Everyone knows that going to college is a huge step into becoming independent, and it can get a bit overwhelming. Maturing into a young adult can be scary and there really is no way around it. College is like diving head first into adulthood but I have some tips to surviving that first semester of independence.
Number One: Ask for Help
There is no shame in admitting that you are over your head. Believe it or not, it shows responsibility and that you know your limit. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help in a class. Your professors want you to ask questions and confidently understand the material. Some great resources are office hours and tutoring. You will get so much more out of the class material.
Number Two: Keep Yourself Accountable
Prioritizing is the key to success in college. I try to make lists of what I need to do during the week, or the day if you want to get more specific. It helps keep your mind focused and checking off those tasks gives a whole new sense of accomplishment. But I don’t mean just your school work. Make sure to prioritize yourself. Give yourself breaks throughout the day. Don’t try to cram all your work into one day without stopping to take a breath. For example, I have set rules for myself. I never do work while I’m eating and I don’t practice after 8 p.m. While I eat, I’ll watch a TV show on Netflix. I also know that I can’t practice my instruments late at night because I am just too tired and I don’t get anything but frustration out of it. This also helps me manage my time better and not feel so overworked.
Number Three: Use Your Weekends Wisely
The weekends are the perfect time to put yourself first. Go and hang out with friends. Every weekend, my friends and I will either have a fun card game night or get breakfast together. There are tons of campus events going on throughout the weekend, too! Grab your friends and have fun! Maybe try to get off campus. Whether it’s grocery shopping, eating out, or taking a walk along the canal, you will feel some stress relief from just getting out of the dorm. The weekends are also a great time to get ahead on your school work. I always check Moodle to see what I have due throughout the week and try to get some of that work done early. Trust me, your future self will thank you! Also, don’t forget about that personal time. Maybe do a hobby that you don’t get a chance to do during the week or take that time to watch a movie.
Number Four: It’s Okay to Not Participate in Everything the First Year
College is a four-year long journey, there’s no need to make everything happen now. This is a time to explore new hobbies and find new interests. Try out some different clubs you wouldn’t have gone to before. You never know what you will find. And don’t feel bad for turning down opportunities. If it makes you feel overwhelmed or you think you won’t have enough time, don’t do it. There is always next year to pick up new things. The key to your first year is to not overwork yourself. You know your limit, and you’ll know when you’re ready to push it.
Number Five: Keep a Schedule
Everyone has their respective sides of a physical planner versus a virtual calendar. Here’s my tip: use both! Writing down your class schedule and assignments in a planner will help you with your memory. Also, as I said before, physically crossing off a task is so rewardful. I also recommend putting your schedule into your phone’s calendar. This way you can set up alerts so you always know ahead of time where you need to be next. Either way, keeping some sort of calendar will help you find how much time you have left in the day for homework, free time, food and friends. I also recommend using a reminder app on your phone. There’s always going to be a random event that doesn’t happen every week. Trust me, you’ll be glad you had a reminder. If it’s not on my phone, it doesn’t happen. You’d rather be safe than sorry because even if you didn’t need that reminder, at least you know that task is done.
