Survival Tips For Your First Year of College

College has become a topic of discussion in many family homes since early childhood, instilling this idea that it is an end goal, a destination, and defining life chapter. No pressure, right? Once you settle in, you are faced with managing all of it. If you happen to be a first generation student you feel especially lost and behind other students. Being one of the first or the first in your family to attend college increases the unknowns, anxiety, and pressure. If you need general tips for your first year of college or if you happen to be one of the first in your family to attend college, keep reading.

Prioritize Basic Needs:

Maslow's hierarchy of needs provides the idea that you must have your basic needs met first before you can engage in higher level human needs. Your foundational care must be tended to in order for you to excel in other areas of your life. At college, you have to decide how to juggle social life, school work, class schedule, work schedule, and personal care needs. Basic needs like sleep and eating need to be met with intention.

Sleep:

Sleep is essential for your physical and emotional well being. It’s a cultural norm on college campuses to brag about how little sleep you get. You are constantly having to decide if you want to stay up later to squeeze in more study time or social time. If you are financially pressured, you have to navigate work hours to your already busy life which makes getting consistent sleep even more difficult. While some things are out of your control and do make sleeping difficult, there are some things you can do. Consider having a consistent bedtime and wake up time that is similar most days of the week. While rigidity isn’t fun or always helpful, having a similar bedtime and wake up time will help your body stay in an expected rhythm and contribute to more restful sleep. Caffeine, while a staple in college, is best when consumed before the afternoon hours. If you’re drinking caffeinated beverages later in the day and evening, this could make it difficult to fall asleep. Another tip is keeping your room as cool and dark as possible. Also, talk with your roommate(s) about their nighttime and daytime routine, then collaborate on ways to help reduce disruptions to both of your sleeping hours. Pick out a few routines that will help you wind down at night including things like soft music, reading a book, dimming the lights, doing your night hygiene activities like brushing your teeth, showering, washing your face and wearing your favorite pajamas. It’s also easy to fall into the habit of looking at your phone before bed and in your bed but this adds a barrier to a good night’s rest. If possible, carve out some screen time earlier in your evening and place your phone at the foot of the bed or across the room. Of course you want to have fun at times and will forgo a good night's sleep for play but let there be more priority for sleep so you can feel like a person and less like a zombie.

Eating:

Eating can often get thrown off too as you map out your daily routine. Make sure to have snacks available, easy meal options so that you can eat in your dorm for those times when the dining halls are closed. Get in the habit of packing snacks and drinks in your backpack to grab between classes. Figure out which meal plan you’re on and make it a routine to grab food several times per day so your body can trust that you’ll take care of it. For example, you could have breakfast in your dorm if you like to sleep in more but make it a habit to eat lunch and dinner in the cafeteria. With that said, your body needs fuel multiple times a day. Tap into your body to notice what your hunger and fullness cues feel like. Resist skipping meals. Eat on a schedule especially in the beginning so you can get into a rhythm. Allow for pleasure in your eating but also pay attention to any disordered eating patterns as they can show up for some that first year. Part of your job as you transition into college is to instill an inner parent. Imagine you have a guide internally who reminds you to eat, listen to your body and be kind to yourself.

Make friends:

Remember that most freshmen on campus are in the same boat as you. It is a vulnerable feeling to be somewhere completely new, away from your familiar people and places. Put yourself out there and remember that it takes up to 200 hours to make a genuinely close friend. You can ask your neighbors to take a walk, go to lunch or dinner, or sit next to someone and strike up a conversation in class. There are often several clubs that develop over the year which can also connect you to others. Pay attention to flyers and college social media accounts. There are often events taking place with free food, fun activities, and times for connection.

Spend time outside of your dorm:

On many college campuses, you live in a dorm that first year. Basically everything you have is in one room. This can make it easy to spend way too much time in bed. You are vulnerable to eating in bed, scrolling on your phone in bed, and doing your homework in bed. This is not a helpful habit as it will mess with your brain’s ability to decipher your bed as a place for sleep. This makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep at night. Find an area in the library, local coffee shop, or campus hall that helps you feel focused and alert where you can study. Eat meals in other areas and connect with others outside of your room and the dorm. I’m not saying avoid your room altogether but spending too much time there can lead to isolation, poor sleeping patterns, and low mood.

Know your supports on campus:

Do not struggle alone. Name how you are feeling with others and consider what resources are built in on campus. There are several resources full of staff who are trained to help you through all the ups and downs of college.

Medical and counseling center: You will now be taking over your physical and mental health needs. Most college campuses have a medical and counseling center. Stop by or look at their website to see how you can schedule a medical or mental health visit. It’s okay to initiate either to establish care. You might not know exactly what you need but making that first visit gets your foot in the door so that when something does arise, you know where to go and how to schedule.

Financial aid office: Financial aid is intimidating and very confusing. Find out their hours and lean on them when you have financial questions or concerns. 

Several specific offices are spread out on campus that align with specific identities and needs. These more specific offices can help bring a sense of community and care that can help students feel a sense of belonging and connection they might not be getting elsewhere. Walk around or take a look at the campus map to learn about all the different resources.

Relationship skills 101:

Pay attention to who you surround yourself with, how you feel in those circles and how you show up. Conflict is inevitable but should not be constant. Notice how you cope with conflict and how the people around you also handle these situations. Address issues concisely, honestly and productively, and then move forward. If you happen to find that certain people are just not for you, that’s okay! Know that shifting connections is a part of the college experience and definitely a normal part of life after college. Lean on your dorm Resident Assistant (RA) if you are struggling to work through something with a roommate.

Create a budget: 

Have an idea of how much you’re spending and how much you have coming in each month. Be wary of credit card advertisements but certainly talk with your parents or people who can give you solid financial advice about having a credit card for emergency purposes. 

Take breaks, rest, and refuel:

Find moments in your day to exhale, notice your surroundings and do nothing. This might only be a few minutes here and there but can make a big difference on your nervous system. When school breaks come, lean into rest and play. Connect with people back home, travel, sleep in, and read books for fun.

Organization: 

Everyone has their own way of organizing their day to day routines. Definitely make sure to get a calendar of some kind. Some people like an old fashioned wall calendar or paper planner to carry around. Others prefer an electronic calendar that comes with reminders or you may have both. Just make sure to have something to organize your day to day to do list. Find a balance as well. While it can be good to stay organized, it can be super counterproductive to have every single hour of your day planned. Build in flexibility where there is not always something filling your time. Remember you also have to have time to use the bathroom, eat and transition from one thing to the next. 

College can be such an exciting time but also very stressful. Be gentle with yourself and remember that you are adjusting to a whole new normal way of living. Things don’t just fall into place. You have to be patient and meet yourself where you’re at. 

If you’re looking for therapy support, feel free to reach out. I work out of Northfield, MN, and also offer online therapy for those doing college life elsewhere.