For many of us, the end of the year marked by turning in that final final and saying good-bye to that stuffy, dorm is a time of freedom. The freedom of summer is usually short lived as most of us transition straight into jobs and internship that take up the bulk of our summer. You quickly become nostalgic of the days spent living your little adult life on campus and having some of your closest friends a few strides down the half from you. The nostalgia leads to a subconscious countdown to the days back at the campus you are proud to call your own.
However, this is not always the case for some students. This anxiety may just loom over a person and as summer begins to wind down, the feeling of dread is amped up.
I am always a mix of these two scenarios. Part of me dreads the long, three months that separate me from my friends and can’t wait to be back out my home away from home, but the other half of me constantly obsesses over the bucket of obligations and expectations that come with a new school year.
Dealing with general anxiety has given me insight onto how to cope with these transitions from home to school and I thought I’d share what helps me get through it and rolling smoothly into having another incredible school year:
1.Organize a budget prior to leaving for college.
Loans! Scholarship! Financial aid! On-campus jobs! Books fees! College has a way of shoving you into the adult world even before you step on campus. I know for me, anything involving money tends to give me a headache as well as exacerbate my anxiety. Worrying about finances can easily distract you from what you are paying for, to get a good education! Creating a budget that you can visually see how you are going to pay for your education as well as other expense that come from living on your own will somewhat lessen the anxiety of the unknown costs of college. Also, talk to your school’s financial aid office about plans, scholarships, and on-campus jobs that are available to you to help with the cost.
2. Keep up with your school email.
I learned this tip from experience. Last summer I hardly ever checked my school email throughout summer and once I decided to check the week prior to school I was bombarded with over 200 emails that sent my heart racing because I had no idea which emails contained important information for the upcoming school year and which ones I could disregard. Check your mail once or twice a week and keep your account organized by filing away any messages containing important information.
3. Mark up that planner!
I am a Type A person and I have always found my planner useful, but it wasn’t until this summer that I got in the habit of putting events in my schedule before the school year even started. Being able to visually see what the term ahead looks like between classes, clubs, work, and practice allowed to take a deep breath and see that there is some time here and there for myself.
4. Stop being a night owl.
I tend to fall victim to a really screwed up sleep schedule during summer which leads to me not being able to fall asleep until 4am the first few weeks at school. For the last couple of weeks at home, try to get into a somewhat normal sleep schedule so you are used to being on the right clock before the year starts. Also, a study done by the American Psychological Association showed that getting the proper amount of sleep, with enough REM cycles, decreases anxiety.
5. Keep busy when friends start going back to school before you do.
My school starts a whole month after some of my friends and it really bums me out to have to say good-bye to everyone while I stay at home. This also starts to rev up my anxiety as I see other students begin classes and have academic responsibilities again. Don’t let yourself fall victim to the dog days of summer gloom! Use these last few weeks to complete a mini end-of-the-summer bucket list or spend more time with your family to keep your from entering an anxious state.
6. Don't pack a whole month before move-in day.
The summer before my freshman year of college, I was an eager beaver and did the majority of my shopping in the first month of summer. (and continued buying all the way until the last week. Sorry mom, I tried to save my money!) I stacked up all my college buys against a wall in my room so everyday I woke up to the mountain of items that would soon reside in my new home. As move in day crept closer and closer, I became more anxious and looking at this mountain didn’t help. Now, I still buy things here and there throughout summer, but I try to just enjoy summer instead of thinking about a day that isn’t happening for another two months. Pack a week before, not a month before.
Most importantly, take a deep breath and remember that you will be back in the swing of college things before you know it! Happy studying!
