Avoiding The Freshman 15

The summer before entering college all of my friends and coworkers jokingly told me I was about to gain the freshman 15, but they ended up fueling a fear I already had.  I have always been very active and in shape, so as long as I kept to my routine I knew I would be able to keep it off.  However, the fear of gaining weight came with the fear of the unknown… not knowing when, or if at all, I would be able to fit in time for the gym with all the new adjustments of beginning college.  The three most important aspects of keeping off the freshman 15 are to eat healthy, exercise often, and get plenty of sleep each night.

The first step to eating healthy on a college campus is to figure out which dining halls offer healthy options, and which don’t.  Make time for breakfast every morning- it is the most important meal of the day, providing fuel for you to get your day started.  If possible, grab fruit to eat as a snack in between classes.  Try to save the fried foods for one meal a week, and only allow yourself to binge on sweets twice a week.  Make sure to go easy on the dressings, they can add a lot of unnecessary calories and fat.  Also, alcohol can add an abundant amount of calories to your diet and if your caloric intake is not used to this, it can cause you to gain weight rather quickly.  Another downside of drinking is the common habit of drunk eating later in the night.  All of these calories can add up quickly and surprise you at the end of the year.

Once you figure out how to manage you meals, then you need to learn how to fit in time to exercise.  The best way to make sure you actually have time in your day is to write out a daily schedule and plan a specific time to go to the gym.  Another way to ensure that you actually follow through with your gym schedule is to get a gym buddy to help motivate each other.  I would also suggest signing up for gym classes that are offered through your school.  They are a fun, cheap way to add exercise into your day!  For the days you truly don’t have time to hit the gym, then find ways during your daily activities to get you work out in, such as taking the stairs, taking the long way home, or walking to class instead of driving.

The final aspect of avoiding the freshman 15, is to get enough sleep each night, or at least most nights.  It is easy to let sleep fall through the cracks while focusing on school work and making friends, but it is necessary in order to stay healthy.  It isn’t a given that every freshman will gain the weight.  In order to avoid the freshman 15 you just need to eat healthy, hit the gym, and get plenty of sleep.  Live a balanced life style and you will remain slim and healthy!

Roomie Problems

For many of the incoming freshmen, college is the first time they have to share a bedroom with another person.  Dorm life is a wonderful part of the college experience that allows you to become more independent, as well as branch out and meet new people you may not have normally had the opportunity to interact with; however, this can also cause occasional drama.  Roommate problems are not uncommon, especially freshman year, but there are many ways to overcome any issues that may arise. The main three problems people tend to have are based on cleanliness, sleeping schedules, and sharing of belongings.

Every person has their own standard for what is clean and what is messy, so it is likely that you and your roommate will have different views on this topic.  The best way to overcome this is to simply talk to your roommate about what specific mess is bothering you.  If just talking to them about it doesn’t work, you can try making a chore chart. Be sure that you are doing your part when it is your time to clean if you do choose to do this.  If the situation has not improved, you should go to your Resident Assistant.  They are there to help make your living situation as pleasant as possible. No matter what it is that’s bothering you, it is best to address it sooner rather than later. Living with a roommate may not always go smoothly, but overall it will be worthwhile.

Sleep schedules vary just as much as standards of cleanliness. Since college classes can range from 8 in the morning until 10 at night, each person’s daily schedule can differ drastically, causing them to be tired at different points throughout the evening. This is a struggle I personally had to overcome when I first got to college.  I am a night owl and always have been.  I stay up late at night and prefer sleeping in in the morning; however, my roommates all four years have been early risers.  I make sure that I am quiet and don’t turn on the lights when I come into the room to get ready for bed, and they try to do the same in the morning.  If you are not so lucky to have roommates who will respect your sleeping schedule, then you will have to use other measures to make sure you get enough sleep. You could ask them to do their work in a common room or library, if you are the one who usually goes to bed first.  Sleeping masks or ear plugs may also come in handy if their light or their sounds tend to disturb your sleep.  Whatever you choose to do, make sure you don’t compromise sleep for your roommate’s convenience.

For some people, college is not only the first time they have to deal with a roommate, but they also have to learn how to share and be flexible.  You could be living with people who are excited to have someone to share everything with ,or the complete opposite, people who finally have their own space and want to keep their property to themselves.  To prevent any problems with your roommate, discuss boundaries about belongings early on and see where both of you stand.  If you have the same view on sharing then it will be easy!

No matter what it is that’s bothering you, it is best to address it sooner rather than later. Living with a roommate may not always go smoothly, but overall it will be worthwhile!  

Curing Homesickness

What is homesickness? 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, homesickness can be classified as “…thoughts and feelings about home, that exist on a continuum—it isn’t a matter of being homesick or not; it’s a matter of degree.” Whether you have constant thoughts of home or just random, infrequent memories of family and friends, you are homesick. Feeling homesick is common among the entering freshman class due to the many rapid adjustments they must make for the first time. It can manifest itself in the form of constant thoughts of home, random crying, and even inability to go to class and make new friends. Do not fret if you are feeling this way, it typically doesn’t last too long and there are many things you can do to cheer yourself up, and therefore help shorten your time feeling homesick.

How to cure your homesickness

-The best thing you can do is to remember that it will get easier over time. This feeling is completely normal. Homesickness is just an adjustment period after going through quick changes. Once you get your new daily routine, new friends, and feel more settled in, your homesick feeling will go away.

-Get to know your roommate and RA. They can be your best friends during the very beginning of your adjustment period, and chances are that your roommate will likely be having some of the same struggles. It is also a good idea to talk to someone about how you are feeling, whether it is your roommate, RA, or someone else. This will reassure you that you are not alone and that this feeling is normal.

-Make your new home, feel like home. Bring pieces from your old home to add to your dorm room to make you feel more comfortable when you are missing home, such as a blanket, stuffed animals, pictures, etc.

– Get out of your dorm and get involved. The best way to cheer up is to get your mind thinking about something else. It is completely acceptable to take a “me” day when you are feeling especially homesick, but don’t make it a habit. Staying busy will help you to keep your mind occupied and get your new daily schedule settled.

-Stay connected to your friends and family from home, but not too connected. Communicating with people from home will help you miss them less for the time being; however, in order to actually overcome homesickness, you must learn to live differently and cut the emotional ties from home. Try to minimize the number of times you talk to people from home to a couple of times per week. Then reduce the number as you begin to feel comfortable in your new environment.

These are the years you learn the most, find your closest friends, and figure our who you truly want to be in life. Go out and have fun!