5 Items Every College Student Needs For A Successful And Stress-Free Year

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With the beginning of school right around the corner, I thought I’d share some of the items I can’t live without. Some are common sense but some are things most people don’t think of. Of course, this isn’t a complete list and your must-have items may be different from mine, but that’s OK! Here’s my top five items that every college student needs.

1. Colored pens

I LOVE color-coding everything! It’s just how my mind works. It helps me to keep information straight for exams. The different colors make taking notes interesting which helps keep me focused during late night study sessions. (For more on my obsession with color-coding, look at this post!) You can also use the pens for coloring your adult coloring books for some creative stress relief, which every college student needs.

Of course pens aren’t the only colored ink you can have. I like having tons of different colored Sharpies as well. These are great when you have to write on your notebooks or have posterboard projects to work on.

2. Sticky Notes

Sticky notes are awesome. I like to use them to stay organized with big projects. They help me visualize what needs done. Plus, it’s easier to rearrange them. You can also use them as bookmarks in your textbooks. I often use different colors to mark different pages. For example, I use green to mark where I need to start reading from, pink for where the assigned reading ends, and yellow for pages with important figures. Instead of different colors, I sometimes just write what that sticky note is marking. Sticky notes are also great for making reminders for pretty much anything.

3. Mini office supplies kit

In my second year of college I became a commuter. I put whatever I needed for the day in my backpack and off I went. However, I had many papers due during this year so naturally I used the university computers to print. The university labs had the computers and the printers but there was one thing they were missing: a stapler. One of my classmates had a tiny one in her backpack and that’s when I realized my backpack was incomplete. I went to the store and found this little (no seriously, its little) gem. It has a tape dispenser with tape, scissors, staple remover, hole puncher, pencil sharpener, and a stapler with staples. This little kit has come in handy so many times. While I was taking a yoga class, I was called the mom of the group because I had everything a college student needs in my backpack, including tape for room change signs.

4. Umbrella

I always keep an umbrella in my backpack. It stays in one side pocket at all times. Living in north east Ohio means the weather changes at the snap of a finger. It could be not a cloud in sight in the morning when you leave for school, but by noon it’s pouring rain. Having an umbrella handy keeps you prepared for the unexpected weather. I feel that most college students don’t think to keep this handy and often are using notebooks or textbooks for cover from the rain. Spend the $5 and get a small umbrella.

5. Snacks

I ALWAYS have at least one snack in my backpack. This is because I get hungry sometimes, but it also helps keep me calm when I’m having an anxiety attack in the middle of class. I try to keep something that won’t get crushed or go stale quickly in there since I don’t replace it that often. Right now I have a simple trail mix in my bag. Trail mixes are great because they typically have the right nutrients to give your brain the study boost it needs. Having snacks handy while you’re on campus is nice because campus food can be rather pricey. If you don’t have any stores nearby (as in walking distance), keeping a snack in your backpack can help you be less distracted by the hungry feeling we all get while studying.

Wrapping Things Up

This list may not fit what each and every college student needs, and that’s okay! If you have something you think should be on this list, let me know in the comments below! As always, if you like this post and want to stay up to date, follow me on Instagram (@averylivinglife) and Pinterest for news and updates on my adventures!