What's Going On: An Update

In all honesty, I haven't written a post since August. Not out of laziness or lack of effort, or anything like that. I've just been too busy. I'd scheduled quite a few posts to go up as I knew that I wouldn't have much time to rave about my latest purchases, or tell you what lipstick I probably haven't worn all that much - but those are fast running out and I am now in my final year of university finding it very difficult to get things done. Finding the time to go do simple things like going to the post office, catching up with friends, or even loading the dishwasher is becoming increasingly difficult. The last three months or so have gone by incredibly fast, and I can tell how long it's been since I last sat and wrote to you as the Blogger platform has had a bit of a makeover whilst I've been absent. So I thought I'd write you a little somethin' to let you know that I'm still alive (barely). 

Since we last spoke properly, I've had an MRI scan. I've been diagnosed with this, that, and the other.  I've cried. I've made some big lifestyle changes. I've had meltdowns. I've paused and resumed physiotherapy. I've started ankle classes to strengthen the muscles around my ankles. I've had interviews. I've applied for teacher training. I've got rejected from teacher training. I've lost a stone. I've driven to remote locations and just sat screaming where no-one could hear me. I've bought more clothes than I should have done. But most importantly, I've found some happiness in the chaos that is my life. 

My chaotic life is being somewhat dominated by assignments at the moment. I'm just starting my equivalent of a dissertation, and almost 99% of my time is spent reading journal articles and textbooks. Listening to podcasts, and watching TED Talks from people that lecturers tell me are important. At the moment one of my main priorities is finding participants to take part in my research study. Which I thought would be a lot easier than it is. So if you're a student willing to fill out a couple of questionnaires for my research study that will take no longer than 15-20 minutes please get in touch by leaving me a comment/email/tweet! Or if you know anyone that would be willing to help me out - send them my way! I BEG YOU. 

What's happened in your life recently?

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Back To University Goals Revisited

I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but tomorrow I start my final year of university. MY FINAL YEAR! I really don't know where the time has gone, and I just know this year is going to go just as fast, if not faster than the previous two years combined. This time last year I set myself a few goals for what I wanted to achieve over my second year, and seeing as I start back tomorrow I thought this be the perfect time to reflect on my progress and set myself some more goals for the year ahead. Last year the majority of my goals focused around being more prepared for assignments, and not spending all my money on ASOS. I can honestly say that I achieved all of last years goals (even if I wasn't as successful with the ASOS one); I started all my assignments in good time, I started revising for my exams months in advance, and I looked a lot less homeless and didn't turn up to any of my lecturers with sopping wet hair. As for this year, I want to set some serious goals because the level of my success determines whether I graduate with a First or with a 2:1. 

Keep organised // I mentioned last year that I wanted to be more organised and I'd really like to carry this through into this year. It's amazing how more productive you can be if you actually know what you're supposed to be doing. I've repurchased the Busy B academic diary, and I'm ridiculously excited to write in all my assignments and things as it helped keep me nice and organised last year! 

Take breaks // Remember at the start of this year when I took a break from blogging? Well that was all due to the stress caused from my first semester back last year. As the year went on I found ways to cope with my stress, and I've learnt the hard way that it is important to take regular breaks. I need to remember this for the year ahead as I have a feeling that this is going to be the most stressful year of my life! #bringiton

Remember the end goal // Since I was first introduced to the idea of going to university I have wanted to graduate with a First class degree. I managed to get through first year with a good 2:1 without even trying (ok there was some trying), and last year I averaged at 68.5% which was 4% higher than the year before. As long as I try my hardest this year and pull out all the stops, I am in with a serious chance of scraping through university with a First class honours degree!

Statistics // Last year I developed some sort of crazy understanding of statistics and it made my life so much easier (hello 95% in my statistics exam)! I hope to be able to keep this up because I'll need that knowledge for my major research project!! So my plan is to keep on top of all my recommended reading because I have definitely noticed the benefits to actually doing it. 

Eat well & exercise // My university geniusly added a Starbucks near the main entrance last year, and sometimes it was just too hard to resist a venti hot chocolate with cream. And although I usually workout most mornings before uni, I felt quite guilty for the amount of times I got a Starbucks just for the sake of getting one. So for this year I plan to carry on exercising regularly (once my ankle permits obvs), and to maybe get back on track with my 'diet'. 

Have you got any goals for the year ahead?

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Getting Ready For University with Dunelm

The autumn weather is starting to make an appearance, and with it brings my favourite season. A season for fresh starts, colourful leaves, crisp winter air, and of course - getting ready for university. When it comes to shopping for things to fill your new accommodation, it can be quite easy to go overboard and waste money on items that will be left unused by the end of the year. With every box that gets packed up, it's easy to get carried away when deciding what you really need to take with you. It's important to make your flat look homely, but you do need to be logical and think about what you can actually fit in your car. So when Dunelm got in touch offering to help me get ready for my final year at university, I jumped at the chance! I've teamed up with Dunelm and three other bloggers, and we have each picked our student essentials from one section of their killer checklist, so freshers know exactly what they need to take with them!

I was given the cleaning section of the checklist, and I think it includes some really simple items that people often forget. I'd suggest leaving bin liners until you've moved in as you could buy them as a flat, same goes for an iron/ironing board - you won't need 6 irons! My university provided these, and I only ever saw them get used about a dozen times. Coathangers are a must unless you want to store all your clothes on the floor, as universities don't usually provide them. A clothes airer is an essential, because it saves money when doing your laundry - you don't have to pay to use the tumble dryer! From the cleaning section, my three essentials are:

Towels // Everybody needs plenty of towels to take with them to university, and you will be surprised at how versatile they can be. Besides the obvious, you can use towels to make a makeshift ironing board, as a draft excluder, as an extra blanket in the winter months (trust me, student accommodation gets cold), or even as a tablecloth for a christmas dinner with your flatmates! I took two bath sheets, 2 hand towels, and 7 flannels with me when I first moved away. Looking back, I wish I'd have taken more bath towels with me as it would have saved me a few trips to the laundrette, but these things come with experience. And when you pay per load, it makes sense to fill the machine as much as possible! When picking out some towels to feature, I couldn't decide which to get! Dunelm has so many different colours and patterns! In the end I mainly opted for the Egyption Cotton Towels in 'Lagoon' as they match my bathroom perfectly! But 'Cornflour', 'Duck Egg', and 'Grape',' also made it into my basket in flannel form! In terms of quality these towels are so soft and luxurious - I will definitely be buying my towels from Dunelm in the future! 

Bath Mat // I can't speak for other halls of residence, but the showers in my first year halls were notorious for flooding. Every time you'd take a shower, the whole bathroom floor, and some of your bedroom carpet would be soaked! So a bath mat is a must! I'd recommend taking two, to give time them to dry out between showers. Plus a funky bath mat allows you to add your own personal touch to a plain white bathroom. I picked the Bobble Bath Mat in 'Lagoon' to match the towels I'd picked out, but again there were so many to choose from! The simple bobble design makes it extra absorbent for those little flooding emergencies too! Plus, the bobbles are so squishy, it feels like you're walking on air!

Laundry Basket // When I first moved to university, I didn't think about buying a laundry basket, and it was only when I arrived that I realised that I didn't have one. I'd wanted to pick up this cotton rope laundry bag, because of its simple design and practicality - the collapsable design allowing you to fold it away for moving day, or when you have friends over to stay. But when I got into the store, it was out of stock, but whilst walking round the Curver Knit Basket caught my eye. They had a couple of different sizes and colours, but I picked up the 30 litre size in 'Blue'. The two sturdy handles make it perfect for lugging to the laundrette across campus, plus, you can use it to transport things in when the time comes to move out!

In the end, I also picked up a few bits from the Geo Skandi tableware range. Although my kitchen is full to bursting, the matching mugs, plates, and bowls were too hard to leave behind! I couldn't choose a colour, so I picked up one of each to mix and match! Plus, they were all reasonably priced, so if any of your roommates happen to drop something on the floor they are all easily replaced without burning a hole in your purse.

What are your student essentials for back to school season?

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This post contains products sent to me for the purpose of a review. All thoughts are my own and you can read my full disclaimer policy here. 

A Guide To Surviving Your Second Year At University

Around a year ago I shared with you my advice for getting through your first year at university, and I felt it only fitting to update my post in time for those of you who are about to start your second year. Some of you may have had a tough time over the last year, and I can relate, but it would be an understatement to say that it is going to get harder this year. So lets cut straight to it...

Only be there if you want to be // Again this is a no brainer. If you are only at university because you feel it is the right thing to do, drop out. You may have completed one year, but if you really didn't enjoy it there is no point staying on for the rest of your course. Even if you decide later on that you wish you had stayed, most places allow you to pick up where you left off, which is a good option for those who still aren't sure.

Get organised // I said it last year and I'll say it again now, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. If you haven't found a way to manage your schedule during your first year, then god help you for September. If you thought last year was hectic, you need to have a flick through a dictionary. Second year steps up massively. You'll probably have more assignments, they will most likely be harder, and will most definitely count towards your overall grade. Try keeping a diary, buy a desk planner, write to-do lists, and prioritise what is the most important. 

Compete with yourself // Try and set some goals to build on the grades you got over the last year. If you got 60% in a module, aim for 65% this year. Competing with yourself can keep you motivated, and will hopefully allow you succeed. 

Find a group of friends that 'get it' // This is probably the most important piece of advice I could ever give any one. I would NOT have survived without the support of my friends. We have inside jokes, and a lot of them revolve around everything being 'on fire'. On Facebook Messenger our group chat emoji is the little fire icon instead of the usual thumbs up. If you don't have anyone to support you in your meltdowns, to rant to, to stress with, and generally cry to - you will have a much harder time this year. Having a group of friends that 'get it' will really help you! Plus, friends that stress together stay together.

Create a budget and stick to it // I'm sure many of you made a budget last year, and this year it will be more important to tighten your belt. It is a little known fact that you get considerably less student finance during your third year of university. This isn't the case for every student, although it isn't worth risking not being able to get by in your final year. 

Get to know the library // This is vital. If you haven't stepped foot in your university library to date, then you have serious issues. You will need to learn how to sign out books, where past exam papers are located, how to access journal articles etc. If you haven't been in your library, I'd get some major advice from a friend or get in contact with your course's library assistant if you have one!

Get advice from a third year // This links in with the point above. This year a third year told me where all the exam papers are kept in the library and I wish I knew her name to thank her for her golden advice. Remember those above you have experienced everything you are experiencing, and the majority of them will have regrets. Just make sure you follow through on the advice they give!

Back up your laptop // FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST DO IT. The chances of losing your work may seem slim, but believe me it can happen. It didn't happen to me this year, but it has in the past and believe me it is the worst thing that could ever happen. Ever. 

Invest in a student travel card // I'm a commuter. I don't live in a student house, I travel to and from Leeds every day that I'm in university. Before going back in September, have a look at student rail/bus cards and see if they are worth investing in. For me it worked out cheaper to buy my tickets as and when I needed them, but for some it can save you £££s over the course of the year! Some travel companies sell combined rail/bus discount cards which can be extremely useful if you travel regularly!

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Life Lately

I've probably said this well over a hundred times, and so far, every time I've said it I haven't been true to my word. I keep saying that my posts will be up and running soon, but soon never seems to arrive. The odd scheduled post goes up, but my schedule is well and truly shot. I am writing this on the day of publishing, and at this moment in time, I have a billion other things that I should be doing - instead I'm writing this blog post to tell you about all the things I should be doing. I have work placement for the next four weeks, and with a 9-5 schedule as well as my university deadlines, I am exhausted to say the least. I think hectic is a bit of an understatement, but my life is absolutely crazy at the minute. I've been trying to put myself and my academic work first, and to some extent I feel 'happy'. I thought life would have quietened down by now, but again I have been proved well and truly wrong. I have one assignment deadline left to meet, and until then blogging is going to be taking a back seat. 

I'm currently five weeks away from finishing my second year at university (scary right?), and besides wondering how I've got this far, the pressure seems to be piling up. Over the next few weeks I have to submit a proposal for my major research project (aka my version of a dissertation), and above anything else - I have to think about what I want to do when I graduate. GRADUATE. I know what I want to do in life, and roughly what I need to do in order to get there, but where it all falls down is the fact that it all relies on how well I do now. This morning I got a pretty bad result on one of my assignments, not terrible (it was a 2:2 FYI) - but significantly worse than my lowest grade this year. I spent four whole weeks writing that essay pretty much 24/7, and to almost be told that it was rubbish is absolutely soul crushing. 

I may or may not be posting over the next couple of weeks, but believe me when I say that it is not because I have forgotten. I am well aware that posts aren't going up and comments aren't being replied to. But currently there physically aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. Who even needs sleep nowadays? I hope that you will stick around because I have quite a few ideas planned, all I need is the time to sit down and make the plans a reality. Come June, university will be over and I will have 6 months of freedom to get up to speed before returning in late September. Until then I will most likely be non-existent here on Charlotte Sophia Roberts. Apologies for this, but I consider the rest of my life more important than a hobby I have enjoyed for the last two years. 

As always, thank you for reading and I hope to see you soon!

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Back To University Goals

Hello friends! I honestly can't believe that I start my second year of university tomorrow! Seems like only two minutes since I was lugging all my boxes and suitcases around halls of residence! How time flies ey! I'm currently running round like a headless chicken making sure I have everything ready for the new academic year. Pens. Check. Paper. Check. My mind. Not check! As I've been frantically running here there and everywhere, I've been reflecting on last year and I've decided that I really want to push myself over the next academic year. 

Be more organised

I know this is a bit cliche, but I really do want to up my organisational game. I wasn't too bad last year, but currently I seem to be busier than ever and I want to make sure that I can manage my time effectively. I bought a brilliant diary/planner from BusyB (via Amazon) that handily prints each week twice so you can have a separate planner for home/personal and one for work/school, college, uni! I was given a planner last year from my tutor, but I think the only time I opened it was to write my name in it!! It was so ugly which definitely didn't make me want to write in it!

Try and spend less of my student loan on ASOS

I dread to think how much money (and time!) I spent on ASOS last year. I just love shopping! I am trying to cut back on the spending a little bit though this year so I have plenty of money to travel around seeing my besties up and down the country! We really want to go away together in the summer too, so hopefully we have enough money to get that organised! 

Dress less like a homeless person to lectures

This one actually made me laugh when I thought about it. If I look back at any photos from last year, I literally looked like I had walked straight out of bed and into a lecture theatre. Considering the (probably) substantial amount of money I spent on ASOS last year, I think I could maybe look a bit more put together during my second year! 

Prepare for assignments better

Don't mistake me for one of those people that starting writing their assignments and essays the night before. NEVER WOULD I DO THAT. And no that isn't sarcasm. I was pretty good with it last year and always made sure I had everything submitted at least a couple of days before the due date. But this year I want to make sure that I plan and structure my work better in order to help me gain extra marks. I found that the work that I planned out and understood better always got Firsts, SO I MUST ACHIEVE THIS ALL THE TIME!

Try and go out more

Last year I was about as sociable as…. well a very unsociable person. I've been getting a lot better of the last couple of months. Pushing myself to go places I wouldn't usually give a second thought about. Like I don't tend to go in bars and clubs. But I went to Revolution the other week for their relaunch party. I was soooo surprised at myself! 

Actually revise for my exams

Last year, dare I say it, I started revising for my exams the night before. What was wrong with me? I've never been that sort of person!! I just had so many assignments due in at the same time and I even had one that was due whilst I was sat in the exam hall!! I think I figured that I could always resit the exams, which isn't the best mindset at all! 

Are any of you lovely lot heading back to university? Or even starting your first year? What do you hope to accomplish? 

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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A Guide To Surviving Your First Year At University

When I decided to go to university, I really wasn't at all interested in experiencing the 'student lifestyle'. In fact, I was rather worried about being the only one who didn't like going out-out or getting drunk. I have just finished my first year studying Psychology (BSc Single Hons) at Leeds Trinity University and to be completely honest, I feel that my dislike of going out-out really held me back. Don't get me wrong - I met some lovely people and found other ways to socialise, but fresher's week was probably the worst week of my entire life. Closely followed by 'Re-freshers week' - like seriously, who on earth would want to do it again?

With this, there were many points during my first year where I considered dropping out. I wanted to be there, but there were quite a few occasions where I just wanted to get out as soon as possible. But now I've finished my first year with a 2:1 (almost a First too) and I'm so glad I didn't drop out as I'm actually looking forward to going back at the end of September!' So without further a due, here are my top tips for surviving your first year at university!

Only be there if you want to be
Clearly this is a no brainer. If you are only going to university because you feel its the right thing to do, or because all your friends are going - DON'T. If you don't want to be there, you won't enjoy it by forcing yourself to go. I know so many people who dropped out because they only went because they felt they had to. Nowadays there are so many more options to consider - apprenticeships, foundation diplomas, jobs, internships!

Get Organised
This is probably one of the most essential things you need to survive university in general. If you aren't at all organised you can probably kiss the chance of a good degree goodbye. I'm not saying that you have to make sure that you have to have everything but the kitchen sink packed in your bag for lectures, but do make sure you complete all work set and start your assignments in PLENTY of time. Chances are you'll struggle and if you've only started on them the day before there will be no lecturers on hand to help you out.

Have fun, but know your limits
I feel like a lot of people I know could have taken this piece of advice by the bucket load. The amount of times I heard disaster stories of people getting so drunk they ended up in hospital or doing drugs and passing out or doing goodness knows what else. My Dad is a Paramedic in Leeds and every time I saw him whilst at university, he'd always have tales to tell me about what my fellow students had done. Thankfully I'm not a big drinker (unless its cocktails haha), so this one didn't really need pointing out to me.

Try to get yourself out there
This is one thing I really wish I had done more of. I'm not one of the most outgoing people out there, and although my friends might disagree; when I'm not with them I really struggle. And I mean really struggle. I went down the campus bar a once or twice a week but usually only for food when I couldn't be bothered to cook. I hardly ever joined in with the activities on campus and was back in my flat before 12pm pretty much every night. As I'm sure I've mentioned before, I'm not your typical teenager, I'd much rather be tucked up in bed with a cup of tea and a pack of biscuits watching Netflix.

Create a budget and stick to it as best you can
Its a pretty stereotypical view that ALL students are broke. But not everyone is broke! At the end of the year I had money left over and treated myself to a new camera. How did I manage this I hear you ask? I BUDGETED!! I didn't waste my money on crap I knew I wouldn't need or use. I made use of my student discount in shops that accepted it and I used loyalty cards for my local supermarket. It is a lot easier to do than you think - seriously, if I can do it - so can you.

Don't take other peoples food
Especially without asking!!! I would never have dared to do this. If its the one thing you take from this guide, don't get between someone else and their food. Even if you have failed to stick to your budget or just simply can't be bothered to take a trip to the supermarket. If you can't be bothered to go shopping, try online shopping. If you've run out of money because you didn't budget properly, why not try asking your parents for a supplement or even get a part time job!

Balance your work, social and university lives successfully
During my first week at university, one of the lecturers mentioned that you should treat university like a job. You should spend the same amount of time independently learning as you would in a part time job (30-35 hours per week)! Easier said than done, I know. But once you have mastered how to do balance your various lives you are onto a winner. I spent most of my first year in my PJs eating food and watching Pretty Little Liars or Orange Is The New Black on Netflix. So I can honestly say that I haven't quite managed this yet. But if you're anything like me, you can use your first year to work out how you manage your time as first year doesn't count towards your degree. Just make sure you don't completely flunk the year or you'll have to resit before you can pass through into second year.

Look after yourself
Another no-brainer. Just because you are at university doesn't mean you have to survive entirely on Super Noodles and Doritos. Try and incorporate some fruit and veggies into your diet. If you don't know how to cook, why not search the internet for some simple recipes and have a go! You will also need to make extra effort when a deadline is looming. Make sure you have some healthier snacks available for those long shifts sat staring at your laptop screen and franticly scouring through text books.

Got any tips of your own? Feel free to share them in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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Running A Blog Whilst At University

When I first started blogging, I had all the time in the world. No school, no college, no uni, no job - nothing. Nothing there to fill my day-to-day life. I could finally start my blog because I finally had enough time on my hands to get it up and running. Now I am a full time university student with deadlines, commitments and a bustling/hectic life. At times, this can get in the way of my precious blog, but as time goes on I am getting continually better at managing my time effectively.

On my desk at university, I have a weekly planner/schedule that I bought from Paperchase. It has every day of the week in a handy table, with enough room for you to write out important events and things you need to remember for each day. Sort of like a calendar. But a more short term and planned out calendar.  Besides this, I also have a yearly calendar that I printed out. This helps me plan when I am going to post new blogposts and keep track of whats going out when. This is incredibly useful for those of you who like to schedule your blog posts in advance. 

To make sure I get all my work done I make regular To-Do Lists which help me stay on track of my tasks and guarantee that I am organised, productive and manage my time effectively.

For on-the-go ideas, I make sure I carry a notepad and a pen in my handbag at all times - just incase an apple falls on my head and gives me a great idea.

Along with the notepad, you will never find me without my iPhone. Long are the days since you have to carry a massive File-O-Fax around everywhere. Nowadays your phone can store every single piece of important information you  will ever need. With all these handy apps to help you with your time management, you will never be late again!

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x
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