8 Tips for a Healthier College Room

Living in a small space is virtually guaranteed on campus. Residence hall rooms are one of those small spaces – and they also provide connection with other students, resources and groups on campus. One technique to stay healthy on campus is to set up those small spaces for your academic success. Here are our tips to do just that:

Room in residence hall with Carolina gear and calming touches

Minimize stuff. It’s tempting to pack every. single. thing. from your room at home, but resist that urge. Start with the bare essentials and add more later. The more minimalist you can go, the better. You can always bring back what you really miss the next time you visit home.
Maximize storage. Loft your bed so you can fit more things under there. Worried about the height? Bed risers can give your bed just enough boost to give you more storage underneath.
Get your Zzzzs. Bring a black out eye mask and ear plugs. If your roommate has a different sleep schedule than you, you’ll need to deal with it. Always put eye masks on and earplugs in before going to sleep.
Create some calm. Adjust the lighting with lamps (but if you live on campus, not multiple-bulb light fixtures or halogen lamps, those aren’t allowed in UNC housing), white holiday lights, or battery powered candles. Add some calming scent with lavender or diffusers. Incorporate plants into your space such as bamboo.
Decorate. Hang photos or posters that inspire you to fulfill your goals at college using temporary mounts or blue tack removable adhesive. Photos of family and friends can also offer a sense of familiarity. Add color with your bedding and furniture.
Stay organized. The room is small – so have a place for everything and take a few minutes each day to put things in their place. Shoe caddies, extra hangers, under the bed storage, and cloth storage bins all make a difference. And make your bed! It’ll take a minute but will help make your room look more inviting and comfortable.
Snack on foods that nourish you. Residence hall rooms at UNC allow a 6 cubic feet fridge to be used, and larger kitchen areas are available to the community. Ideas for nutrient-dense snacks:
- Nuts | Seeds | Dried fruits | Fresh fruit | Veggies, especially snackable ones like carrot sticks, celery, snap peas, peppers, edamame | Bars, especially protien- & nutrient-filled ones. Look for few ingredients and words you recognize. | Peanut butter | Hummus | Yogurt | Granola | Oatmeal | Avocado
Communicate. Living with so many people in such close proximity requires good communication. Set up expectations with your roommate right away and revisit as needed. Let your neighbors know when something they do impacts you. Connect with your residence hall staff when you need help.

Suggested packing list focused on your health and wellbeing:

Sleep:

Sheets (UNC residence hall mattresses are 36″x6″x80″)
Mattress cover
Comforter/quilt
Bedside caddy
Bed pillows
Throw/blanket
Alarm clock (it can be helpful to turn your phone OFF at night)
Earplugs
Eye mask

Study:

Desk accessories
Laptop with security cable and sleeve
Desk lamp (single bulb, not halogen)
Bulletin board, pushpins
3 prong power strip with surge protection and cord fire protection
Dry erase board and markers
Book light

Relaxation:

Speakers
Headphones/ear buds
Floor cushions/backrest
Area rug
Fan
Frames and wall art
Blackout window panels
Floor lamp (non-halogen, single bulb)
Room fragrances (such as aromatherapy)
Little white holiday tree lights
Battery operated candles
Comfy chairs
Crate or small table for coffee table
White noise machine

Organizing:

Shoe storage
Stacking drawers
Closet organizers
Luggage
Batteries
Purse organizer
Hangers
Emergency first aid kit
Small tool kit
Hooks for hanging bathrobes, jackets
Drawer organizers
Closet curtain/rings/rod (for Hinton James, Craige, Avery, Parker, Teague and Ehringhaus. All other residence halls provide moveable wardrobes with doors)

Wash: