If you’re packing away for university, here are some of the essential things you’ll need to bring with you that will make a huge difference in your life.

Protein bars

Living in one of the best off-campus housing Ottawa has to offer means having a modern kitchen. You can cook and eat nourishing meals instead of depending on fast food and take outs.

But on those days when you wake up late and are in a hurry to get to class, you can just grab some protein bars on your way out. These wont replace a hearty breakfast, but you can snack on these in-between lectures for a boost of energy that will get you through the day.

Noise cancelling headphones

If you need to have music in the background while studying, or want to drown out your roommates’ noise, invest in a pair of quality noise-canceling headphones. You can also use them for your meditation, workouts, and podcasts.

Coffeemaker

Instead of going for a coffee run, you can just make your own coffee to energise your early morning classes and all-night study sessions. On a related note, you should also consider buying a mug warmer if you’re the type to forget about the coffee in your desk.

Pomodoro timer

This tomato timer is a popular productivity tool for students. The timer allows you to study for 25 minutes, then break for another 5. After achieving 4 Pomodoros, you can take a longer break for 20 to 30 minutes.

Home remedies

Stock up on bone broth and a box of herbal tea; you’ll never know when you may need them. Remember how your mom will bring you some hot soup when you’re sick? If you’ve caught the flu, these remedies will remind you of home and will make you feel instantly better.

Coupons

A lot of retailers offer student discounts so take advantage of them. You can get discounts from softwares to online courses, which will be useful for both your school work and personal projects. You can also check out these student discount programs: SPC, UNiDAYS, and StudentBeans.

Mini tool kit

If you’ve bought a lot of IKEA flat-pack furniture for your student apartment, then having a multi-use tool kit will help you quickly install them. There will also come a time when you’ll need to have something fixed at the apartment, so having a screwdriver or a hex wrench will come in handy.

Sleep

Sleep directly affects academic performance. Whether it’s due to partying or endless scrolling, sleeping for 2 to 3 hours every night will eventually take its toll on you. You’ll end up sleepy in your classes, and have a hard time concentrating on your studies. If you don’t want to suffer from overexhaustion, stress, and brain fog, try to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep.

Aside from duration, the quality of sleep is important, too. Putting up blackout curtains, dialling up the temperature, and drinking less alcohol and caffeine will improve your sleep quality.