Starting college is always an exciting time, and many people look back on their college years fondly for the rest of their lives, so it's only natural that new students want to make the most of the experience and have as much fun as possible along the way.
Health and Safety Tips for College
As a college student, you’ll most likely want to attend parties, make plenty of friends, try new things, and get involved with as much as you possibly can throughout the year. To help you have the best time and stay safe in the process, here are some essential tips to keep in mind.
Try to Stick to a Schedule
For most young people, college is the first time in their lives when they’re truly living an independent life, able to make their own decisions, set their own timetable, and look after themselves each day, not needing to rely on mom or dad or anyone else. This can be exciting, but it can also be quite a tricky adjustment.
In many cases, first-year students, in particular, can find it difficult to manage their time effectively, but this is something you need to work on if you want to have a great college experience. Try to set yourself a schedule and stick to it, which means getting up and going to bed at roughly the same time, setting aside time for work and study, and having a regular routine you can follow.
Eat Well and Exercise Often
Another big part of the adjustment process that many college students will go through is suddenly finding themselves being able to pick and choose what they eat each day. Without any home cooking waiting for you in the kitchen each night, it will be up to you to source your own sustenance, and, once again, this can be a bit of a challenge.
Many young people make the mistake of eating way too much junk food, purely because it’s quick, easy, and tasty. However, failing to moderate your diet can make you fall victim to the ‘Freshman 15’, as well as affecting your health quite negatively. Try to eat carefully, cook your own food with fresh ingredients, and make exercise a part of your regular routine to stay fit.
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Learn the Campus Layout
When you first arrive on campus, seeing the size of the place can be quite daunting. Many first-year students are overwhelmed by how big their colleges truly are, and it can take quite a lot of time for many of them to figure the place out, learning the fastest ways to get around and making sure to get to every class on time.
If you don’t know the campus too well, you’ll be more likely to get lost and end up late to class. Not only that, but this may also increase your stress levels and make you more likely to slip and fall if you’re running around to try and find your way. Take some time when you first arrive to study campus maps and ask other students to guide you if you need some help.
Be Careful at Parties
College kids love to party. That’s a simple fact of life and everyone knows it. It’s highly likely that any new student heading to college will get a lot of opportunities to party with their new pals and meet new people in the early weeks and months of college life, and there’s nothing wrong with attending these kinds of get-togethers and having fun.
However, it’s important to remember that crime can and does happen on college campuses all the time, especially crimes such as sexual assault and drug use. Drinks can easily be spiked, people can get taken advantage of, and it can be easy for new students to feel pressured into doing things they might not usually do. Be safe, try to keep your drinking under control, and always attend parties with a friend so you have someone looking out for you, and vice versa.
Final Word
College can and should be one of the best experiences of any young person’s life. It’s a time for discovery, excitement, personal development, and so much more – a chance for you to learn new things, make memories you’ll never forget, and forge friendships that can last the rest of your life. Hopefully, these useful tips will help you have the best possible time at college while also keeping yourself safe, healthy, and happy in order to make the most of each day.
Photos: Shutterstock
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