As the summer comes to an end, the thought of moving back to college and actually going to class can be a little daunting. While there is so much excitement surrounding moving in, reconnecting with friends, and being back on campus, the actual act of waking up early and going to class is a little less exhilarating. To help you get back into the hang of school, here are some steps to help you start off the semester strong.
PHOTO: Jordyn Wissert
1—Go to sleep. I know you do not want to go to sleep early the first week back at school, but you might want to start going to bed earlier the week before school starts. If you can come to college with a healthy sleep schedule, you will hopefully revert to it, or at least know you can get up at a decent time in the morning. Trust me, once you start waking up every day at 11 a.m., it’s hard to get out of bed to do homework or go to morning classes. Start the year off with good habits!
2—Buy cleaning supplies Aside from your basic soap, shampoo, conditioner, and other toiletries, know that you’re going to need extra supplies to keep yourself and your room clean. Especially when you first move in, you want to have a clean and fresh space to work in. You can store these supplies in cute boxes, but you should always have them in case you need to clean.
PHOTO: Jordyn Wissert
3—Organize your room. Now that your room is clean and you’re prepared for future disasters, you need to get organized. It’s hard to work and focus when your room is a mess. You can always use unpacking as an excuse not to study. Make yourself a space that you’re comfortable in, and then focus on your studies. Get to school as early as you can so you have time to move in and set up before classes start.
4—Buy food. You’re going to get hungry at some point while you’re studying, and you are then faced with the dilemma: Do I go out and get food or do I stay here and study while hungry? While it’s important to take study breaks, you can also waste a lot of time and money going out to find food. Keep some healthy snacks in your room so you can eat in without interrupting your research or essay writing.
PHOTO: Jordyn Wissert
5— Get a planner. When you’re trying to juggle classes, social events, club meetings, deadlines, and tests, you need to have a central place to write everything down. Some people might like using Google calendar or their phones, but I’m personally a big fan of physical planners. Planners can be really cute, and you can color code, highlight, and cross off the tasks you’ve finished.
Have more tips or fun stories to share about moving back to college? Let me know in the comments!
