Packing for college can be daunting, especially if you don’t have anyone to guide you on what to pack. You can quickly max out your budget only to realize you left out some essential items when you arrive.
While it’s rare to forget the necessities like bedding, stationery, electronics, and clothing, there are a few more items that can make your college life easier. Here are six dorm essentials that my senior guy friends recommend bringing to college.
Functional and Cool College Dorm Room Essentials for Guys
1. A Hair Clipper
From my experience, most colleges don’t have barbershops on campus. Even if there is one, you probably have to queue to get served. This means that if you want a quick haircut, you will be forced to take a bus or drive around looking for a barbershop off-campus.
To avoid these inconveniences, invest in a hair clipper. These grooming tools come with different attachments to help you trim long hair to any desired length. And if you are unsure where to start, check out WiseBarber’s picks for the best hair clippers today.
With a hair clipper, you can cut your hair regularly, and it’s also a convenient way of saving time and money.
2. Noise-Canceling Headphones
There is a high probability you will be sharing a room with up to three other students. If you have never shared a room in your life, adapting to this may be challenging at first. While there are many tips on sharing a dorm room and not going insane, I have one that saved me; a pair of noise-canceling headphones.
As the name suggests, these headphones will cancel all the noise in your environment, allowing you to study comfortably even in a noisy room. They are also great for the gym, for traveling, and when trying to fall asleep.
3. Weighted Blanket
College life comes with its set of challenges. You’ll have to deal with assignments, classes, and extracurricular activities. Additionally, you’ll be in a new environment, away from your family.
All these changes and the academic pressure can leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed. That’s where a weighted blanket comes in. These are therapeutic blankets weighing between five and thirty pounds.
Weighted blankets utilize deep pressure stimulation (pressure therapy) to stimulate the production of serotonin hormone (mood-boosting hormone). As well as lowering cortisol hormone levels (stress hormone).
In return, this may help to:
- Improve sleep
- Reduce insomnia
- Promote calmness
- Improve focus
- Ease pains and aches
4. Water Filter
While most colleges indicate that tap water is safe for drinking, you are better off taking preventive measures. Having a water pitcher in your dorm room will give you consistent access to clean water without the need to buy bottled water.
Remember, it’s recommended to drink up to 3.7 liters of fluids a day to keep the body healthy. Fact; several studies show that over 55% of students are clinically dehydrated -- so stay hydrated!
5. Humidifier
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), indoor living spaces should have a humidity level between 30% and 60%. The best way to make sure your dorm room is not too humid or dry is to invest in a humidifier with an inbuilt hygrometer.
During winter, the air can get too dry, and you may end up with flaky, itchy skin. Moreover, your throat may become dry with an irritating feel. To avoid this, you need to manage the humidity in your dorm room to make it conducive for your studies.
6. Bathrobe
A bathrobe is a functional piece of clothing that will keep you cozy after taking a bath. They also come in handy when it’s cold. The advantage of a bathrobe is that it doesn't slip as easily as a towel.
And so, it’s something you can wear throughout the day when you are not attending classes until it’s time to change to nighttime pajamas.
The list above is, by no means, complete. There are many other items you’ll need to help make your college life complete and comfortable. If possible, talk to current or former students of the college you’re joining to find out which items you need in your shopping list!
