College is a time of opportunities and discovery. It is important to grab all the chances and make the best of them. In this guide, you’ll find the best tips on how to peak and stay happy and healthy during this period.
Academic Tips
As studying is one of the major factors in college, first comes advice on how to be a successful student.
Set Smart Goals
Success is not an objective thing – everyone measures it based on their own factors. So to understand how successful you are, you need to set goals, objectives, and priorities.
Goals need to be SMART:
- Specific;
- Measurable;
- Achievable;
- Relevant;
- Time-bond.
For example, “I want to become a game developer” is not specific or time-bond, which makes it harder to achieve. But “I want to learn C++ this year” is much better. Here you have a deadline, an achievable objective, and a relevant goal.
Set big goals and turn them into time-bond smaller actions that lead to them. For example, if you want to be a veterinarian, draft what it takes to get there and use each step as one goal for a particular period.
Your success is defined by you and what you want to achieve. Do not chase other people’s track records and avoid constant comparison. Work on what is important for you.
Use Available Resources
A lot of times, students do not use all of the available resources, like an academic counselor or office hours of professors. Those are great opportunities to get mentorship, guidance, and valuable advice on college and careers.
Other resources include study materials and opportunities, different clubs, career fairs, networking events, and student deals. One needs to know where to get help in case one needs it. For example, if you are struggling with academic writing, WritePaper professionals are ready to help at any time. This is an academic writing platform that offers assistance with all types of college papers, including writing, editing, and proofreading.
This is helpful for those who are not confident in their skills or want to advance in their writing. As they can learn from collaborating with experts and getting excellent examples. And they can rest assured that their paper is polished. Also, this is useful when you do not have much time or forget about the deadline. Sometimes delegating tasks is the most efficient way to manage a lot of responsibilities.
Establish Study and Work Ethics
How you learn is extremely important in terms of productivity. Students need to reduce procrastination and apply the most efficient techniques that work for them. All of that contributes to learning ethics that will turn into work ethics in the future.
Some of the tricks are:
- Have a designated study place and daily routine;
- Create a weekly schedule and daily to-do lists;
- Focus on one thing at a time – multitasking never works and is harmful;
- Try and use different techniques like Pomodoro that help concentrate;
- Learn to work ahead;
- Maintain calendar with all important dates, events, and deadlines;
- Do not forget about regular breaks during long learning sessions;
- Always start with the hardest task;
- Know what triggers procrastination for you and eliminate it;
- Limit distractions when you are working on something.
With some ground rules, it is perfectly possible to succeed in your studies no matter your circumstances. For internal motivation, always keep in mind your goals.
Stress Management Tips
College can be quite stressful for many students, so it is important to build ways to cope with that and develop resilience.
Learn Stress-Relieving Techniques
Constant stress can lead to serious problems like academic burnout, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and some other mental illnesses among students.
The best trick here is to take a proactive approach and learn what your main stressors are and the ways to cope with them. Some of the things that proved to relieve stress are:
- Regular physical exercise;
- Breathing exercises and meditation;
- Healthy nutrition;
- Regular sleep schedule and quality sleep;
- Relaxing time when you do something you enjoy;
- Connecting with others;
- Starting a creative hobby;
- Keeping a journal.
Also, try not to put more pressure than necessary on yourself. A lot of times, people are stressed because of the internal and external expectations put on them. Do not forget that college is meant to be fun as well, and you are allowed to make mistakes sometimes.
Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
Surely, it doesn’t mean avoiding parties. No student can do that. But there needs to be a healthy regimen that keeps your body and mind in a good state. This includes regular physical activity (bike, hiking, yoga, gym, jogging, etc.), nutrition that covers all your needs, and good sleep.
Physical state impacts the human ability to perform well, process information, and, therefore, be productive in college or at work. Also, try to limit the amount of alcohol and sugar you consume.
If you’ve slipped from this regiment, do not be too harsh on yourself. Get back on track – it is much better than beating yourself up.
Connect with People
Sometimes all one needs to feel better is to vent out. This is not the only thing friends are for, but it is one of the factors. College is a great time to meet new people, make friends, and network. Having a support group is essential to feel better and be satisfied with your experience.
You can make friends by:
- Living in a dorm and being candid with roommates;
- Joining clubs based on interests or studies;
- Getting outside more and going to college events;
- Finding a study buddy;
- Participating in group sports;
- Talking to your classmates.
Not everyone you meet will become a lifetime friend of yours, but some just might.
Money-Saving Tricks
Financial management is another crucial thing students have to learn fast. There is no need to put yourself in more debt than you have to. So start being smart about your finances from day one.
Here are some effective tricks to achieve that:
- Apply for scholarships that are available all year round;
- Re-apply every year to as many scholarships as you can. Even the small ones will cover part of your expenses;
- Pay something that you actually need and reduce what you do not need (some subscriptions or gym membership if you have a free gym on campus, for example);
- Track your accounts and disbursements to know how you spend your money;
- Eat at home when possible;
- Switch car for a bike or public transportation;
- Start repaying your student loan as soon as possible so that interest rate stays lower;
- Always look out for student deals when traveling, shopping, or eating out.
Another huge opportunity is to get a part-time job or start freelancing. But be sure that you can fit it into your schedule without overloading yourself. And if possible, choose employment related to your studies or future career to gain valuable experience.
In Summary
College can be whatever you make of it. So it is important to take advantage of all the opportunities and resources that are given during this time. Yet, it is essential to relax, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and not forget about the fun part.
