The start of the academic year is an exciting time for new students. As new students settle in on campus and familiarize themselves with college life, they embark on a new journey of academics and adventures.
If you’re feeling a little anxious or stressed about all this change, you’re not alone. Many students often experience stress and uncertainty adjusting to their new classes, classmates, professors and roommates.
Josette Cline, director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Pat Walker Health Center, offers five ways to help navigate the pressures of college life and beyond.
- Be positive
Focusing on the positives that come with the start of something new:
- New opportunities to meet friends. If high school was not what it should have been, here’s your new opportunity. Diversity is embraced — be who you are, not who you think others need you to be.
- More chances to learn more about what interests you.
- See your professors as a resource, not an enemy trying to overwhelm you. They love their subject matter and are very invested in helping you achieve success. Talk to them after class and take advantage of their office hours.
- Remember change is a challenge and helps you grow personally.
- Keep your expectations realistic
Dream big, but stay practical.
College is supposed to be more challenging than high school. You probably won’t have the same type of deep friendships like you may have had before right away, but you can begin to find people who you connect with.
Don’t get stuck in your room. You won’t meet any new people, make new friends, and learn about all the great on-campus organizations, clubs and program from your room. Don’t wait for an invitation, take the initiative and invite someone to join you!
When it comes to academics, remember you may need to work harder, pay more attention and ask for more help than you did in high school.
Acknowledge your feelings of nervousness or anxiety as a normal part of this exciting new time, not something to avoid or see as signs of impending doom. (Remember, almost everyone is nervous.)
- Get organized
Nothing helps reduce feelings of anxiety like getting organized:
- Use a calendar – on your phone, in your backpack, on your refrigerator or all of the above.
- Know when your exams are, when your professors’ office hours are, when you plan on preparing for papers/projects/tests and when you will schedule time for yourself.
- Take charge and write everything down, color code it, keep yourself on top of things and accountable for how you spend your time.
- Don’t feel overwhelmed, manage your time
Whether it’s studying, exercising, relaxing, or even sleeping: balancing your time helps keep you from feeling overwhelmed.
Keeping up with all reading, homework, papers, projects and test preparations can help avoid feeling like you are drowning in course work.
Be flexible and holistic. There is never a perfect balance of work and play, but strive for what works best for you (and your GPA) each week.
Dedicating time on your calendar for studying, tests, labs, group projects, professor’s office hours, and your down time can help keep you organized and on track to a successful academic semester.
Remember to always evaluate your time management based on how well you’re keeping up with assignments.
- Talk to Someone
Take advantage of all the great resources available both personally and academically.
- Talk to your RA. They are a great source of support and information.
- Talk to your “Big,” if you’re in a sorority or fraternity.
- Talk to your roommate. They likely have similar feelings and concerns.
- Introduce yourself to someone. Everyone is waiting for someone else to start a conversation – be the one.
- Show up at Let’s Talk; a new CAPS Outreach program that offers brief, informal and confidential mental health consultations with a licensed clinician. Learn more at uark.edu.
Can’t sleep? Feeling anxious about something? Pat Walker Health Center’s Wellness & Health Promotion department offers free Wellness Coaching with a certified wellness coach.