Do’s and Don’ts of College After Summer Vacation

Whether it is for your freshman or senior year, the transition from summer vacation to college can be a rough one. The liberties and freedom you are provided in the summer months evaporate, and you have to transition back to being a responsible student. So, what should you do and not do as you get back into the swing of things? Here are the do’s and don’ts of college after summer vacation:

Do: Get in Contact with Your Professors and Classmates

Before you ever step foot on campus, it can’t hurt to get in contact with your classmates and professors. This will put you ahead of the eight balls, with a relationship base before classes start. This will make the first couple of classes less awkward and will give you an idea of what to expect from your classes and your social life. This constant flow of communication should continue through the rest of the semester.

Don’t: Maintain Your Summer Vacation Diet

Summer vacation is all about splurging on the unhealthiest delicacies. And while when you were 14, this was a lifestyle that you can maintain, as you enter your twenties, it is much harder as your metabolism will begin to slow down. My suggestion would be to curb most of the unhealthy eating habits you indulged in the summer and attempt to eat a bit healthier. You will have more energy and feel healthier, thus leading to better school performance.

Do: Get Back on a Normal Sleep Schedule

Much like you would eat a whole tray of brownies on a day during the summer, you would also try your best to stay up as late as possible and wake up by midday. Obviously, that is something that is not sustainable. You need to wain your way off the late nights and try to get to sleep at a reasonable hour. You also need to ensure you got to sleep early enough that you can get eight hours of sleep per night, leading to a refreshed you.

Don’t: Prioritize Your Hobbies Over Your Education

You’ve now had the better part of three months to do whatever you want and spend as much time engaging in your hobbies as you desired. Although you should not adopt a scorched earth policy, avoiding your hobbies altogether, it is time to focus less on your entertainment and more on your studies. Especially at the beginning, your studies will require much more attention and focus for you to be successful.

Do: Give Yourself Time to Adjust

You are not going to be totally in tune with college as soon as you show up on campus. But, that should not be your expectation. It could take you a month or two to totally readjust to school life. Don’t stress yourself out if you are not totally readjusted right away. Make sure you continue to strive toward that readjustment but do not stress yourself out over something that will take time to happen.

Don’t: Stress Yourself Out at the Beginning of the Year

It can be quite easy to worry about what you need to do at the beginning of the year. You most likely have an idea of what you want to accomplish but do not let the notion of doing it right away lampoon your chances of accomplishing the goals at all. Don’t stress yourself out right off the bat if you want to succeed. Pardon the cliché, but college is a marathon, not a sprint. Slow down, pace yourself, and relax.