, especially if they are made from any fabric that isn’t cotton. Some fabrics are dry clean only, while others can only be washed with cold water. Take note of these warnings to ensure you don’t damage any of your clothing items.&nbsp;

The next thing to be aware of is how often you should be washing to avoid over wash. Professionals suggest jeans and outwear, such as jackets only need to be washed after two to three wears. And your bed sheets can go as long as two weeks before needing a wash.&nbsp;

Once you are aware of how you need to do washing and how often it needs to be done, you can create a laundry schedule that works for your closet!&nbsp;

Out of Home Living Made Simple with Campus Living Villages&nbsp;

These are merely some of the life skills you learn and develop when living out of home. If you want to be part of a community that is going through the same journey as you, why not opt for living at one of the stunning C<a href="https://campuslivingvillages.com/">ampus Living Villages</a>&nbsp;properties across the globe.&nbsp;

You’ll have the space to be independent, while also having the community support of many others to make the experience much more enjoyable. &nbsp;

In this article we have some essential skills that will help you in your journey to adulthood—especially if it’s your first time living out of home. 

First Time Living Out of Home? The Life Skills You Must Know!

Moving into your own room is very exciting! You finally have your own little space to call home. There are many easy, affordable ways for you to decorate that space and make it yours! We’ve collected some handy tips and tricks to help unleash your inner interior designer.&nbsp;

The first step is having an idea of what you want your new room to look like! Pinterest is the perfect source for inspiration. Browse boards to find a theme or colour scheme that you enjoy. Or if you already know what you want, search that particular aesthetic to see what other people have done.&nbsp;

When you have an idea of what you’re after, it makes shopping for supplies, sheets and decorations much easier. Plus, you won’t be too tempted to grab random items that look intriguing on the shelf.&nbsp;

The walls of dorm rooms and accommodations can look quite bare and uninviting. One of the best ways to quickly get some colour and excitement up is with a tapestry. You can easily find them online and there are tapestries of all sorts available!&nbsp;

Whether you like old school tapestries with beautiful mosaic patterns, or ones with colourful landscapes or even ones that have painted portraits on them – there’s an option for every aesthetic. Adding a tapestry to your wall will instantly bring a little bit of personality to any room.&nbsp;

Most rooms come with the standard light on the ceiling. One way to make your space more exciting and cosier is to invest in fairy lights, projection lights or lamps.&nbsp;

Fairy lights are a great way to make your space feel warm, cosy and inviting. If you want something enchanting and other-worldly, you can get a star projector night light. Or if you want to create an elegant and classic vibe, salt lamps are a great one for your room to have a warm, amber globe.&nbsp;

Mood lighting will make nights in your room fun, exciting and feel like you’ve created a little enclave of comfort for yourself.&nbsp;

Storage boxes are a great way to conserve space in your room! You can use them to store shoes and socks so they can be kept under the bed, or even just to divide the space up in your cabinets for better organisation.&nbsp;

When you manage to store your things properly, you’ll have more space around the room for little knick knacks and souvenir items. These little things are a great way to display your personality and show off your quirks and interests.&nbsp;

Adding greenery to your bedroom is one of the best ways to lift the energy of the room! If you don’t trust yourself to take care of living plants, there are many artificial plants available that you can use as a placeholder.&nbsp;

One of the most cost-efficient ways to decorate your room is with cool paintings and beautiful posters of your favourite band, TV shows or artists. Not only does it fill your walls with wonder and inspiration, it’s a great taste of your personality to anyone who walks into your space!&nbsp;

You can easily print them out yourself at the printers or order some online. If you’re willing to make the extra effort there are heaps of vintage stores and op-shops that can provide some fascinating finds.&nbsp;

Find your home at Campus Living Villages&nbsp;

At <a href="https://campuslivingvillages.com/clv-life">Campus Living Villages</a>, we offer accommodation in a range of countries. No matter which part of the world you choose to explore, you can make your home with us.&nbsp;

Moving into your own room is very exciting! Here are some handy tips and tricks to help unleash your inner interior designer. 

Personalise Your New Room: 6 Cheap & Easy Ways to Decorate Your 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

A global pandemic outbreak was probably the last thing on your mind when you were getting ready to commence your university studies for the year. There were far more pressing issues at hand as you tried to fit all your classes into two 8-hour days and attempted to navigate the ‘mandatory vs recommended’ textbook list.

As the situation developed and unfolded around the world, the Tertiary Education sector had to evolve with it. With many universities delivering lecture recordings online and using e-learning platforms for assignment submissions, students who had not yet arrived on campus were urged to ‘stay home’ for the time being.

At <a href="https://campuslivingvillages.com/">Campus Living Villages</a>, we have remained open across all of our Villages across the world. We have a full team of staff on-site to support our resident community as they navigated this temporary ‘new normal’.

It has been a tough Semester for many of the student community who have been stuck at home e-learning, trying to manage group work online, while also trying to get enough participation credits for their tutorials.

With some restrictions starting to ease, many of you have probably started to think about your plans for Semester 2, 2020. With universities committed to running online classes for the foreseeable future and no date set for when on-campus classrooms are open, there’s another way you can begin to enjoy campus life!

With our <a href="https://starrezfilehosting.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/COVID-19-Cancellation-Policy-2021.pdf">Flexible Booking Policy</a>, you can secure your room now, but if things change at Uni or you can’t make it to campus due to Travel Restrictions, you can cancel or change your booking up to 14 days before it starts.

We’ve partnered with each University and are located right on campus to make your experience at Uni as seamless as possible. At our Villages, you’ll find a safe and secure place to live, with a supportive on-site team who are there for you at any time of the day. We know that circumstances are always changing, and it can be hard to decide right now, so if this is you – our Flexible Booking Policy is there for you.

Why move into on-campus accommodation when the campus is still closed?

We’ve been seeing lots more students return to our Villages since COVID-19 numbers started to decline. The overwhelming feedback we’ve heard is students are keen to live in their own space and are excited for a change of scene away from mum and dad. It’s not surprising! A fresh new space that’s all your own can be a great way to re-invigorate your studies.

Even though campus might be closed, living in <a href="http://camuslivingvillages.com/australia/">student accommodation</a> is a great way to build connections with other students, even while social distancing. Over the past few months, Campus Living Villages has developed a variety of virtual ResLife activities, events and workshops for our in-house residents. Activities range from virtual movie nights to delivering care packages and ready-to-bake goods, arts &amp; crafts e-workshops and even online cooking classes! We are also taking care of our residents by sourcing ‘Grab &amp; Go’ food banks, scheduling virtual yoga classes and looking after their mental wellbeing. As social distancing restrictions end, we’re transitioning those activities into great opportunities to meet new people and socialise in person.

If you are worried or concerned about social distancing measures in an on-campus environment, don’t worry – we have a safe system in place, based on both government-issued and Department of Health guidelines.

Talk to us about your options to live on campus.

If you are ready to ease yourself into campus life and are looking for a safe environment to meet new friends and other like-minded people, we’re ready for you! At Campus Living Villages, we have an experienced team and a whole community here to help you settle into Uni life and navigate these uncertain times.

Don’t hesitate to talk to one of our friendly team members if you have any questions or need any clarification!

Ready for campus life but unsure where to start? Campus Living Villages has a Flexible Booking Policy to help you secure your room in an uncertain time.

Sick Of Living At Home? Here's How To Plan Your Return To Campus! | Campus Living Villages

Sick Of Living At Home? Here's How To Plan Your Return To Campus!

One of the most difficult parts of social distancing and isolation is the lack of human contact and connection. For many of us, we cherish those little moments with friends and family — the coffee catch ups after a tough day at uni, a fun house party to celebrate the end of the week or even just a run in with a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

It can be tough spending so much of your time stuck inside and having no contact with faces you used to see every day. It can be easy to slip into feelings of loneliness and sadness. However, thanks to technology there are many ways to socialise and connect with your favourite people while still maintaining appropriate social distancing practices.

One of the best and easiest ways to spend time with others online is to watch movies, your favourite TV shows or even YouTube videos together. There are many different platforms that allow you to watch things together at the same time. Netflix launched a Chrome extension called <a href="https://www.netflixparty.com/">Netflix Party</a> that allows that, or you can even use video call platforms like <a href="https://www.kastapp.co/">Kast</a> by sharing your screen and computer audio. This has been a popular virtual activity amongst residents with <a href="http://groupclv.com/au/murdoch-university-village/">Murdoch University Village</a> in Perth hosting weekly movie nights on Kast paired with ‘Grab &amp; Go’ type movie snacks at reception to go with the event!

Pick a few friends and try to schedule time weekly to watch a movie. You can go through the entire Studio Ghibli range or pick your favourite genre of movies and start your very own isolation film club! It’s a great way to stay connected with friends by stimulating interesting conversations and banter that you’re used to having in real life.

Online gaming has always been a great way for friends to interact in the online world. There’s a wide selection of video games that allow for real-time multiplayer interaction, for example <a href="https://mariokarttour.com/en-GB">Mario Kart</a>, <a href="https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/">Minecraft</a> or <a href="https://animal-crossing.com/">Animal Crossing</a>.

Now there’s even the options to play classic card games or board games online. You can use the <a href="https://houseparty.com/">Houseparty</a> app to host a virtual gathering with up to eight friends and play games like Heads Up, Cards Against Humanity and more! You can even find <a href="https://skribbl.io/">online Pictionary</a>, a <a href="https://www.randomtriviagenerator.com/">random trivia generator</a> or online bingo! Your options of fun online games are endless.

This is a great activity for when you’re missing your friends or family. Get them all online for some friendly competition, that’s sure to get many laughs and good times.

One of the best ways to release stress and blow off some steam is dancing! Use Spotify’s playlist collaboration feature to build the perfect dancing playlist with your friends. Then, get on a video call and spend your night (morning or afternoon) dancing your sorrows away.

This is great way to spend time with friends and get in some exercise. Two things that are said to increase happiness and release those feel good hormones in your brain.

Plan a Virtual Visit to Your Favourite Museum or Gallery

If you’re wanting to do something a bit more stimulating, many art galleries and museums across the world have introduced virtual tours of their exhibitions. Pick a time for you and a friend to get on a call and immerse yourself into the stunning world of artists, designers and historians from all parts of the globe.

Here are some of our favourite virtual museums and galleries:

This is a great way to have fun and interesting discussions and conversations with your friends even if you’re both just lying on the couch in pyjamas. Take this once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the world from the comfort of your own home.

As Humans We Can Always Find Ways to Connect, We Need Each Other to Survive

Even if things are different now, there’s still many things we can do to receive the comfort and joy of our loved one’s presence. And it’s in these times that we put in more effort to connect and stay in touch with those that are important to us.

If you’re missing the social interaction with friends and family, here are some fun and interactive ways you can connect with them in the online world.

Ways To Socialise While You're Practicing Social Distancing & Isolation | Campus Living Villages

Ways To Socialise While You're Practicing Social Distancing & Isolation

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. 

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