10 Tips For The Struggling College Student
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Tips For The Struggling College Student

Time to start preparing for finals.

302
10 Tips For The Struggling College Student

Recently I just have not been feeling enough. Instability runs rampant inside my head every time someone asks me my major. I’m constantly reminded of fellow classmates receiving awards, securing internships, meanwhile I spent eight hours in bed the other day watching and rewatching the same exact show.

Finals week is approaching, which means attempting to get it together by the end of the semester, academically and emotionally. It can get tough when you need to decide on a minor but haven’t been feeling yourself.

Here are 10 tips for the fellow struggling college student.

1. Meet with your advisor.

There are so many great resources on campus that don’t get the credit they deserve. Usually key points in any campus college tour, there are countless professionals willing to help you on your academic career path. I decided to check out IC’s Academic Advising Center mid-minor declaring crisis, and was not only pleased after my visit but motivated for my academic pursuit.


2. Get ahead on your work so you can set time for stress-free chill time.

Get your emails in order, your homework assignments in at the beginning of the week, and all your readings done before the weekend ends. You will literally fall in love with yourself when it’s Thursday night and you have seemingly little to no work to do. This always makes me feel like I know how to manage my time so I can procrastinate guilt free the next week.

3. Resist that imaginary cartoon cocoa bean on your shoulder telling you that you need another coffee. You don’t, and it’s definitely making you more anxious.


I drink two to three cups of coffee every day, and get disappointed come four o’clock when I think I’m having a stroke and the stroke is devising an evil plan with imaginary stomach ulcer to take me out during dinner. Put the coffee down, drink some decaf for taste and have an apple, homie.


4. Get some new scenery once in a while.


It can grow boring staring at the same pictures on your desk for hours on hours when you’re halfway through a research paper. The library can become monotonous and even distracting. It can be beneficial to switch up your study space every once in a while. Experiencing new scenery, when studying or reading material can actually improve how well you remember it.


5. Get to sleep at a decent hour.

In high school, I would stay awake until four in the morning, then struggle to wake up and make it to class by 7:30 AM. I cannot tell you how glad I am that stopped. If I had learned anything from this past semester, it is that sleep is important. Since I started routinely going to bed around ten or eleven (okay yeah this is early for college students), I haven’t had the urge to nap. And napping makes for very hazy and lazy days.

6. Clean up your digital life.

All those bulky files from your freshman year environmental health ICC course definitely aren’t helping your laptop prevent any crashes. Cleaning up your smartphone and laptop every once in a while is a great way to rid you of unneeded stuff that only takes up precious data space.


7. It’s completely okay to just do you, for however long it takes to progress. You will get there.


Truth is, no one has their shit together. We all just make it look like we do. It’s fine to admit that you’re unsure about where things are heading, and going for the flow can be exactly what you need.

8. Perk up your resume.

It’s always a good idea to rummage through the depths of your Macintosh and blow some dust off that resume you haven’t updated…well, since you last updated it. And that may or may not have been when you actually first wrote it.

9. Read a good book or keep a journal.

Nothing is as refreshing as indulging in some good literature. Or if you’re like me and tend to keep your emotions simmering at the edges of your insides, writing helps alleviate some of that internal struggle. Getting caught up in a good book is perfect for when you want to escape reality, and like reading, keeping a journal can help you sort out your visceral priorities.


10. Relax. You're doing fine.

It’s time to give yourself credit. No matter how far off the track you think you are, you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

21104
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

948367
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

125231
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments