Grace Phelps

Dare to dream, then decide to do. Take baby steps and leap when necessary. You’re on your way and every moment you are becoming.

A wise women

College is an incredible experience with its own joys and challenges. From sporting events to late night dance parties to dorm life to classes. College is not quite like anything else you will ever experience. However, there are a lot of changes that come along with it! Here are a few helpful tips that will hopefully make the transition a little bit easier and reduce your stress! 

Tip #1: Learn How to Manage your Stress

College is so incredible. It will challenge you and grow you in so many ways. Embrace the process. You are not alone, we are in this together! There are times where you may get overwhelmed, but just keep on keeping on. You can do it. Academics are important, but so is your mental health, so take time to do things you enjoy also! Eating well, spending time with uplifting friends, exercising regularly, and having a consistent sleep schedule are great ways to help you manage your stress levels. 

Be mindful of how you are doing. It is okay to not be okay, but also I don’t want you to stay there. Advocate for yourself and find people who will support you! Familiarize yourself with the on-campus nurse and counseling supports!

Tip #2: Exercise

The freshman 15 is real, but only if you are careless with your eating and exercising habits.

Be intentional about creating healthy habits or find a workout buddy. I set my running clothes by the foot of my bed on the night before I go for a run. That way it is right there when I get up in the morning and I have no excuses. Plus, it is scientifically shown that exercising will increase your happiness and decrease stress! It is basically a win-win. 

P.S. If your campus has a gym, use it! It is a great free resource that you will probably miss when you graduate college. 

Tip #3: Prioritize Time with God

It can be difficult to find quiet space living in dorms, but it is not impossible to create that space. If you are looking to get alone with the Lord you could go for a drive, sit at the beach, wake up early or use the study rooms. Do whatever you have to do to make time for the Lord! It will make such a difference in your every day life.

I attend a Christian university and as a freshman I thought I would develop a radical faith and be on fire for Jesus automatically. This doesn’t happen without intentional action. We have to be really intentional about pursuing God and getting to know Him more! Spending time in God’s Word is essential and honestly, so refreshing. Instead of fitting God into the extra time in your day, schedule your day around your time with God. This mindset will make a big differences in prioritizing time with the Lord. 

A few things to remember: 

1. Like any relationship, it takes effort and intentionality! But give yourself grace, you are not going to be perfect all the time and you will grow a lot! 
2. Don’t feel discouraged if someone’s relationship with God looks different than yours. God will meet us where we are exactly as we are. 
3. Get plugged in to a church and young adults community and don’t be afraid to try a bunch out and then pick one to build community at!

Tip #4: Eat Mindfully

It is so important to nourish your body with good food while you are in college! The cafeteria is convenient, but it is also so easy to over eat or make poor food choices. Choose food that is going to fuel your body and give you energy for the day. If you are creative, it’s easy to put together solid meals even if the cafeteria food is sketchy over all. Sometimes, I will make a salad from the salad bar then add chicken from the main event to add some protein!

What’s your meal plan? I have 10 meals a week and that is plenty for me. Some people have 18, but the people with more meals tend to feel guilty if they do not use them all. Then they feel obligated to skip on spending time with friends going out to eat because they have meals to use up. Also, it is usually way cheaper to eat a few meals in your dorm rather than paying $8-10 per meal in the cafeteria. For example, a box of cereal and milk are roughly $6 and will feed you for at least 5-10 meals, if not more! Adjust your meal plan to whatever works best for you!

Tip #5: Organization is Key

Syllabus week is the first week of class where a lot of introductions will happen and syllabus’ will be passed out. This is a great time to organize yourself before the bulk of the semester begins. Create a plan for when you will do your homework and build a system for yourself to keep all your materials organized.

Also, use a planner! These are literally life savers! Whether it is a physical planner or an online calendar, find a place to combine all of your assignments and schedule into one place. Put all of your due dates into one of these right away and then check back often. Personally, I tend to forget things, so I use Google Calendar and a physical planner to keep track of all my assignments and meetings. Plus, I create a list of all my assignments at the beginning of the semester and check them off as I go! This might be overwhelming to some people, though, so find what works to keep yourself organized.

P.S. There is almost always a week in the middle of the semester where it seems like everything is due and life sucks, but keep your head up! You will get through it!! Take time to rest, set goals, come at it one assignment at a time, and talk to Jesus!

Tip #6: Survival of the Funnest

Don’t let the pressure of “Ring by Spring” scare you. Your identity does not come from your relationship status. Don’t even feel pressured to date your first year if you don’t want to. The “Freshman Frenzy” is literally insane and a lot of people will be looking for attention. Personally, I think it is better to build strong friendships instead of getting distracted right away by a significant other. You will likely change a lot during college, so take time to focus on your goals and who God says you are before you start investing in a dating relationship! Currently, my girlfriends and I are competing for the “Survival of the Funnest” to see who will stay single the longest. Ha!

Tip #7: Find Your Tribe

Find good friends. It is totally normal if this takes time. It is also okay if your roommates are not your best friends. Halfway through the semester you might realize the people you are spending time with are not people who are building you up. It is important to surround yourself with people who make you a better person and you enjoy being around. Also make sure that you are being the kind of friend you want to have! Friendships are built through effort from both sides 🙂

Tip #8: Spend as Little as Possible on Textbooks

Don’t Buy your textbooks at the bookstore if you can help it! First, check if the library has the book, then check amazon or other books stores. Doing this has literally saved me hundreds of dollars. Buying my textbooks at my college book store literally cost over $300 in my first semester. At my school, students have a Facebook group where students can buy and sell old textbooks for cheap. It is incredible. Also, if you rent books, you are losing money, whereas if you buy then you can sell/rent it to another student… just my opinion 🙂 

Tip #9: Check out Student Discounts!

There are so many student discounts out there! Amazon Prime is a great one. Students get a half-off membership. It is so helpful when you need books and school supplies or basically anything. I literally use it all the time. Spotify is another company that offers a great student discount. Museums, movie theaters, public transportation are all places that usually have lower prices for students. Some other companies that offer student discounts are Chegg, Sam’s club, TOM’s, and Goodwill! Student discounts are a great way to save money in college! For most of the discounts, all you need to do is show a valid student ID 🙂

Bonus Tips 😉

1. Be prepared to prank or be pranked. 
2. Invest in a mini-fridge, it is WORTH IT!
3. Go to events and meet as many people as possible! Seriously, for the first few days go out of your comfort zone and say Hi first! After the third person, it won’t be scary anymore and you will meet so many cool people!
   • Literally, do it. 
4. It’s okay to change your major.
5. Explore the city you are in! I love finding to places to hike and fun coffee shops!

Overall, have fun! Grades are important, but not the ultimate thing! Allow yourself to grow and try new things! You will make mistakes and that is okay, as long as you learn from them!