The transition to college life can be a tricky adjustment for some students. For many people, college is their first time being away from home, and while this sense of freedom is exciting, it can also derail one’s life.

The social opportunities offered by colleges have their advantages. However, we all know how it goes. It starts with late-night parties, pulling all-nighters and skipping one too many classes. Then, before you know it, you have your exams hanging over your head, and you start to panic.

Moreover, college is costly in the U.S. Most students have to juggle a job and their studies to make ends meet. This factor alone brings in a lot of stress, so it’s important not to lose sight of why you are there in the first place. In fact, a staggering 30% of first-year college students drop out before their sophomore year.

However, it’s not the end of the world either. Thankfully we know what some of the most common mistakes college students make are. If you catch these early enough, you will do just fine.

Losing Sight of Your Health 

This is definitely one of the bigger ones. I get it. You are young and enthusiastic, and it doesn’t matter much if you only eat fast food or ramen and only drink sodas and coffee, right? This sort of carefree mentality isn’t conducive to long-term sustenance. Our eating habits dictate not only our physical health but also our mental health.

Studies after studies have shown the adverse effects fast food has on our cognitive abilities. It messes up your attentiveness, can affect memory retention, and most worryingly, a fast-food only diet can lead to depression.

Since foods high in sugars and carbs are notorious for spiking your insulin levels, you feel lethargic throughout the day, and to feel better, you would most probably consume caffeine. This quickly turns into a cycle of self-destruction, and before long, you would start noticing symptoms like difficulty sleeping, low energy, lack of motivation etc.

The best thing you can do to not go down this path is to plan ahead, buy healthier foods in bulk, keep track of your budget and exercise daily. I know healthy foods cost more than junk food, but this is not entirely true. There are ways you can make it work.

Missing Classes Repeatedly

Skipping a class every now and then is unavoidable. Life will inevitably get in the way sometimes, or perhaps you may not feel good a particular day and rather sleep in. The real problem is when one skipped class turns into two and three, and then before you know it, you don’t want to attend any class.

What happens is that once you start skipping classes too frequently, you start to tell yourself lies that you will definitely attend the next one. However, suddenly it doesn’t seem too bad to skip one more when the next class arrives.

This sort of pattern can land you in an endless cycle of guilt, regret, and false promises. Hence, make it a mission only to skip classes when it’s utterly unavoidable. For example, when you are sick. Playing catch up with your coursework is one of the surest ways to fall behind and fail your finals.

Not Studying Regularly

It is very common for high schoolers to get away with not studying consistently, but college is a different game. The volume of work in college is many magnitudes greater than in high school, and the assignments, essays and other projects are also quite frequent.

If you think you can avoid your studies throughout the semester and then magically score a passing grade in your exams, think again. Not studying regularly will cause you to play catch-up with what you have already missed, and that can get very stressful very fast.

Instead, study an hour or two at least every day so you don’t get overwhelmed when exams arrive.

Procrastination

Yes, we are guilty of procrastinating at one point or another. However, in college, this habit can cause you a lot of stress and tension, not to mention failing grades. Procrastination often makes you feel helpless because you know you need to do a particular task, but you just can’t bring yourself to it.

Then like any bad habit, if left unchecked, it can become an endless cycle. To combat procrastination, there are simple little things that you can do. For example, using a to-do list has proven to be quite useful in coming out of a rut.

The idea here is to make a list of things you need to do on any given day. However, the key is to start your list by writing down the easiest everyday tasks first. For example, your list can begin with:

1)         Make the bed

2)         Brush teeth

3)         Make breakfast

4)         Take out the trash

These are simple tasks that you will probably do anyway despite a list. However, having them written down on paper and then ticking them off as you complete each task gives you a sense of accomplishment. In addition, as you tick off the first few simpler tasks, you will find yourself building momentum towards the more difficult tasks you would instead procrastinate.

Inconsistent Sleep Cycle 

Similar to diet, sleep is also one of those things that are easily overlooked in college. College culture is very big on late-night activities. Students even begin to take pride in staying up all night and then telling their friends the following day about their accomplishments. In reality, sleep is extremely crucial to normal and healthy brain activity.

You must know the awful brain fog one feels when one stays up all night only to wake up at noon. It’s not a good feeling, is it? Now imagine doing that regularly; it mustn’t come as a surprise then when your memory doesn’t work as well as it used to or when you feel like a zombie throughout the day.

Make sure to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. What’s even more important is the consistency of your sleep cycle. Try to sleep and wake up at a fixed hour. Otherwise, there is no shortage of depression, anxiety and stress.

Not Developing a Relationship with Faculty

Some students lose out on the benefits of consorting with their professors. While college is social heaven for people of your age group, it is important not to distance yourself from the faculty. A personal relationship with teaching faculty can bear many fruits down the line. The biggest of these are recommendation letters which you will need when applying for graduate programs. A stellar recommendation by your college professor can really amp up your application.

Be sure to make a positive and lasting impression on your professors. Visit them during their office hours to discuss coursework or career-related matters. Show them that you are serious about your studies and are ambitious.

Not Budgeting 

Money is definitely a problem for most students in college. Tuition and other college expenses can rack up quite quickly, and if you aren’t vigilant, it can cause significant hurdles down the line. To stay out of trouble, it is essential to plan ahead. Determine what your budget is at the beginning of a semester and then calculate all the different costs and assign a set amount to each cost. This way you won’t spend beyond your means.

Spending Too Much Time Online

Students that are goal-oriented and ambitious know how to spend their time productively. They don’t binge-watch Netflix or youtube all night without any concern for their college work. If you find yourself going down this road, get organized quickly. Start with fixing your sleep schedule. Sleep and wake up at a fixed time and plan your days in advance. Keep active and try to mingle with people instead of staying in your room all day. It is very easy to develop social anxiety if you don’t go out and do the things you are supposed to do.

Biting Off More Than You Can Chew

Doing too little and wasting time on unproductive activities is undoubtedly a problem. However, there is a flip side to the coin too. A college is a great place for exploring and finding your likes and dislikes but try not to overindulge. Maybe taking music theory, archaeology and intro to psychology is not the best idea. Try to limit your classes and only take part in activities that interest you. You don’t have to join every club or society in college, nor do you have to take every class that you find interesting. Keep realistic expectations because a person can only do so much. Taking on too much is a quick and sure way to feel burnt out.

Not Asking For Help

Lastly, it is vital to know that you don’t have to do it all by yourself. It is entirely fine to ask your friends for help or form study groups. If you feel overburdened, speak to your professor for guidance or, better yet, visit the counsellor. Almost all colleges have academic, health and social resources specifically tailored for students. If you are feeling unsure and lost, seek guidance.