While the dropout rates for high school have decreased considerably over the past few years, the United States experiences a daunting 40% of yearly college dropout rate. More than 30% of students who prematurely terminate their studies are in their first year on campus, pointing to problems adjusting to campus life. It is not a secret that thousands of students struggle to adapt to the fast-paced and draining college routine. However, you don’t have to resort to terminating your studies because of challenges in school. Here are useful tips to help you survive the challenges during your initial year in college.
- Deal With Homesickness
One of the most serious challenges students struggle with as they transition from high school to college is homesickness. For many of these learners, having to travel to college is often the first time they stay away from home for a prolonged period. Homesickness is the prolonged sadness associated with missing family members and loved ones.
Homesickness is so common that a recent study found that more than 94% of students experienced homesickness at some point during their initial ten weeks on campus. The first step to overcoming homesickness is releasing that there is no quick fix. The feelings are normal and will dissipate with time. However, overcoming the sadness will require patience and positive self-talk.
Reach out to others for support and get more involved in campus activities. While leaving home for college may seem intimidating initially, it helps to know that you are not alone. So many of your classmates are going through the same fears and uncertainties. Find someone to talk to and share your worries and uncertainties. Staying busy will also help you to adjust. Most importantly, understand that the feelings are normal and give yourself time to adjust.
- Plan Your Assignments
Assignments are one of the main reasons students struggle with college. Many people transition to college before mastering effective time management, making it challenging to cope with the considerably free and uncontrolled campus setting. However, understand that freedom and self-management in college come with the challenge of ensuring your tasks are completed on time.
Don’t let projects pile up through procrastination, as you may be overwhelmed. Instead, plan for your assignments and dedicate enough time to complete the most urgent projects first. Don’t waste time stressing about those urgent and complex projects you cannot complete alone. Instead, work closely with a reliable college essay writing service to ensure you never miss a deadline.
- Create a Study Space
Staying focused and motivated to study and work on assignments is a daunting task that requires deliberate measures. According to experts, the most important reason for having a dedicated study room is that it sharpens your mind and improves your concentration. Consider all the tools and resources you need daily when designing your study space.
A dedicated study space helps you get in the zone faster and motivates you to study. When properly designed with useful elements, a study space allows you to develop the right mind frame to interact with and internalize new information.
It also allows you to plan how long you intend to focus on learning, which is important for effective time management. Most importantly, experts indicate that studying in a dedicated study area is a crucial contributor to memory as students get to avoid distractions.
- Get Enough Sleep
In trying to keep up with hectic college schedules and tight assignment deadlines, most students ignore the importance of sleep and adopt unhealthy sleep habits. According to studies, students need at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep to remain healthy and focused. Sleep deprivation negatively affects students’ immune systems, impedes their ability to concentrate when working on tasks, and poses a safety risk during wakefulness. Also, sleep is tied to other health implications, including the risk of obesity and hypertension. For academic success, make quality and uninterrupted sleep a priority.
- Always Attend Class
Showing up to class tells your professor that you take the course seriously and are making deliberate efforts to be present. However, evidence shows that class attendance has more benefits than just improving your academic performance. According to experts, attending class with purpose allows students to make connections between concepts. This means the brain finds links between class readings and previous meetings during lectures. Students also get to benefit directly from the professor’s immense experience. They can ask questions and get instant answers to improve their learning.
To make the most of each class you attend, complete all the readings and assigned materials. Part of preparing for your class should include taking and reviewing notes to prime your brain to make connections between concepts. Arrive early, creating an opportunity to prepare your items and engage other students before class begins. Most importantly, learn to pay attention during lectures and listen actively.
- Eat Healthy Meals
As a college student, understand that you are only as healthy as the food you eat. Healthy meals allow you to manage your weight and prevent some diseases effectively. While not entirely accurate, there is some truth to the phenomenon of the freshman 15. Evidence shows that the rates of obesity and overweight are increasing among first-year college students, mostly because of the drastic changes in diet. Most depend on junk and fast food, making unhealthy food choices as they look to maximize savings.
Understand that eating healthy meals for your well-being and academic performance has to be costly. Create meal plans and make good money decisions to afford balanced diets. For instance, create a food budget and purchase non-perishable ingredients in bulk. Also, make sure to include fruits and vegetables in your meals.
- Exercise
Frequent exercise is an effective way to remain healthy and fit while creating opportunities to interact with others and overcome homesickness. One of the main reasons college students are gaining weight is because of largely sedentary lifestyles. Combined with healthy eating habits, exercise allows students to manage their weight and improves sleep quality. Research has also shown a link between regular exercise and academic performance.
Understand that the trick with exercise is not to obsess about intensity. Dedicating a few minutes to exercise daily is more helpful than doing exhausting routines sporadically. Also, simple routines like a walk around the park or riding a bike can give you all the physical activity you need to live a healthy lifestyle.
This article summarizes a few survival and lifestyle tips for college students. Understand that, given the hectic nature of life on campus. Regular exercise is now more important than ever before. Prioritize sleep and eat healthy food as part of your self-care routine. Most importantly, socialize with others and find ways to cope with homesickness.