People were not joking about the amount of responsibilities you gain when you get to college. From laundry, homework, cleaning, keeping healthy, class, grocery shopping, having a social life, etc. it feels like there is a never-ending list. For someone who is on their own for the first time, it is a lot to stay on top of. It might even seem impossible to complete all of these tasks. I definitely thought it was. During those first few weeks of college, I was completely lost and felt pushed to my limits. I fell behind on a lot of my duties and the stress and anxiety from it was all-consuming, which only pushed me further behind, truly leading me on a downward spiral.

After getting some help from a wellness counselor here at Penn State, they helped me create a routine. Not trying to sound dramatic, but this changed my life. They stressed to me how important it is that I plan my weeks ahead and get into habits that benefit my life. They showed me how to set aside time for both my needs and wants. They also educated me on how crucial it is to have small daily habits to gain that sense of accomplishment we often need to stay motivated throughout the day. Since most of my readers are first years, down below I have given some tips on how to create a routine that will work for you and hopefully, it can benefit you as much as it had me: 

 

Make lists: In order to have a good routine, you have to be able to know everything you want to get done both daily and weekly. The best way to keep track of that is simply writing it down. Whether it is a to-do list, habit tracker, or calendar, keeping all your tasks organized in one location will serve as a constant reminder to get things completed. Even if it is something like brushing your teeth or making your bed, implementing this into the task list will allow you to do something simple to cross off slowly making it into a habit every day. 

Set intentions you can complete: Stay realistic when setting your goals. If something is too out of reach, reword it to something that is actually justifiable. For example do not make a goal to not do school work on Sunday, if you know you have an exam on Monday. Instead rework the goal to just doing 2 hours of review on Sunday, making you set aside time the weeks prior to start studying. 

 

Consistency is crucial: Making goals and sticking with them is the hardest but most rewarding part of a routine. When a simple thing like making your bed or doing laundry on Sunday becomes a habit, it feels amazing. The same thing can happen with something like working out, if continue to do it every day, it will become something you naturally enjoy and expect to do. 

 

Keep it balanced: A routine should provide you with a sense of calmness and stability within your life. If it is at all causing you any stress, reevaluate. Are you putting too much on your plate? Have you given time to relax and be with yourself? If not, take a step back and make sure this routine is improving your life not regressing it. 

I will never stop recommending a routine for it truly made me a happier and more productive person. I recognized how valuable my time is so by planning, I am now able to do all of the things I both need and want to do. Working out has become implemented in my daily routine I always have time set aside for the gym, whether. I pray that this post has helped you recognize the benefits of a routine, and I hope you fall in love with your new routine just like I have.