How to romanticise your uni life

I’d argue that the student experience is a unique one. I doubt there will be a point throughout the rest of our lives where it is completely normalised to go to the local pub dressed in full costume on a weekday, knocking back pints like water, dressed as a minion or a Disney princess. However, despite fun little perks such as these, times at uni can be hard, especially as we descend into the winter months. When it’s pitch black by 5pm, walking home from a late lecture with rain soaked shoes and frozen fingers can feel like a particular low point. 

 Enter today’s buzzword: romanticisation. I’m sure if you are a resident Tik Tok doomscroller (like myself) you will have seen this term peppered through your For You Page, coupled with tantalising montages of aesthetic coffee shops and reformer pilates classes. But, to me, ultimate romanticisation comes from a dense feeling of contentment, which I believe can be found in simple tasks rather than the influencer fuelled extravagance we see all over social media. I’ve put together some tips on how to make the monotony of the 9am feel less like a prison sentence and more like an intellectual pursuit, which is just one example of putting a positive spin on your daily student tasks.   

Much of romanticisation to me is about curation. Crafting habits and rituals that feel inherent to yourself and your personality is one way in which you can start to tap into that ‘main character energy’ (yes, I’m aware I am chronically online). For example, something as simple as making your morning coffee can be intentional rather than a chore. Be selective: put in your favourite flavours, use your favourite mug, take sips like your in a Rom-Com. Make a playlist that you listen to specifically when you make it, and pick songs that create the energy you want for your day.  Wear that top you’ve been saving for a ‘special occasion’, because, in the wise words of Joan Didion - ‘every day is all there is’. That quote is so profound to me in the way that it reveals how we should treat everyday as a special one, and our daily tasks are ones that we should pour over, take our time with, and most importantly, enjoy.  

Enjoying every day can be hard, especially if we feel bored or stuck in a rut. Creating daily, self-reflective rituals is one way we can tackle this, but I think that rewards are another way that we can romanticise everyday. Rewards can be anything, and are completely personal to you and your circumstances - they don’t always have to cost money. There are so many beautiful experiences that are completely free and give us something to look forward to, especially in Newcastle. The Laing Art Gallery is somewhere to look around on a cold afternoon, whilst Jesmond Dene is the perfect place for a chilly morning walk listening to your favourite playlist. As it is Christmas time, walking through Newcastle city centre to see the markets lit up and music playing provides a gorgeous, cosy feel. After a long week of uni work, it’s important to indulge in little luxuries to remind ourselves we’re doing well and to keep going!