Hey, y'all! My name is Isabella, and I’m a college student learning how to navigate adulthood right alongside you!! Today, I will discuss the sense of overwhelm that can immediately follow the end of recruitment and jump straight into college life. Recruitment is over. Now what?
After a long week of sorority recruitment, your mental and physical health takes a toll. You become overwhelmed, exhausted, and worried about what comes next. You are far from alone in this; so many of my friends and I experienced this to some degree after recruitment. I am not saying this sense of overwhelm means you do not like the wonderful chapter you just ran home to. I am simply saying becoming a new sorority member and adding in all that a new college lifestyle entails can quickly become overwhelming.
- Find your balance.
- First semester freshman year is all about meeting new people and new experiences. Meet as many new people as possible, be bold, and try new things. However, don’t be afraid to say no to things you don’t truly want to do. If you have to study and can't go hang out with people just tell them that. Don't stress yourself out or compromise your well being for others. Every one is different so you might need more sleep than others and that might mean saying no to more. Find a balance that works for you, it will take trial and error, but pay attention to how you feel.
- Focus on making a routine that works for you.
- Get your body on a schedule. Be aware of your class schedule each week and what extracruriculars you have going on. Use your time well. For example, I always try to roughly plan out my workout schedule for each week so that I can't make excuses to not go and so I don't overcommit myself to others. I also find that planning out study time helps me to be more intentional and productive with my time, I highly recommend seeing if this helps you!
- Reach out to others!
- Introduce yourself to new people. Say hello to people you know from high school. Text older girls to go on a walk or get coffee. Step out of your comfort zone, because will never know who you may meet. Get to know your professors!!!! Emphasis on this because their knowledge, especially if it's in your major, can help you pass a class, get an internship, and grow your network. This will help you begin to make connections that are invaluable during and after college.
- Your physical health matters.
- This was one of the first things I pushed aside once I got stressed in the first semester. Neglecting my body and mind quickly affected me mentally. Take care of yourself in terms of what food you are eating, how much sleep you're getting, staying active, and not stringing yourself too thin. Fuel your body! Drink water! Tip: Go try out a new gym or workout class with a friend, this can be a good way to get to know someone better. Your first time will most likely be free anyways so it really can’t hurt!
- Pick what you want to get involved in very intentionally.
- Don’t overcommit, especially not to things you won't enjoy. Building your resume and getting involved is important but you will eventually feel unfulfilled and burnt out if you don't pick something you are truly curious about or passionate about. You need to be intentional with your time. Advice I received was to join only one thing for your enjoyment and join one thing as a resume builder, and that is all you need in your freshman year.
- Practice good habits.
- College entails a very influential 4 years of your life which can dramatically shape what your life after college will look like. Beginning to teach yourself good habits now such as spending/saving habits or sleeping habits will only continue to benefit you.
- Go on walks with older girls.
- I have put a lot of emphasis on community and connections today but that is because connections can get you pretty far especially in terms of getting involved on campus. Getting to know older girls in your major, with similar hobbies, or involved in organizations you are interested in can be incredibly useful. They can help advise you on interview processes, applications, what to except, and point you in the right direction of officials in different orgnaizartions. Past all that, they have also been in your shoes before and would most likely be happy to chat with you about how college is going and any advice you might be searching for.
- Try to have a church home by November.
- One of my friends told me this and I think it is great advice. By all means try out new churches and events and find a church home that truly fits what you feel you need. However, try to be settled into the church of your choice by November so that you can get rooted in that church and find a community there. This also allows you to quickly jump back in after going home for the holidays.
- Talk to people about your struggles.
- Older girls want to be there for you so don't be afraid to reach out. Also, the people around you are probably going through the same thing in some way. I remember this was a way that I actually found friends or grew closer to my friends by being able to relate to them. I joined a community group through my church and it was so helpful to have that community!
- Maintain a good relationship with your roommate.
- Now that you and your roommate both have busy schedules, living with a roommate can present some more challenges. Don't let your relationship with your roommate stress you out or annoy you. Be upfront about any issues or concerns, but do so in a well-mannered way. Ask them for their schedule. This can be helpful to know when you could catch a moment alone in your dorm just to rest by yourself for a bit.
With Love,
Isabella XO
