With freshman move in coming in fast; the first-week anxiety starts to come in even faster. I am going into my sophomore year and, I still am pretty nervous about the first week or so. When I moved in last year, I had such a hard time adjusting because of anxiety and homesickness. I decided to help all the incoming freshmen out there by creating a list of ways to get rid of those first week anxieties. This is for you!
1. Call home
Not everyone will get home sick, but many do. A way to cure this is to call home. Call whoever is the reason you are missing home. I guarantee they miss you just as much. They are willing to listen to your worries, and they are your biggest supporters.
2. Music
Calming music is the best way to calm any anxiety. Listen to songs that are targeted to motivate you. I listened to one song on repeat the whole first month of college.
3. Shopping
The best source of therapy is always shopping. I know the college budget may make this a little impossible, but you could just drive around and find what stores are near by. You could even buy things for your dorm.
4. Hang out with friends
It is the first week and finding good friends is sometimes a little rough, but you will find people who you like to hang out with. Once you find those people, you will spend so much time with them. They will make you feel right at home, and you will miss them once the semester ends.
5. Site seeing
Again, drive around town and see what's near. I found a cute cafe and a few museums when I rode around. You will be able to find your "Central Perks" of college.
6. Start reading course books
Starting homework early sounds gross, right? Honestly, this is the best thing you could do. You will be able to ask good questions, dwindle on what you will be learning and you will become so busy during the semester. Getting ahead in class is way better than falling behind. Looking like a nerd is better than being stressed every week because you cannot get ahead.
7. Organize your room
Let's face it, your room is probably clean but not as organized as it could be. Move in is extremely rushed because you just want to get it done and out of the way. Take the first week as a time to figure out the best layout of your room to bring you the most comfort.
8. Write
Writing how you are feeling is extremely therapeutic. It gets out the feelings that are running through your head, even when you do not feel like talking to anyone. Try it out, you might like it.
9. Look for clubs you want to join
Flyers may not be posted yet, but I guarantee that people will be talking about the organizations that are on campus. There are websites and booklets that have just a few of the organizations listed. If those do not look appealing, START YOUR OWN!
10. Keep Going
Most importantly, just keep going. Even if you start to psych yourself out, you need to keep pushing yourself because it will the best thing you ever do. I almost dropped out my first week. I found a great roommate and people I could hang out with. I wanted to leave, but everyone pushed me to keep going. I am so thankful for those people.
