Four lifestyle tips for college students

College can be a time of great change, tremendous growth, and new experiences. For many students, however, it can also be a time of stress and anxiety. Many dread the idea of being away from home and pushed to the absolute perimeters of their comfort zones. Sound familiar? Whether you fall into the first or last category, this article provides some lifestyle tips for living a more stress-free life during your college years.

Establish a routine

One of the best ways to manage stress is to establish a routine. This includes setting regular bedtimes and waking times, eating at the same times every day, and using study/work timeslots. Leave time to spend with friends and work your hobbies into your routine schedule. Always be sure to leave some free slots each week where you can be totally carefree and make some impromptu visits to friends etc. Having a routine can help you feel more in control of your life, limiting the time you spend second-guessing your decisions. 

Time management 

College can be overwhelming and it’s easy to lose track of time and be late for classes and events. Your time will be stretched and you’ll feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions. That’s totally normal as it’s very difficult to balance everything. To improve your productivity and make the most of the time that you do have, why not get organized and create a schedule? Break down each day hour by hour. Establish your priorities and add them in accordingly. Now that you have a schedule, you will be able to do more in less time and you will have fewer distractions. The result? Your productivity will soar, you will make life easier, and your sense of accomplishment will jump up a notch. 

Finance

Worried about the cost of education? You can utilize Going Merry scholarships to get access to the funding you need? Feeling anxious about being in charge of your expenses for the first time in your life? Nervous about not being able to make your money last? Now is the time to step up and get informed. Learn everything there is to know about how scholarships work.  Set up a weekly budget outlining your income and expenses and learn how budgets work. Get some tips for saving and set up a separate account so you have a nest egg for a rainy day. Do all of that and you’ll have a bright financial future after you graduate. 

Ask for help

If you’re struggling in class and you feel like you need some extra help with a specific subject, don’t be afraid to reach out to your professor for a helping hand. Likewise, if you are falling behind on your rent payments, chat to your landlord and try to come to some arrangement that you’re both happy with. Friends and family members are always there too if you need emotional support so don’t be afraid to reach out to them. Regardless of how bad you feel, help is always at hand so you never have to feel alone.