Whether you’re new at BYU-Idaho or you’re truly settled in, there’s something nice about being able to go home for the weekend. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going home for something special or just to see your family or friends again. But one thing that you’re probably starting to realize about adult life is that it pays to be prepared.
Nobody wants to come back from their weekend to be confronted with angry roommates, a smelly dorm room, or any other issues that might crop up while you’re away. Here’s the necessary checklist to help you get ready for your trip home so you can actually enjoy yourself without worrying about anything you’ve forgotten.
Tell Your Roommate
This is a communication breakdown, although a simple one that’s often overlooked. Most people in student housing have roommates, meaning it’s a common courtesy to let the person you live with know if you won’t be back for a few days. There are a few reasons why this is a good idea.
First, you and your roommate probably look out for each other. If one of you doesn’t come back for a night or two, it’s easy to get worried. Yes, you can text each other, but there’s no point in causing unnecessary worry for even a minute, especially if a simple conversation can avoid it.
More importantly, you don’t know what plans your roommate has that weekend. Your being away might make things more difficult for them, so by letting them know where you’ll be, you give them a chance to work things out in advance.
Even if you aren’t best friends with your roommate, it makes sense to keep them on your good side. Simple communication can do wonders for this.
Throw Out Any Food That Might Attract Pests
Do you know what’s worse than coming back to an annoyed roommate? Coming back to an annoyed roommate and ants … or even worse. Pests are a pain, and once they’ve settled in, they can be even more annoying to get rid of.
Rather than having to contend with your new, much smaller roommates or having to contact pest control, you should nip the issue in the bud.
If you throw out any food in your bedroom, pests will be less interested in your dorm. You should also get rid of any trash and dirty plates or cups. It’s easier to do it sooner rather than when you return. This all takes a few minutes, but it can save you days of stress.
In some cases, an infestation can cause major issues for everyone in the BYU-I apartments. So, go with the prevention option so you won’t be the guy who brought rats into the dorm. It’s better for you, your fellow students, and the dorm manager.
Clean Your Dorm Room
As well as throwing out pest food, it pays to give the dorm room a quick once-over. If your BYU-I housing includes a common area and private areas, then focus on your private bedroom and your dorm room. You don’t need to make sure everything is spotless, but it’s nice to be able to come back and find that your bedroom isn’t a mess.
Going home gives you a good thing to tidy up for and will help you to get into the habit of trying to make your surroundings pleasant. A tidy dorm room is also easier to work and study in.
Pack the Essentials
Even if you’re only going away for a weekend, packing should involve more than just grabbing some random clothes and shoving them into a backpack. It only takes forgetting to pack your phone charger once to remember never to do it again. Here are some of the essentials to remember:
- Clothes, including underwear and PJs
- Phone and other electronic devices
- Chargers
- Toiletries and hygiene products
- Medication
- Photo ID and important documents
- Wallet
- Keys
The good thing about going home is that you probably have some spare clothes there. But you want to keep up the practice of packing smartly and working out the balance between just enough and too much. After all, you might end up traveling somewhere more exciting soon. Good packing habits will save you plenty of hassle.
As well as packing the essentials, this is a great opportunity to pack up anything that you want to keep at home or vice versa. Make a list of things that you want to take back to school with you so that you aren’t scrambling while you’re trying to relax.
Anything You Need for Homework/Studying
As well as the essentials for living comfortably, you also need to pack anything you need for homework or studying while you’re away. Check on any deadlines in the next week and at least ensure that you have the first half of the week covered.
If you keep a lot of material on your laptop, then you should keep that close. Otherwise, put your books and other notes in a separate bag. As you’re only away for a short period of time, you might be able to dial back on the amount of study material you take with you. But this does mean that you’ll have to plan what you study while you’re away.
You should also check what classes you have on the day you return to BYU-Idaho so that you know what you need to be ready for. This will avoid the mad scramble to get yourself prepared for your first classes back and allow you to actually pay attention.
Return Any Due Library Books
If you’re away for a few days, you might not get the chance to return any library books that are coming up to their due date. The late charges will add up, and even a small charge can hurt your bank balance. Take them back before you go away, so it’s one less thing to worry about when you return.
Even if your packing habits aren’t as good as they could be, ensuring you have a comfortable, safe environment to enjoy school and personal time is essential. Pack you and your belongings to student housing at Delta Phi men’s housing. Our community of college students and friendly residents offers one of the most accommodating living areas in the city. Contact us today for availability.