Back-to-school season may have officially ended, but the academic year is still in full swing. Now that you’ve gotten settled into your schedule and dorm, you might have noticed what you’re missing. Moving in and preparing for the year can be overwhelming, so it’s no wonder you’ve forgotten a few useful items. Now that it’s time to head back to the store, keep reading for some essential items to put on your shopping list.
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1. First Aid Kit
Your health and safety should always be a priority, no matter where you are. Bandages and ice packs might not have graced your initial packing list, but you never know when you’ll need them. Being ready for anything by having a first aid kit on hand is a smart decision to make. Even if it’s just for a minor cut, you’ll be glad to have a bandage to secure the wound and keep it clean. Also consider keeping antiseptic or antibacterial ointments to further prevent infection.
2. Medication
Speaking of your health and wellness, it’s a good idea to be prepared for sickness as well. It’s a big transition going from your parents’ house to your own living space, since they usually provide for these things. However, it’s important to keep your own stock of medicine around your dorm or apartment for whenever illness strikes. Some good essentials to have include pain reliever, allergy relief, and cold and flu medicine. Now you won’t have to wallow in misery because you don’t have medication.
3. Menstrual Products
Staying on the theme of wellness, it’s also necessary to be ready for when your menstrual cycle strikes. This is, unfortunately, one thing you can usually count on being there, even as annoying as it is. To be prepared for this monthly ritual, make sure you have the necessary products on hand. These could include tampons, pads, period underwear, a heating pad, or menstrual pain relievers like Midol. Don’t forget to add in self-care items like your favorite snack or a face mask to pamper yourself during this time.
4. Extension Cords
Now onto some of the more boring, yet practical, products to keep on hand. When living in a small space like an apartment or dorm, there usually aren’t many electrical outlets. However, you might have many items that require plugs, like a mini fridge, microwave, or charging stations. With the standard of only eight outlets per room, these can fill up quickly, especially if you have a roommate. Investing in some extension cords will eliminate this issue, and these vary in lengths to fit whatever space you need.
5. Kitchen Gadgets
You might not initially think of buying kitchen supplies if you’re living in a dorm, which don’t always have kitchens. This might be especially true if you plan on taking your meals at the campus dining hall. However, it’s still a good idea to keep certain gadgets on hand because you’ll never know when you might need them. For example, you might get a hankering for a specific snack item and need a can opener, paper plates, or chip clip. It’s never fun being excited to chow down on a snack and not being able to open or store it.
6. Laundry Extras
You’ve probably got laundry detergent and dryer sheets covered, which are the standard laundry needs. However, there are a few extras that you should strongly consider keeping around. These could include stain remover, scent boosters, and fabric softener. Scent additives for the washer are a wise investment because shared laundry machines can sometimes leave a strange smell on clothes. Moreover, sometimes campuses use hard water, so adding fabric softener can guard against any of its negative effects like staining.
7. Supplemental Lighting
You’ve probably got some sort of room design already established, which may include decorative lighting like LED strip lights. However, you might consider adding lamps to your dorm or apartment to eliminate overhead light usage. Harsh ceiling lighting can cause overstimulation, migraines, and eyestrain, which is harder to deal with when you need to do homework. Using a lamp will provide softer, less invasive light to read, do homework, or relax.
8. Shower Accessories
You’ve got your shampoo and body wash at this point, but there’s more you probably didn’t think about. If you’re using a community shower, shower shoes are a must to protect against foot fungus and other bacteria. Another good use for this bathroom situation is having a shower caddy or bag. This allows you to easily carry all your toiletries together to and from the bathroom. If you have a private bathroom, invest in a shower drain hair-catcher. These handy gadgets stop hair from clogging the drains and causing plumbing issues you don’t want to deal with.
The List Goes On and On
There are many products you could see as useful the more you settle into college life. What if you could use an ice cream scoop or pizza cutter? However, think about how many times you would actually be utilizing these items regularly. It’s not in your best interest to load up with stuff you rarely touch. Survey and assess what you truly need, and you’ll find dorm life will become a breeze in no time.
