Healthy Habits To Help You Thrive In College
Entering college means stepping into a whole new world of freedom and responsibility. For many of you, this is your first time experiencing such independence, and the transition can feel daunting. With the chance to dive into "grown-up" activities and the constant allure of distractions, staying focused on your four-year plan can be challenging. To help you navigate this exciting but demanding time, here are some healthy habits to adopt that will set you up for strong social relationships and academic success.
1. Create a Planner
College workloads can be a big shift from high school, where you had regular homework assignments. Here, professors might assign projects months in advance and expect you to manage your time effectively.
A planner—whether digital or on paper—will be your best friend for keeping track of assignments and deadlines. It will also help you figure out what the moves will be for the weekend (if you’re able to go to any at all).
2. Find a Study Group
Coordinating a study group might seem like a hassle, but it’s incredibly useful, especially for challenging classes.
Think about it like this: if you're struggling with something, chances are a classmate is too. Studying with others can make complex concepts easier to understand. Plus, study groups often lead to friendships since you'll be working with the same people regularly. Trust me, during finals week, you’ll be glad to have your group—sometimes fellow students can explain things even better than professors.
3. Get Comfortable Being Alone
Unlike high school, you probably won’t be moving from class to class with your friends, and different schedules might mean you won’t see them every day. College will push you to do things on your own—whether it’s grabbing lunch, walking to class, or working on assignments.
Embracing this independence will help you lock in on your work and enjoy your social time without feeling overwhelmed. Self-discovery is an important part of college, but you can’t do it if you’re constantly surrounded by people. Don’t let FOMO (fear of missing out) get the best of you!
4. Get Involved (!!!)
This doesn’t mean you should overwhelm yourself with clubs and internship applications in your first semester. Instead, find what’s manageable and commit to those extracurriculars. They will be essential for gaining experience in your field. Just like study groups, joining a club will help you build strong friendships with peers who share your interests.
Make sure to read all emails from your school, as they often contain hidden opportunities that are easy to miss. Just get out there and get involved! If you want to succeed, you need to put in the effort and put yourself out there.
It’s easy to lose sight of your goals with all the distractions of college life, whether it’s relationships or the excitement of being young and turnt. But college is all about balance! You can have fun and achieve your goals—you just need a few healthy habits to guide you along the way.