Leaving home for the first time can be both stressful and exciting. Even if you’re an older student starting school for the first time, it’s likely that you’re feeling a mix of stress and positive anticipation. You may have already begun talking about these feelings in counseling, or you could be wondering if your feelings are even normal.
Truth be told, most students experience a level of anxiety at every stage of the college admission process. It’s perfectly natural to be worried about how you’ll juggle deadlines, responsibilities, school work, a job, and more. The good news is that it can be done easily if you go into your first semester with some healthy habits. If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to making the transition into your first semester, read on for some ways you can not only stay sane but thrive in your first year at your dream college.
Form healthy habits.
One of the best ways to stay in great physical and mental health during your first semester is to eat a well-balanced diet, get regular exercise, and make time for rest and sleep. Something as simple as adding a fantastic green juice to your diet could go a long way in helping you to get the vitamins you need, and it comes with the extra benefit of weight loss if you try Skinny Greens green juice by SkinnyFit. The reality is that women are achieving their weight loss goals with Skinny, reducing bloating, and feeling their best. If being in great physical shape will help you to feel better about yourself and more confident in the classroom and give the extra boost you need to feel excited about your semester, this could be a great habit to get into now.
Getting yourself on a healthy exercise and sleep routine will help, too. In building healthy habits before you leave for school, you’ll have better health to fall back on when it comes time for those dreaded all-nighters when cramming for exams.
Know your support system.
No matter how great your habits are, making a big change can be hard. For this reason, it’s important to have people around you who can give you encouragement. Just like the college application counselors you may have used to get into a top university or your dream college, you’ll want an identified team of friends and family who can give you those pep talks if needed. When in doubt, take breaks where you can and spend time with people who want you to succeed.
Reach out to the professionals if needed.
There’s no shame in hiring a therapist if your transition to college is more challenging than you expected. Especially if you’re grappling with homesickness, this could be a great way to give yourself the tools and resources you might need to make it through that first semester.
Take breaks and engage in self-care activities.
A great self-care routine is extremely important when it comes to mental health, and this should include making time for the activities and people you love. Even if, for you, self-care means spending time alone, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of carving out time when you can recharge.
At the end of the day, whether you’re moving across the country to attend your dream school or plan to attend college in the same town where you went to high school, you’ll set yourself up for success if you formulate healthy habits early in your first semester. Not only will this give you the health benefits you need to succeed, but it will also mean a happier, healthier future after college. Best of luck to you as you complete the college admission process, sign up for those first classes, and meet your cohort.