I know the general complaints about returning to college. What if everyone seems smarter than you? What if you don’t get the readings? What if you can’t catch up on the assignments? While these are all fair concerns, plenty of articles on this site to help with that. However, what about the smaller inconveniences that make the week just a little harder? I mean, no one prepares you for the super long commute or the constant sweat you suffer from the long walks between classes. Believe it or not, I might know a few ways to help with even those lesser problems.
Read on to find out how to survive the small inconveniences when returning to college:
1. Listen to an Audiobook
Naturally, when you need to sit through hour to two-hour long drives, you get a little antsy. Nobody likes the freeway, okay? Nobody likes the feeling of being smothered by cars from all sides. No one likes the trucks that always seem to pop up when you need to get places, and how slow they move and how much they block your vision. Nobody likes the smell of gasoline everywhere and the heat and the honking. Sometimes, your music won’t even last you the entire trip. You often need something more engaging to help the time go by. For that reason, I suggest picking up an audiobook before you drive. Choose something fun and interesting that can hold your attention for that long time on the road. Might I recommend a fantasy or a fun romance, perhaps? You just need anything that will keep you captivated so that time on the road flies.
2. Ready a Playlist
Music might not feel right for the two hours on the road, but it could very well help you on your walks from the parking lot to your class. This could also work walking from one class to another or even from your class to a club. The unfortunate fact? Most campuses span miles, which means you spend most your day walking. If you live in California, then you probably spend it walking in the scorching heat. Music could really help with that. It might help make it feel less like walking and more like… dancing on your way there? Whatever, it works.
3. Look Up Fun Spots on Campus
This means you have to look up something ahead of time. Often times, we find a few hours in between arriving on campus and classes starting, or time in between two different classes. Waiting could feel a bit overwhelming at times, especially when you just sit there with nothing to do but watch the classroom door for the students already inside to come out. I recommend filling in your time with fun places to go or check out. Look for your campus store, the library or the gardens to wander through in between your classes. Explore your campus to find places where you can sit or wander or marvel. Small things like that to look forward to will keep your spirits up as you wait.
4. Find Your Quiet Hangout Bench
Some people get overwhelmed with too much wandering and exploring. Maybe you just like to quietly read, write, check your phone or go over your notes before class. In that case, I suggest finding a quiet spot —maybe a bench or a small patch of grass— close to your class building. This will serve as somewhere you can sit and breathe without interruption, where no one can bother you and you can just enjoy some “you” time before your classes start.
5. Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time
I didn’t realize how little I prepared for this until I found myself eating Belvita cookies for lunch. Seriously though, always prepare a meal plan for your week. You should figure out where you want to eat, what you want to eat and how realistically it fits into your schedule. Sometimes you hustle and bustle so much that you might find yourself putting off food until night comes. Next thing you know, dinner time rolls around. Did you eat a single meal? No. You might not realize it with the adrenaline of running from class to class, but a lack of food can seriously get to you. Be ready for that.
I know there might be more, but honestly, I needed to know these five tips myself before school started. I seriously underestimated how troubling these inconveniences became. On their own, they might not seem so bad, but one thing on top of the other hits pretty hard at some point. A good way to manage the smaller troubles comes down to taking everything one step at a time, and recognizing what could affect your mood or make your day a little harder. Then once you know what those little troubles might cost you, turn those negatives into positives.
