Soooooo, college anyone?

Listen up y'all!!!! I got something to say!

            
 Ok, so it’s no secret that going away to college is a scary as heck thing. Whether you’re moving away from home or commuting, you are starting a new chapter in your life. Personally, I’ve had experiences as both a commuter and a college resident and I can definitely attest to the fact that environment plays a role in helping to mold your experience. For me, I felt like I limited myself in my college search because I was afraid of being uprooted. I wasn’t emotionally or mentally ready to let go of home. But that’s the great thing about life. Nothing is permanent. As you mature and adjust, you are not obligated to stay confined in a situation- especially if it makes you unhappy. Transferring schools is terrifying. Holy guacamole it is terrifying. But you know what? Like everything else, life moves on and so will you. Wherever you end up, you need to be happy. I cannot stress how important it is to be happy at your school. Especially for us Americans, who have to pay an arm and a leg to attend higher education, it is imperative that your choice is one of which you feel content. If that means you have to transfer, then honey, transfer! There’s no shame in not liking your first pick. Do not settle for mediocre. Settle for happiness.

            Now with that being said, I think I must address something that has been on my mind a lot recently. I think there’s some sort of unspoken pressure on our age group to go to college and make life-long friends. Don’t get me wrong, that sounds amazing. But college isn’t just about expanding your social circle. To me, it’s about finding yourself. Making friends isn’t easy. There is no guidebook that gives you step by step instructions as to how to make friends. Sure there are theories, but it all boils down to one thing: you. Once you stabilize yourself in a firm foundation, the rest will come easy. Don’t focus so hard on finding your new best friend. Focus on being content with yourself. This isn’t just an internal process. It’s about feeling secure and safe in yourself and in your environment. You know that saying, “a cluttered room is a cluttered mind?” I think that actually applies to a lot of people. Myself included. When you surround yourself in an environment, physically and mentally, that makes you feel safe, life will be a whole lot brighter.

In this two-part post (I know, that was a crazy intro…I like to ramble), I’m going to provide some of my personal tips to having a successful start to the college new year. Now I may be a psychology student, but I am by no means an expert. Here are just some tidbits that I thought of while schlepping from class to class.

Enjoy :)

Dorm Room- your safe place

                Everyone needs a physical place where one can be totally free. In a place like college, that environment will most likely be your dorm room. Now, my roommate is my hometown best friend so I haven’t had any “roommate horror stories” to share with you. However, regardless of your living compadre, your room or side of the room, should be a personal space dedicated to you.

                My first tip would be to make this dorm your home. I was ecstatic about decorating my own room because I was the sole authority on the décor. Decorating a dorm should give you that giddy feeling you get when you see a blank canvas. It’s yours to create and no one else’s.

                Fill the walls with posters, pictures, signs, wall-stickers, glow in the dark stars, fairy lights! There are so many things that you can do to make your dorm feel like home. If you want to add things like fairy-lights or hang things on the walls, be sure to find out your college’s res-hall regulations. Trust me, you do not want to get written up for something like that. Below I’ve linked a site to buy battery operated fairy lights. These things are awesome! They make your room look so…magical!

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/6-foot-outdoor-battery-operated-white-led-light-string/1043728794?Keyword=christmas+lights 

                Another neat decoration is a battery operated candle. Most schools don’t allow open flames in the dorm. So if you like the look of the candle, just get the battery-operated ones. There’s no open flame and it gives off that serene ambiance. If you want to add a smell to your room, I’d suggest a "scentsy" (a magical wax melting plug in) or a gel air freshener.  

                Another one of my favorite decorations are  rope, clothespins and pictures. This is a great way to add a personal touch to your room in a neat and unique fashion. In my opinion, these make an awesome wall border. Plus, the pictures are easily accessible for when you feel homesick.

                Now, I cannot stress this enough. Invest in command strips and command hooks. These babies are a blessing sent from God above. Hallelujah they stick to the walls like magic and they leave behind no mess when it’s time for move-out. Trust me, INVEST IN THE STRIP!

                Here’s a link with all the cool stuff you can do with command strips and other decorating ideas!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/ways-to-make-your-dorm-room-feel-like-home#.iydbnwAyY 

                  All of these decorations can be purchased at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, or any craft store.  The best part? If you buy something that you don’t end up using or it doesn’t tie into your theme…just return it! You can usually get your money back. (ask the cashier for the return policy though and always keep your receipts)

The Magic of Mason Jars

                These little beauties are my current favorite decoration. For starters, they are super cheap. I got mine at a local dollar store (THAT’S RIGHT COLLEGE KIDS, A DOLLAR STORE!!!!!!)

                I have these jars scattered all over my on-campus apartment. They are great for organization and they look hella-cute!

Here are some things you can use them for:

                Make-up holder

                Pen holder

                Memory jar (fill it with paper that has memories on it)

                Loose coin jar

                Writing/ Drawing Ideas

                  (fill it with ideas and pick one out each day to do)

All of these also make cute DIY gifts. (trust me when I say that family members LOVE these things)

Keep organized

                Organization is imperative when it comes to college. Prevent your room from becoming cluttered by investing in under-bed storage drawers. You can purchase these at Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond. I’d suggest getting ones with wheels so that you can easily maneuver them (especially when you need to clean under your bed. DUDES, SERIOUSLY MAKE SURE TO ACTUALLY CLEAN YOUR ROOMS)

                You could also buy an accordion folder. Here, you can keep materials such as receipts, important papers, coupons and restaurant menus. It’s all in one place so you never lose it.

                In order to keep your textbooks and notebooks neat, I’d suggest getting shelves. Now, I went out and bought a bookshelf because of I love to read. But if shelves are too pricey, just opt for clear storage bins. However, a bookshelf really is a great tool because it is great for storing art supplies and other do-dads in a nice accessible location.

                As far as pens and pencils, definitely make sure to buy pen-bins. It keeps all of your stationary items neat and organized; and it doesn’t take up too much storage space.

Keeping Your Workload Organized

                My best advice would be to make lists and keep an agenda. These babies can de-clutter your brain and make it so much easier to have a clear vision of your day.

                Personally, I write a list the night before of all the things I have to do the next day, down to the minute detail. This includes eating, brushing my teeth, getting dressed, taking meds…all of those things that seem routine but can easily be forgotten when you’re in a new environment. Especially if you take medications or vitamins, definitely write yourself a reminder.

                When your at school, you’re probably going to get involved in clubs and organizations. Even if you don’t, your classes will have tests and assignments due throughout the semester (most of the time, you’re given all of those due dates on the first day of class in the syllabus.) To keep from getting overwhelmed, write all those dates down in your calendar. Do this the moment you get your syllabus. That way, when the time comes, it’s harder forget because it’s already written down. Plus, you can plan out your semester and see when class assignments/ test dates overlap with one another. Time flies in college, oh boy does it fly.

  

               Keeping lists will also help to minimize procrastination. I myself am notorious for procrastinating but I am making it my personal goal this semester to really keep on top of all my work. What I've found that works for me is to space out my work. If I take small breaks, I feel less overwhelmed. Instead of trying to cover a whole chapter in one shot, divide it into sections that you can do throughout the day or week. It also feels super good to cross off stuff from your list. It makes me feel really productive. Hashtag long live the list.

Moving on to the BED

                Purchase or bring from home a comfy pillow and bedding. Don’t be ashamed of bringing your favorite stuffed animals: literally everyone does it. Heck, between me and my roommates, we’ve got a whole arsenal of stuffed animals. NO SHAME BABY, NO SHAME!

                But seriously, make sure that when you go to sleep at night, you feel comfortable and secure. A nice cozy blanket and a soft pillow makes all the difference. Oh, and please wash your sheets, pillow sheets and blankets at least once a week (once every two weeks at minimum.) You will regret not doing that…

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All in all, your dorm room will be your home, NOT your cave. Don’t isolate yourself in it. Take some time each day to go for a walk around campus and get some fresh air. It’s ok to do those things by yourself; take some time for you, away from those four walls. Find a spot where you can read, listen to music or just relax. It’s a great way to feel at peace.

                                          

Basically, I just cant stress enough that if you focus on making yourself content (like taking those moments to really personalize your dorm and organize yourself), it will make your transition through college so much easier. I’ve got a second post coming that focuses more on the internal and emotional aspects of university, so keep an eye out for that. That post will detail tips for dealing with anxiety while at school.

Just remember, focus on you. Don’t stress over trying to make as many friends as possible. Just focus on yourself. You are too important to spend your years feeling unsafe and unhappy. I hope this post helped some of you to find little ways to feel more grounded while at school. 

All’s I got to say is that this post was way longer than I originally intended. I tend to ramble a lot….plus I really just want to give as much advice as possible. Please remember that these are things that worked for me, and may not necessarily work for everyone. But hey, there’s no shame in trying it out!

If you’ve managed to read through all of my rambling, I just want to say thank you so much!!!! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read my post. See you all soon.

Lots of love!

Lizzie

disclaimer: those gifs and pictures are not mine, i got them off google images. credit to the owners!