Happy Summer Break! It's that time of year where college students can relax and enjoy themselves without the pressures of schoolwork hanging over their heads. But, it can also be a time of stress and anxiety as your normal routine is suddenly disrupted. It's important during this time to realize that coming home is not a necessarily bad thing, it's just different and you have to learn your new normal.
Spending nine months living by yourself or with a few roommates is very different than spending three months at home with your family. You have your own routines, even if your classes aren't the same every day, many students figure out a typical day-to-day schedule.
There is so much independence while you're away and coming home can honestly feel suffocating. Remember, it's hard for your parents to have you out of the house. They want to keep you as their little baby forever so sometimes they forget you want to be trusted and treated like an adult. Try and keep the lines of communication open and work with them to develop a game plan so you don't feel like you're chained to the house.
One way you can feel independent and develop a new normal is to develop a routine. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to get up every day at 7:00 am as if you had an early class, that could just mean adding constants in your life. For example, maybe every day you do some yoga or go for a run. Stay on a sleep schedule- even if it's staying up until 2:00 am and waking up at 10:30 am.
Change can be hard on anyone. Suddenly changing your normal life to accommodate your family and friends at home can be tiring and stressful. Think about it as though you're developing your new normal and your new routine instead of your life is flipped upside down for three months. It won't be easy at first but summer will be gone before you know it, so enjoy your private bathroom and free food as long as possible.