The honeymoon phase of freshman year is over, and now you’ve entered sophomore year of college. This is the year where you have to start limiting your academic experimentation and declare a major. The year where you hunt for those summer internships to guide you on a career path. The year where you hope to find a more fixed group of friends and/ or a romantic interest.
The year that can be known as the sophomore slump.
Confusion, soul-searching, motivational problems, and occasional depression or alienation often compose the slump. Sometimes you find yourself studying listlessly or skipping classes because you feel that your coursework has no meaning for you.
The best way to pull yourself out of this slump is establishing a goal-centered activity. Although napping sounds nice, step out of your comfort zone as much as possible. You pay all this money to be at college, so use those resources!
- Talk to your academic advisor.
- Talk to health counseling services.
- Talk to unfamiliar faces on campus. You might be more similar than you think, and when you hear another person’s story, it may help guide you.
- Try re-visiting a high school extracurricular activity or go for something completely new–you still have time for that!
While you work your way to this goal, everyday activities to keep you going include:
G.T.L: gym, tan, laundry. Yes, this is the motto of the Jersey shore, but it does include self-care, something you need and deserve while life is in progress.
- Gym: be active for at least 20 minutes a day whether that be at the gym or just walking around. Eating healthy also relates to gym. Your stomach is like your second brain and it wants real meals, not just packaged snacks.
- Tan: no need to actually go tanning, but it’s always rewarding to look good when you go to class or even when you’re chilling on the weekend. No need for interview attire, but get dressed, yet stay comfortable so you can take the day seriously. When one day feels more serious, there’s more to look forward to in the coming days. Also, why bother buying cute clothes if they are just going to hang in your closet where the world can’t see them?
- Laundry: laundry lists and hygiene habits. Even the physically small tasks of the day can be a major accomplishment and better that than moping around. Make lists of the things you need to get done and enthusiastically cross them out when you’ve completed them to remind yourself of a well-done today. Keeping your surroundings clean will keep you organized, which can positively correlate to your academics. Less clutter and dirt around you can also help you clear you head. When it comes to your hygiene, staying clean will help prevent sickness, providing you with more energy to be active and get things done.
So, just remember if you’re feeling down, you are not alone, and with Emory’s resources and the power of thinking like the beloved cast members of the Jersey Shore, you can triumph the slump!