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(Note: This list is in no special order.)
1. Friends
I think this bullet point goes without saying. Friends truly become your family at college. They are who you laugh with, cry with and study with. They get you to stay up until 3am your first semester (on a week night) playing Mario Party in the lobby of your dorm. They remind you to be carefree and stop stressing all the time. They introduce you to Netflix series during finals because they are just mean! But really, friends are who you share you best memories of college with. After four years, one of you might move across the country, possibly even to the other side of the world. It is important to strengthen those bonds and make memories in the limited time you have.
2. Travel
TRAVEL! Seriously, do it. You can meet people of all different backgrounds, cultures and areas. I could talk to you for a month and still not be able to tell you everything I have learned traveling the country and the world. Not only do you meet people, but traveling is fun and it is a great way to de-stress. Take that first month of summer break and go wherever you desire. I did not think I had enough money to visit Northern Ireland, Ireland, Germany and China last summer, but with some penny-pinching and a lot of CLIFF bars in place of dinners, I found a way. I will always cherish my experiences overseas. Find a way and go do it! You will not regret it.
3. Take a day off
My best strategy involved working as hard as I could to complete my tasksMonday thru Saturday, then taking Sunday off. Having one day a week to relax and renew myself really helped me tackle the next week. Now, there will be times when you cannot take a full day off. During these weeks, my best advice to you is to at least find an evening or two to give yourself.
4. Yoga
There is nothing better than rising with the sun. Take a sunrise yoga class and start your day off in the right mood. Go ahead and ready yourself to take on the day.
5. Smile
Life comes with ups and downs, but a smile can get you through almost anything. When you are stressed out, and start dreaming of quitting college and leaving the states, take a deep breath and smile. Know that you are going to be okay and next week once your exams have passed, you will start to remember all you love about college.
6. Sleep
What is that equation everyone tosses around? Good Grades + Social Life = No Sleep. Social Life + Sleep = Bad Grades. Good Grades + Sleep = No Social Life. There is some truth to this, but honestly, it all comes down to time management. Buy a planner and schedule in time to study, time for friends and time to sleep. If you don't sleep, you won't be able to concentrate on your studies, which will hurt your grades. Also, you will probably be grumpy, so your social life won't be that great either. Trust me. Sleep will help you so much. And hey, who doesn't like taking naps?
7. Faith
My faith in God has kept me strong throughout my undergraduate career. I always found it helpful to spend time praying and trusting in God. Plus, your church family can support you in ways you did not even know existed. When you are hundreds of miles from home, it is important to find that extra family.
8. Reflection
You always hear that college is a "time when you find yourself." To be honest, most people have no idea what they are doing when it comes down to that last semester of senior year, but hey, we try anyway. If you know anything about me, you will know that I changed my major 5 times before I found my love of Psychology. Taking time out each week to meditate, and reflect on myself and my dreams truly helped me find my future career. It is hard at first to make yourself journal or sit down and be still for 15 minutes, but it does help. How can you get anywhere if you don't know who you are first?
9. Volunteer
Volunteering is amazing. You can meet people, network, help out your community and feel great in the process! Before I came to live in Louisville, I knew almost nothing about the city. Volunteering helped me learn the layout of the city, travel to places I may have never gone, and see where the most need is within my community. As a college student, you have free time in your schedule and have the ability to truly make a difference. Always find a way to give back to your community. Maybe you can inspire someone like they have inspired you.
10. Eat Healthy
I know it is so tempting to binge out on chocolate and pizza while you are studying, but trust me, it is not a good idea. Forget the Freshman 15, I gained the Freshman 45. Now that I am in my last year, I have started paying attention to what I put in my body. I have noticed that by eating better foods and actually exercising, I feel so much better. I am less stressed and I have more energy. College is when you start making habits that will follow you the rest of your life. It is great having high metabolism now and being able to eat Papa John's every day, but it most likely won't last. Eat healthy now and your body will thank you later.