Megan Geall
Freshers week: the infamous first week of university where the term sober seems like the equivalent of ‘he who shall not be named.’ Your parents drop you off at your university accommodation and suddenly you’re free to spend a week drinking, partying and socialising before term begins.
The sober reality
Everyone expects this week to be defined by alcohol. We all picture crazy nights out filled with shots, music, foam parties, paint parties and wild outfits. As a 22-year-old postgraduate, I am here to tell you the truth. Freshers week does not need to be defined by alcohol and people really don’t care if you are sober or not.
I personally spent my entire freshers week completely sober – I was uncertain about getting drunk around people that I didn’t know and preferred to stay sober throughout all the social events. And guess what…no one judged me and I made loads of friends, some of who, I still call friends today.
“even if you do drink and party, sometimes it’s worth spending a sober night in”
Nights out during freshers week are just that: nights. You also have a good amount of daytime (after the long lie-in, of course) to socialise and get to know your new home. So, scroll through this list of sober activities to occupy your daytime and your night-times! Even if you do drink and party, sometimes it’s worth spending a sober night in during freshers week (trust me, you need the sleep if you want to avoid the dreaded freshers’ flu).
1. Play a game
Reach out to your flatmates and get them to play a game. This is a great activity for everyone to get involved with as players can opt to drink as you play or stay sober. Add a pack of cards to your university moving checklist or a simple board game and you’ve got an easy way to fill a couple of hours and the perfect excuse to chat to your new neighbours.
2. Go for a walk or bike ride
You’ve just arrived in a new place! It’s time to explore. The first thing I did when I moved to university was head into the city centre with other freshers in my block to explore all the shops, restaurants, and buildings in the local area. This activity will easily fill a couple of hours and you could also add in a trip to a coffee shop or a lunch date.
3. Join societies and take part in sober socials
“Most societies want all of their freshers to feel welcomed and will more than likely have a sober activity”
This is always my top tip to every fresher, sober or not. Joining societies is the easiest way to meet like-minded people and expand your social circle. Not getting on with your flat? Don’t know anyone on your course? Societies are the answer. Whether you join a sports team, an activity group, or a charity group, there is something for everyone. It’s also likely that there will be a sober society for you to join! Most societies want all of their freshers to feel welcomed and will more than likely have a sober activity during freshers week for you to attend. You definitely don’t need to drink alcohol to join societies and socialise!
4. Have a picnic
One of my favourite sober activities is a picnic. Explore a green space on campus with your new flatmates or head into the local area and find a park to enjoy. Grab some snacks and nibbles and bring a frisbee, and you’ve certainly got hours’ worth of fun!
5. A sober movie night in
Let me tell you now: fresher’s week is tiring whether you’re drinking or staying sober. If this is your first time living on your own, it can be very draining to suddenly have to cook and clean for yourself on top of making new friends, meeting your coursemates and lecturers, and exploring a new area.
My top tip is to schedule at least one sober night in throughout freshers. Grab your flatmates, microwave some popcorn (if you can work out how to use your new microwave!), and pop on a film. Watch a classic that you can bond over (I’m talking Mean Girls here) or watch something entirely new that you can experience together.
6. Host a Come Dine With Me
What could be more entertaining than attempting to feed your new flatmates when you’ve barely ever cooked for yourself before? This could be a recipe for disaster or you might uncover a new hidden talent. Deal out a day each and whip up a new recipe for your fellow flatmates. Whether the food is a disaster or a huge hit, it is sure to make a great story to look back on. As long as it doesn’t end the same way as Peter’s iconic “what a sad little life, Jane” speech, I’m sure this will be a hit with the entire flat.
7. Go clubbing
“Remember you don’t need alcohol to have fun”
Hear me out. I know sober clubbing sounds terrible but you really don’t need alcohol to enjoy a night out dancing with friends. Personally, I need little convincing to boogie on the dance floor so practise those dance moves and get ready to hit the dance floor. You don’t need alcohol to have fun when there’s music, laughter and someone with no rhythm attempting to dance!
I hope this list has given you some inspiration for a sober freshers week. Remember, you don’t need alcohol to have fun. If people make you feel pressured to drink or ashamed for staying sober, they probably aren’t the right people to become friends with! For more top tips on starting university, check out our guide called Starting University in September? What to Expect From the Next Academic Year.
Featured image courtesy of Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
Megan Geall
Megan is a 23-year-old recent English and American Literature graduate and aspiring journalist. Her interests include food, fitness, lifestyle writing and dance!