College is the time to venture out and experience diverse affairs in a safe environment overflowing with other people on a parallel journey to yours. Building life skills to help you make the most of your post–high school years can lead to a content college experience—a time you can truly enjoy. Such practices range from learning how to do your own laundry to building mindful habits for your well-being.
As you embark on this new chapter in your life, be cognizant of the fact that you now hold responsibility for yourself and your deeds. What you do can and will have positive and/or negative effects on your condition; therefore, it would be advantageous to consider and develop the following life skills necessary for a beneficial education and experience in college.
1. Healthy everyday habits
As you move out and start living on your own, competency in general tasks such as cooking and cleaning facilitates a healthy lifestyle for you to prosper in. Though cooking may be seen as a way to simply acquire sustenance, it can also be a form of self-care. Cooking and baking are great alternatives to dealing with stress while also making sure your body receives the energy it needs to function to its fullest. A common struggle for college students is eating healthy food consistently while staying on budget. Healthy eating and the value of prioritizing how much money to spend and what to spend it on are both significant skills you’ll need throughout college and beyond. Organization also plays a role in limiting your stress at university. As the saying goes, a clean space makes a clear mind. Maintaining the appearance of your surroundings—while simultaneously consuming fueling food—will improve your productivity and, in turn, the efficiency of your workspace.
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2. Mental health awareness and self-care
Focusing on yourself and your mindset through self-care should take priority when you go to college. Maintaining self-discipline is also a significantly difficult feat, though attainable through time and self-motivation. In college, doing simple tasks that you may have previously done with ease in middle or high school can often seem harder or require more persistence and determination. Reminding yourself that it’s okay to struggle sometimes—especially since those around you are in different positions as well—is crucial in terms of self-acceptance. In addition, comprehending that your fellow classmates are at various points in their lives and aren’t moving at the same pace as you can help you overcome any insecurities and misgivings you may have about college life.
3. Social skills
Throughout college, your cognition of society will be exemplified through your communication with others and your willingness to adapt. Engaging in social activities may seem unnecessary or just like amusing events. However, they can prepare you for future circumstances where involvement with different groups of people can make or break a job opportunity, business deal, and more. Practicing the art of communication and understanding people when you still have time for trial and error can lead to an enhanced sense of socialization in the future.
Additionally, developing a sense of accountability can lead to self-reflection and a blooming internal ecosystem for your mind to foster overall. Evaluating your objects and intentions objectively and realizing that all your actions have real consequences that can affect those around you are key steps in building maturity. Embracing your responsibility for and participation in certain events welcomes mistakes and generates the ability to learn from them.
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Before you set foot on campus, it’s helpful to try to understand yourself better; spend time with yourself, getting to know your body, your limits, your aspirations, and your mentality. Being in tune with yourself before you start college enables you to truly enjoy the journey. Of course, this is a time of self-discovery, but attaining a sense of self-consciousness beforehand can help you navigate college life more securely.
Start preparing for life on campus with the articles and advice in our Student Life section, like Inside an Average Day in the Life of a College Student.
