Let's be honest, we've all thought about dropping out of college at some point or another. We've questioned our sanity and decisions on several occasions. You know that chart that details just how much a college student actually does in a day?
You know... that one? I never realized just how accurate it was until this semester. And let me tell you, it can be a nightmare. We can't give up, though! College isn't easy. It's difficult balancing everything and keeping your head on straight.
Classes need to be your #1 priority. I know this one seems obvious and I probably sound like your mom, but you're here for your future. It's okay to tell people that you need to get homework done before you can have fun.
In fact, doing this is sure to save you a lot of stress. Between work, classes, responsibilities towards organizations, and who knows what else, the bottom line is that you have 4 years here to earn that degree and get a job when you leave. Nobody likes the late-night study sessions or the anxiety that comes with big projects and exams, but they can be managed.
You need to have fun and find time for yourself. I know this may seem contradicting, but having fun is necessary to keeping your sanity. There's absolutely no way you can have all that information stuck in your head by itself without going crazy. Everybody needs to let off some steam at times. So go out and have fun, even if it's just dinner with friends! I'm willing to bet that clearing your head will make the study material less muggy to wade through.
Something else that's helpful to keeping your sanity is finding a good support system. Maybe this is your family, friends, or organization, but they are important. You won't get through college easily without them. I know that, for myself, life seems so much more manageable with my friends and family supporting me.
Remember to sleep! This is a big one that many incoming freshman ignore. We get so caught up in meeting deadlines and getting to places, that we put our health on the back burner. You will fail faster than you can drop out with this strategy. I've noticed that people like to one-up each other in the "no sleep" department.
You know the conversation - "I'm running on 5 hours of sleep, I won't be able to go to bed tonight because of two midterms tomorrow, and I'm dead." and "Oh that's nothing, I'm running on zero sleep for the third day in a row." College students think it's a superpower to run on no sleep, but the truth is that it will definitely catch up with you.
Next time you start questioning why you're here, just consider that there are ways to battle the anxiety. You are here for a reason and some day, this will all be worth it.
