Full-Time College Student

Overview

I am two years into my college experience and I have learned a lot that can help many incoming or current college students today. There are many more things for me to learn, but for now, I’ll share what I’ve come across and had to handle since being in this new chapter of my life.

Introduction

Some students may go into college ready to take on everything that comes their way. However, there are also those individuals that are nervous and thinking about every possible detail that can go wrong and cause them even more stress. It’s normal to be nervous or anxious about starting a new chapter in your life, even if it’s in a scary way or an exciting way. Take a deep breath because this article will hopefully help soothe your nerves and anxiety, and also get you even more pumped about starting college.

Self-Discipline

Entering college is a moment of becoming independent and not having someone in your ear about getting ready for school or making sure that you’ve got all your school work done. You’re becoming a young adult with new responsibilities, so it is time to gain self-discipline. Self-discipline may not be something that is established when entering college; however, it should be a quickly learned trait once you’re now in college for a few weeks or even more. Everyone has their own pace in adapting, but the faster you learn, the better. In college you have the ability to register for your own classes and class times. Whether you have classes that begin early in the morning or late in the afternoon, it is important to make it a priority to attend class. You’d be surprised how far you can fall behind when missing too many classes. Now if you have reasons to miss class, then it is your responsibility to reach out to someone you may know in class, or the professor, so that you can get the information that you missed that day. This would help you to not fall behind in lessons or on assignments. Contacting others for information or notes in class that day leads me to the next helpful point that can help you in college.

Meet New People

I know there are people who instantly meet new friends because they are such outgoing people, but there are also those who have always been shy and aren’t very comfortable with taking that step to introduce themselves or even ask questions. Sometimes those who are really outgoing in high school become shy in college because they are in a new environment where they don’t know anyone. It’s totally fine to feel your way and ease into meeting new people. College is a time to learn yourself and maybe try stepping out of your comfort zone and being your true self. A way to do this is to find out about organizations on campus and join one, two, or even more if you think you can handle it with your workload. Joining organizations can help you meet others who can possibly become lifelong friends while being part of a group who enjoys doing things that you also enjoy. Being part of organizations also gives you the chance to be amongst a group who shares the same interests and beliefs as you. Once you meet others, this also gives you the chance to connect with more people because they’ll introduce you to people who they know. Connecting with others is a great way to lead you into plenty of other opportunities that are out there. So, be social while also focusing on your studies. Socializing and taking a break from assignments every once in a while are great ways to reduce stress also.

Rest Yourself

There will be times when you may feel overwhelmed or drained from assignments or going to classes after a long night of barely getting rest. But, you should refrain from getting to that stressed part of your college experience. It may seem tempting to pull an all-nighter to study for a test that you have the next morning, however, it is important to get enough sleep instead. Not getting the proper amount of sleep, which is typically seven to nine hours, can affect your day negatively and can also have an impact on your health. To avoid not getting enough sleep, you should manage your time properly in a way that allows you to fall asleep before midnight because this can help you gain the proper hours of sleep in a way that you can wake up before noon. Getting your day started early after a good night’s sleep is a good way to have a better day overall. Also, getting little to no sleep can lead to psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. This can occur because your mind is focused on many things and wants to get as much done but your energy levels aren’t matching the amount of activity your brain is trying to comprehend.

Plan Ahead

As a college student, there will be professors who give multiple assignments, quizzes, and exams; and there are also professors who will only give two tests and that’s all. Once you are scheduled in your class, it is the best idea to access your syllabus and become familiar with it. This information is important because you can already have an idea of what to expect in that class and from that professor. When you have the dates and times that assignments are due and when exams are scheduled, it is a great idea to list these important dates so that you can have access to keep you reminded and up to date with your course work. Here are some helpful ways to stay organized and manage your time better:

• Have a planner
• Use Google Calendar
• Keep a dry erase calendar board in your room/dorm
• Color code and organize by classes

These are ways that have helped me to organize my time efficiently. It is up to you to take advantage of having an early notice about when something is due. This is important because procrastination can set in very quickly and easily if you allow it to. I struggled with and sometimes currently struggle with procrastination. However, this isn’t a good habit to have because waiting until the last minute to get an assignment done will only lead to more stress. If you wait until the last minute to complete one assignment, then you will most likely do the same for the next, and the next, and the next assignment until you have created and become comfortable with the habit of procrastinating. Therefore, create better time management skills for yourself and try breaking up intimidating tasks. If you have a five page essay due and you know the due date ahead of time, then hold yourself accountable for beginning early on your paper. You can set small goals for yourself like planning to have a page done by the end of one week and another by the next, and your five page essay can be done before the due date. Planning ahead is a great skill to adapt to in college because things become easier for you and it is a big help in not having an overwhelming workload.

Study Tips

You have so much going on in a day that includes going to classes, working on assignments, maybe you have a job to go to, going to a meeting for an organization, you realize you haven’t eaten yet so you have to do that too, and your to-do-list feels as if it goes on and on. Such a busy schedule and you suddenly realize you haven’t studied for an upcoming exam. This is why having a planner or a to-do list is a great habit to create early on. Although you may have plenty of busy days and your mind is constantly trying to focus on what to do and when to do it, you should practice having a healthy study plan. When developing a study plan be mindful of being in a place where you can focus clearly and be sure that this is specifically a time of ONLY studying. So, make sure that you silence your cell phone and have it out of sight because we all have created a habit of needing to check our phones. It is easy to become distracted and distractions will lead to an ineffective study session. Also, you should have set times for breaks and when you want to focus on certain subjects. DO NOT cram everything into a study session the night before a test! This isn’t a good idea and can only lead to the worst headache ever. When I study it is helpful for me to:

• Read over chapters in the textbook
• Go over notes from class
• Create flashcards for important terms and questions that help you remember scenarios
• Listen to recorded lectures
• Have a friend quiz me

Self-Care

As a new college student or even someone who has been in college for a while now, you can become so focused on staying up to date with assignments, studying for exams, keeping your grades up, and making time for your social life that you forget about YOU. Setting aside time for yourself is very important. Having built up stress or feeling overwhelmed isn’t healthy at all, and this is common for most college students. Therefore, you should take some time to focus on “me-time” and do things that can ease your mind and help you take a load off. Everyone has their own hobbies and interests that can help soothe their mind that they enjoy doing. So, take time off to do what best fits for your self-care. Here are some ways to ensure you are engaging in self-care:

• Exercise, Yoga, or Meditating
• Spa Day: Go out to get your nails and toes done and maybe even a massage.
• Shopping: Some people define self-care as buying things for themselves.
• Sleep: Maybe catching up on sleep is the best thing for you!
• Seek Counseling: This is very important because having emotional support can be an energy booster for many people. At times, some people get so overwhelmed by their workloads that it helps to talk to someone.

When engaging in self-care it is important because it’s as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. It’s a great idea to have, if not a counselor, then a friend to confide in every so often because speaking with someone can have a positive influence for you. Having too much stress can lead to bad habits that can have a lifelong effect on you mentally and physically. So, treat yourself often and value your “me-time”!

Effective Websites That Can Help College Students:

• College Life: 10 Ways to Reduce Stress
• Quizlet
• 7 Best Study Tips for College Students

About The Author:

L’Nysia Johnson is a sophomore at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. Her major is in Psychology and her minor is in Criminal Justice.