This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Molloy chapter.

College can be one of the hardest times in your life. Juggling work, school, personal time and of course money. It’s a lot to handle especially if you go away to school and have to do all of this on your own. As a college freshman myself I can relate to this all too well. Being in a new place away from the comfort of your own bed, car, pets, everything that gives you a sense of comfort and safety is one of the hardest things to cope with.

(The stress is REAL)

Being away from home can be tough. Not having your family constantly around as a support system is a huge adjustment for anyone of any age. You’re probably thinking, ‘Why is this girl getting all deep about college life, it’s just school.’ Well, the truth is… this is a feeling many students go through but may not voice out loud. I want to be here for you in saying it is okay to feel like this. Whether what you’re feeling is stress, anxiety or sadness it doesn’t last forever. ( I promise even though it feels like it will, it won’t.)

It’s not easy to get through this alone so grab a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and a tall can of Arizona, your phone to take some notes and get comfy in bed with a fuzzy blanket. I’ll be here to guide you with a few tips that you can use to help get you through this rough patch, I promise you it’s easier than you think. Just take a deep breath and keep an open mind. Achieving positivity to cope with this huge change in life WILL be possible.

First things first, if you’re like me you must be missing your pets and family. I mean it is nearly impossible not to smile when you’re surrounded by adorable dogs and cats along with the people who love you the most. If you have the privilege of not being across the country for school and are only a few hours away you can plan occasional visits home. Do NOT go home every weekend! I repeat do NOT go home every weekend or every chance you get because it will only make things worse. It will make going back to school after two days at home way harder than it needs to be. (Your mom will have to drag you back, believe me, I’ve been there.)

Only go home when you really need to. If you make set weekends to visit once or twice a month it will be a treat to look forward to helping you get through your time on campus. It will make your time at home more enjoyable, You won’t keep thinking about how in two days you have to leave and you won’t dread going back to campus.

Secondly, you should at least be trying your best to enjoy campus life, make the best of it. Make friends, join clubs, go out! Don’t keep yourself locked away in your dorm, that is one of the worst things you could do for yourself. It is okay to have a day to yourself every once in a while but you shouldn’t do it every weekend. Sit out in the common area in your dorm halls, make friends, even spark up some conversation with someone you’ve never met before. I know staying in bed all day binge watching your favorite show sounds so much better but you’ll thank yourself for getting up and out in public and being a productive member of society.

If you go out and just surround yourself with people and not four concrete walls it will increase your mood more than you think. So hey, give it a try maybe you’ll do it more often. (PS: you don’t’ even have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to just surround yourself with people that talk and your mood will go up!)

Lastly, surround yourself with positivity. Positivity is key when you’re trying to get through a rough patch in life. Keeping yourself around people who are negative will just hinder your progress of staying strong and keeping your mind in a positive place. It will drag you down and cause more stress in your life that you don’t need at a time like this. You deserve to be stress-free and you need to focus on yourself and your health before anyone else.

It’s easier said than done I know. It’s much easier to stay stuck in a space of negativity and not keep an open mind to making yourself think positively but trust me to try your hardest to have an open mind and surround yourself with positive people and environments. By doing this your thoughts will be influenced by the positive vibes. Find people who laugh and make you smile no the people who sit in the corner on their phones being anti-social.

Don’t worry hard times pass and if you keep these simple but effective tips in mind you’ll get through it and just remember….

Gifs in order throughout article:

Coping With College: The Struggle is Real

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