Building Good Habits for University Life (as an International Student)

From your priorities to your day-to-day schedule, change is coming. Here's how to build healthy and lasting habits now.

Changing your habits for school can be tough, but it's so worth it!

1. Prioritizing your sleep

Getting a good night's sleep is essential for your health, and your academic success too. With enough sleep, you can help keep your brain sharp and your mood regular. When you have a full course load, you may be tempted to stay up late to study and complete assignments — but if skipping out on sleep becomes a habit, it can negatively impact your grades.

Instead, explore services that can help you feel confident in your studies. Learning Skills Services has a variety of workshops that can help you with time management, studying smarter and completing your assignments ahead of time.

2. Asking for help when you need it

While your routine will change when you enter university, care from the staff and peers around you will not. You may find that with this life change, you will need extra support — and that's okay! You're not alone.

As a York student you can make use of the Student Well-being Resources whenever you need them. The available resources range from counselling, mental, and physical health resources, food security services, and more. York's supportive environment will help you navigate your studies while also getting the help you need when you need it.

3. Setting up a comfortable workspace

You're going to be spending a lot of time at your desk. This means your workspace should be as comfortable as possible. Look for ergonomic office furniture when preparing your study space. This will allow you to be comfortable while you work for a few hours at a time and avoid soreness in your joints.

4. Giving yourself time to meet others

There are many opportunities to connect with other students on York's campuses — and you should make sure you take the chance to socialize. When you connect with those around you, your university experience becomes more memorable, and you may find friendships that will last a lifetime.

A great way to find out what's happening at York, before you become a student and during your time with us, is by exploring the York Events Calendar. Make specific searches or explore the calendar by weekday to see what's coming up. This is a great chance to meet others with similar interests, learn a new skill, network and more.

As an international student, you will have access to York International (YI), a support service built to help you settle into life in Toronto, Canada. You can explore the YI events calendar to find upcoming sessions and occasions to meet other international students. You may meet someone from your home country or make a connection with someone from a country you have never been to before — the possibilities are endless!

5. Maintaining a healthy diet

It may be easiest to pick up a quick snack or meal while you're on the go, but it's important to know exactly what you are eating, and how it may affect your health. If you are looking for inspiration for healthy meals and snacks you can make while you embark on your studies, check out York's Food Services website.

Here, you will be able to navigate a variety of tabs. If you click the "nutrition" tab, you will find the Nutrition Tips page. On this page, you will find information about dietitians, how to safely freeze food, meal prepping, and much more. This page is essential for creating a diet that will benefit you and will help you get connected to food services that can fuel your body when you are on the go.

We want to watch you strive over the next few years. The first step to joining us at York is finding your passion. With hundreds of programs to choose from, you can pair your interests with the possibility of financial support by exploring what we have to offer. Start creating life-long memories, join us at York University!