New experiences can be exhilarating and challenging. Whether you are attending college for the first time or returning after some time away, it’s important to know how to beat the “back-to-school blues.”
Each one of these scenarios comes with its own set of challenges, but one thing they all have in common is STRESS, which can result in LOW MOOD.
What are the blues?
When we use the phrase “the blues,” we’re not talking about drugs. To use different slang, we’re talking about “being down in the dumps.” It means sad, unhappy, or melancholy. The blues don’t qualify as clinical depression, because it’s a temporary low mood—and one that can be more easily remedied. But how? We’re gonna get to that.
Why am I so stressed?
But, first, let’s talk about why you might feel stressed out right now. Some people thrive on change, but it can be disorienting for many. We get used to life as we know it, our setting, our friends, our routine…and it can be stressful to have one—or all—of those things change.
Some common changes that cause stress:
- Leaving Home: If you’ve just moved out of the family home to go off to college, it’s natural to have episodes of homesickness and loneliness. Additionally, stress and anxiety are both common feelings during your quest for independence.
- Moving to a New City: It’s very common to feel stressed or uneasy before, during, and after a big relocation. Adjusting to the climate, the culture, and the community can all be a challenge. Instead of letting life overwhelm you, try to take it one day at a time. Focus on what you can control (certainly not the weather!), and you’ll be more at ease before you know it.
- Attending a New School: You may be dealing with finances seriously for the first time, which can be an enormous responsibility. Plus, starting new classes, learning new subjects, and forming new relationships with professors (and, for international students, doing all of this through language barriers and cultural differences) can be significant sources of stress.
- Going Back to School After Time Off: Maybe your job requires you to take a few continuing education courses to brush up on your skills, or your aspirations have led you to seek out opportunities for a promotion or a career in another industry. Maybe you put educational pursuits on hold to raise a family or join the military. Whatever your reason, going back to college after years away is a unique challenge. One, most of your classmates are younger than you and in a very different stage of life. Then there’s new technology to learn. And all of this while you’re still managing a job and a family too! Give yourself some grace—and a great big pat on the back for being brave. Like famous writer and biochemistry professor Isaac Asimov once said, “You are never too old to learn more than you already know and to become able to do more than you already can.”
Need tips on handling stress?
Go easy on yourself.
Recognize that the level of stress you’re feeling is temporary and only because you’re dealing with a lot of different things right now— settling in to a new place, figuring out your roommate, talking to financial aid, getting your course schedule fixed, buying textbooks, studying new topics with new teachers, juggling work (or your family) on top of school, and trying to get tickets to the Gators game. As each issue resolves, or you become more familiar with the situation, the stress will decrease.
Practice the 3-Minute Rule.
One way to make life easier is to follow the 3-Minute Rule any time you have a long to-do list. It’s simple: If the task will take under three minutes, do it immediately. If you put the task off until later, it will end up costing more time overall—because you will either take time to write it down on a list so you remember to do it (and then more time to actually do it), or you will later spend time thinking, What was that thing I needed to do for school? (and then, if you’re able to remember the task, more time to actually do it).
It’s faster to just do the task when you first learn of it. It might be finding a particular book in your room that you need to pack to take to class tomorrow, or maybe it’s filling out a form and returning it to an instructor. Think Nike—and Just. Do. It. Sticking to the 3-Minute Rule, you can reduce a long to-do list quickly, and maybe even prevent the list from getting so long in the first place.
Find Support.
Healthy friendships are good for your mind, body, and life. According to the Mayo Clinic, friendships have a big effect on your overall well being because they can:
- Increase your sense of belonging and purpose
- Boost your happiness and reduce your stress
- Improve your self-confidence and self-worth
- Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss, or the death of a loved one
- Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise
Another avenue of support is to stay connected to Mind Body Life—visit our website for topical information and monthly blogs (like this one!) that offer mental health and wellness resources especially tailored for college students. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!
And don’t forget about the many supports available to students enrolled at Santa Fe College. Get involved with Student Life on campus or join a club. If money matters are causing you stress, talk to someone in the financial aid office. If you’re returning to college after a long time off, or simply needing academic help in a particular class, take advantage of the tutoring services.
And if “the blues” don’t go away, please talk to a professional at the campus Counseling Center—sessions are free and confidential.
