There are so many articles out there that cover how crazy it is to adjust to college after living at home your whole life. However, now the time has come to talk about what it’s like adjusting to home life after being away at college for a long period of time. College isn’t just a place someone goes to in order to achieve higher education, it’s a lifestyle. Once embedded into a routine, change can be one of the hardest things to grasp. For some college students, it’s moving back to their home state for a holiday break. For others, their home may be right around the corner from the college they attend. Whether you’re one or the other here are some tips for adjusting to the home life you left behind when going to college.
- Stay Consistent
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When arriving back home it’s impossible to forget how you’ve been living your life for the last couple of months, so embrace it! Just because there has been a change in the environment, doesn’t mean your entire routine has to change. The best thing you can do for yourself is to stay consistent with what has worked for you up until this point. Wake up the times you are used to during the week, and get the morning coffee you’re used to getting before class. If you had specific times or specific days dedicated to certain things in your life while at college try to keep it up while you’re at home too!
- Relax
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If you’re a college student, chances are you haven’t had a lot of time to relax or do the things outside of what was necessary to complete all of your courses. We’ve got good news, now is the time! Read that book that has been put off for months. Learn a bunch of new recipes from a cookbook. Have a movie marathon. Whatever couldn’t make it on the to-do list while you were consumed with your academics seize the time now to do it. Relax and reset so you can be the most prepared for what lies ahead when you get back to that college life.
- Cherish
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There are lots of things to miss about college once you’re away from it. However, now is the time to focus on all the friends and family that couldn’t fit in your suitcase when going to college. Cherish the moments you have with the people that are separate from your college friends or family, and at any available opportunity create more moments with them.
- Communicate
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Just because college life and home life are two separate scenarios, doesn’t mean you can’t blend the two. Talk about how college has been with your loved ones, reminisce, and share the experiences you had in the months you’ve been away. Don’t underestimate how good it can feel to really communicate what college has meant for you.
- Remind
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With the communication aspect also comes the response others might have for the time you’ve spent at college. This item is the most important because it’s to encourage that reminder that you don’t have to meet anyone’s expectations. Sharing your college life should be a happy thing, and if there are any negative comments to come out of it then ignore them and remind yourself that you have nothing to prove. If you don’t fit into someone’s picture-perfect college life they have envisioned, it doesn’t matter. It’s about you and your life, so the only person you have to prove anything to is yourself.
Transitions can be hard. This list hopefully makes the transition from college to home a bit easier, so you can optimize and enjoy your break from college. Just remember throughout all of these hard adjustments, the most important person is yourself. So take these tips and make the most out of your time away from school.