Anyone else feeling extremely overwhelmed with college? This is the question that many scholars fail to bring up in conversation, yet is extremely important to the well-being of college students. 

With the start of the fall semester, the workload is piling up and so is our stress level. As we are a little over a month into the academic year, we still have the rest of the year to look towards. So, how can we adjust to a change in our routine when we feel this way? 

Before I speak on behalf of my personal experience as a HFU student, I must acknowledge that it is normal to experience these feelings. Not only is college a pivotal point in your life, but it is probably one of the most stressful times. Looking short-term, if we want to set ourselves up for success this semester, we have to allocate time towards focusing on ourselves. 

Now, I’m sure you’re thinking- Kait, how can we focus on ourselves when we have so much to do? Maybe this is just one of my personal thoughts, but it holds true in regard to the hustle and bustle of college life. At some point or another, as students, we hit a “wall” where it’s difficult to find any type of balance. BUT we can’t throw ourselves to the side and then expect to persist through these challenges. It’s simply not possible. 

To preface, by no means am I an expert at adjusting to or accepting change. Whether it is small or large, change is something that takes time to adjust to. It isn’t something that we can feel comfortable with in the span of a day or two. Therefore, I must reiterate that adjusting to change takes time. 

So, from my personal experience as an undergraduate college student, here are a few tips to adjust to change in routine: 

#1- Try to remain organized. 

I know, I sound like that pesky parent who constantly yells at you to get organized. But I’ll let you in on a secret, they got something right!

Organization is one of the best tactics to utilize as a college student. Now, I’m not just talking about organization in the realm of academics. This applies to all aspects of your life. Whether it be tracking assignment’s due dates, organizing personal belongings, or simply clearing out those unnecessary files from old courses on your laptop, organization is key. Read that second-half of the sentence again. 

You can argue that Canvas helps you stay on track, which it surely does. However, not all of your upcoming assignments appear on your “To-Do List”. 

If you haven’t experienced this yet, you’ll have to dig through some of your course modules to find these “hidden” assignments. So, it’s important that we don’t solely rely on Canvas but rather search for what needs to be done, on our own accord. 

In relation to this, one of the ways that I stay organized with schoolwork is using a planner and the “Sticky Notes” app on my laptop. I’m not gonna lie, crossing tasks off of a “To-Do List” is pretty satisfying. If you have to approach a complex task, why not break it down into smaller components? This will ease feelings of stress and anxiety, knowing that you can tackle such a hefty assignment. Even if you write down small tasks, who cares? They are to help you stay on-track and manage your time. 

#2- Sit with your feelings. 

Now, Kait, how is this possible? Do exactly what this says!

Yeah right, I’m only kidding! Can you imagine what it would be like to  have a table conversation with sadness? Yikes! Count me out! 

All jokes aside, when we experience a change in routine, usually our nerves get out of whack as our emotions are in constant flux. It is important to sit down and take time to understand what you are feeling, why you feel this way, and what actions can be taken to alleviate these feelings. 

As humans, it’s normal for our emotions to be off kilter when we are constantly experiencing change. And if they are disregarded and worsen, then we need to consider how that will affect those around us. We don’t want these temporary feelings to damage our fruitful relationships. I know that this may seem common sense to some, but view it as a refresher.

So, how do we sit with these feelings? Well, let’s view a few tactics we can implement. 

According to Talkspace, one proven method for calming oneself down is to reframe your situation. Suppose you are overly stressed, did you know that this creates a negative thinking cycle where self-deprecation takes place? One of the most striking phrases I found in this article was “Stress can convince us that the unthinkable is inevitable”. Believe it or not, stress can be severely taxing on the body affecting our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

To eliminate these negative thoughts, Daino suggests that we reframe our stressful situation with positive self-talk. For instance, we can tell ourselves, “That’s not true; that’s just the anxiety talking”. Although difficult to do in the moment, try to convince yourself of the reality of the situation. If you are feeling this way, please remember that these feelings will pass and are not permanent. You will feel better, just allow yourself to settle down and breathe. 

I strongly advise that you journal your feelings or speak with a loved one. Luckily, as a student of Holy Family University, there are a variety of resources that are free and at your disposal! If you or another student needs assistance from someone outside your circle, please check out counseling services. And if you fall behind or could use some academic guidance, book a free tutoring session with the Center for Academic Enhancement. I encourage you to use these resources as they are of no cost and for your own personal benefit! 

#3- Renew yourself with “me” time! 

I’m having “me” time. Whenever anyone hears this, they immediately think that you’re self-centered in taking time for yourself. I’m sorry to break the news to you, but it’s not! When I think of someone taking “me” time, I often correlate it with showing self-respect. Recognizing that you are burnt out is simple, but confronting it is a difficult issue. 

As “me” time is different for everyone, it is important that we do what is best for our body. The first suggestion that I can provide is to reduce your screen time. Because college is primarily conducted in an electronic format, most of our time is spent staring at a laptop screen. Let’s address the obvious- excessive screen time hinders the quality of our sleep.

Referring to the National Institutes of Health, getting little sleep can weaken your immune system and affect one’s ability to concentrate, learn, and remember. In order for us to function as academic scholars, we need to prioritize sleep and therefore, spend less time on electronic devices (I know, I sound like an obnoxious parent, but it’s the truth!). This leads us to my next recommendation which is to get an adequate amount of sleep. 

On a personal note, although I love the idea of sleeping in, when on the occasion that it happens, I wake up with a severe headache. So, participate at your own discretion. According to the Sleep Foundation, its guidelines recommend that adults should sleep seven hours or more. I understand that there exists various factors which can greatly impact your sleep (ex: stress, caffeine consumption, lack of routine, overall health, and exposure to blue light). If you are looking to improve your sleep, check out these recommendations by the Sleep Foundation (found near the end of the article). 

When speaking of “me” time, we must also find ways to treat our mental and physical health. Another suggestion that I can provide is to become involved with physical activities such as exercise. According to the National Institutes of Health, participating in physical exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. Physical activity promotes mental health benefits which can help to combat academic fatigue. Also, a breath of fresh air can never hurt!

#4- Embrace the discomfort. 

Although change can appear quite daunting, what would happen if we changed our perspective of it? 

The next time change occurs, I have a challenge for you. I would like for you to view it as means of experiencing self-growth. One of the realizations that have helped me become comfortable with change is this- discomfort allows us to grow. If we are constantly complacent with where we are, what does that mean for our life’s dreams and aspirations?

Change doesn’t always have to be viewed as a bad thing! And here’s how I can guarantee it- refer back to a time where your younger self had to experience change. Maybe it could be entering high school, making new friends, or experiencing the death of someone close. Now, think of your present self. Do you notice any differences from the person you currently are to who you were five, ten, or twelve years ago? 

And I bet you do! See, change doesn’t always have to be scary or life-altering. It’s all in the way we perceive it. Don’t let the idea of change threaten or hold you back from the places you want to go or who you want to be. Because in life, change is inevitable and will happen either way. It is up to you whether it will be accepted or not. 

I ask that you remain patient and give yourself an appropriate amount of time to acclimate to change. In doing this, view change for what it is. In its simplest form, change is beautiful and transformative. It allows us to envision all the possibilities and what we wish to achieve. 

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As stated previously, I am by no means an expert at change. But during my past four years as a college student, I have learned some skills and techniques that help me become more comfortable with accepting and acclimating to change. You are welcome to use any suggested methods or advice that I have discussed, as long as you found it useful! Please take care of yourself this semester and beyond!

Kaitlyn Cross is a fourth-year English student minoring in Creative Writing and Marketing/Management. She is currently working with Tri-Lite for an internship.