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Cleanser: Neutrogena // Oil Absorbing Sheets: Clean & Clear // Makeup Removing Wipes: Aveeno
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Can you guys believe how fast August snuck up on us?! As much as I don’t yet want to think about it, the calendar turning to August has always immediately made my thoughts turn to “back to school time.” Here in New England, we still have a full 3-4 weeks until high schools and elementary schools are back in session, but I know that in other parts of the country, you’re already in full back to school mode.

A large majority of my readers are college aged, and I know that back to school is such an exciting time, but something that might be talked about a little less, is how it can also be a very stressful and anxiety producing time (especially for those heading into their freshman year of college) with back to college stress. Between figuring out the financial situation of college, to class schedules, to roommates, there’s no wonder it’s a bit of a trying time. Today I wanted to get a bit more personal and share with you guys some of my tips for handling the stress of a new routine and how to handle back to college stress.

Click below to continue reading!

HOW TO HANDLE BACK TO COLLEGE STRESS

1. GET INVOLVED

This is my number one tip, and something I believe is so important. In most cases, this place will be your home for the next four years, and the sooner you get involved, the better. It doesn’t matter whether you’re into dance, art, singing, basketball, or even cutting down trees (yessss University of Maine for having a lumberjack club LOL). It’s almost a guarantee that you can find a club, activity, or sport that will interest you. Some of you know that I cheered throughout college for football, basketball, and the competition team. Being a part of a sport made me feel like I had a purpose, a friend group to lean on, and also extra mentors through the relationship I had with my coaches. Plus, I have always felt like having an outlet makes me deal with stress easier. Worried about balancing classes and an activity? Many of my teammates would spend afternoons in the library and then use our practice time as a study break. Plus, I have always felt that the busier I am, the better I manage my time. No matter your interests, there’s almost always something for everyone, and if there isn’t a club that interests you, start one!

2. DON’T WORRY ABOUT ROOMMATES

I know so many people have heard college roommate horror stories, but I can assure you that you will be fine. I chose to be set up with a random roommate my freshman year of college, and I survived! I think it’s important to remember that a roommate doesn’t need to be your best friend; you just need to be able to get along and live together. My freshman year college roommate and I weren’t really friends and didn’t hang out outside of our room, but we got along for the entire year and never had issues. It almost always works out, and if it’s THAT bad, you can almost always switch, no problem. But make sure to give it a chance. You never know when you might make a new friend!

3. FIND YOUR CLASSES AHEAD OF TIME

One of my biggest stressors and anxiety producers to this day is being late to things (I think I can thank my long time gymnastics coach for that. He would always make us do conditioning for being late to practice). Anyways, one of my biggest fears going into college was getting lost, not being able to find my classes, being late to them, and then walking into a class late while hundreds of people stared back at me. UGH. Still makes me cringe to this day. Before classes started freshman year, some of my friends and I took our schedules and a campus map, and spent a morning walking around campus until we found each of our classes. I would suggest timing how long it takes you to walk from your dorm (or wherever you’re living) to your classes, so that you know you will be on time your first day. If you drive into campus, allow extra time, because if your college is anything like mine was, parking on campus before classes was always a nightmare.

4. CONTINUE HEALTHY EATING HABITS

In college, there are constant temptations (one of them being food LOL). At dining halls, there will be everything you could ever imagine and then some. However, just because it’s there doesn’t mean you need to eat it! For example, one of the dining halls near where I lived freshman year had ice cream. Before going into college, I’m not ashamed to admit that I would have ice cream after dinner a few nights a week (okay, probably more like every night after dinner). When I went to the dining hall for lunch, did I want the ice cream after? Of course I did! But I knew that having an after-lunch ice cream was never something I would do before going into college, so I made sure to limit myself to only a few nights a week. Personally, I feel that the healthier I’m eating, the more alert, energetic, and less anxious I feel. My skin and hair also look so much better when I’m eating healthy and drinking lots of water. So if you weren’t eating bags on bags of chips, cookies, and other treats before college, don’t start just because it’s “free on your dining plan” or because it’s in front of you.

5. GET ACTIVE

The gym at the University of Maine was probably the nicest gym I’ve ever been to, to this day. Most college gyms are very nice; have early morning and late night hours, have workout classes included, and also have intramural teams. I know I’ve said it so many times already, but exercising is one of the absolute best ways to deal with stress and anxiety. Don’t have time? Here’s the thing, everyone has time for what’s important to them, and your health is extremely important. Besides, everyone needs a study break!

6. TO-DO LISTS

I’ve always sworn by to-do lists and still use them to this day. When you have so much going on, it can be hard to prioritize everything that’s going around in your head. I recommend making your to-do list the night before, so that the next morning it’s ready for you and you can attack. If it helps to form your to-do list more into a schedule, that’s also a great way to make sure everything gets done. Also, investing in a planner and a desk size calendar will be a lifesaver if you’re a person who likes to write everything down like me!

7. SUNDAY GIRLS’ NIGHTS

Okay this one might be a little bit out there, but this is something the girls who lived on my dorm floor and I always looked forward to every Sunday night. After getting homework done, eating dinner, and doing other necessities, we would always pop popcorn, bring out the chips and salsa, and obviously tons of snacks, and watch trashy show (or the Patriots if they were on because duh, girls like football too!!) on Sunday nights in one of our dorm rooms. It’s a great way to de-stress, catch up on everyone’s weekend, and to share funny stories from the weekend before the new week starts. PS. Spa theme anyone? You should totally add face masks and manicures into the mix! When I’m stressed, my natural reflex is to isolate myself and want to be alone, but I’ve realized that that doesn’t help me in the slightest. It just makes me dwell on my problems and think about them more. What most of us need is to surround ourselves around people who lighten our load. Don’t ever be afraid to reach out to a friend. And if you’re not the type of person who seeks out people when you need help (if you’re like me lol), even if you aren’t talking about your problems, sometimes just being around people makes things feel better.

8. PACK SNACKS

Anyone else get a serious case of hanger (anger because you’re hungry)?!!! I get it sooooo bad, you guys, and it’s usually because of my own lack of planning. I’m that person that needs to keep snacks in their car, because in Boston you just never know when you will be in traffic for hours. For the love of God, do yourself a favor and have breakfast before you go to class (also invest in a coffee maker with a timer and you will thank me). At this point in my life, I know myself pretty well, and I know that when I’m hungry, it’s literally all I can think of. I can’t concentrate on anything else. Make sure to pack snacks for your day, because in my experience, sometimes you have long days with no break and no time for lunch until late, and you will want something to hold you over. Leaving campus to go home to your apartment isn’t always the easiest option. Apples, nuts/seeds, granola bars, and popcorn are some of my favorite healthy snacks that are easy to pack.

9. DEEP BREATHS

Know that you should never have to suffer alone. If you’re in over your head, whether it’s because of a course, friends/roommates, being away from home, or ANYTHING, just know that people truly WANT to help you and for college to start to feel like home to you. Don’t ever be afraid to reach out to a professor, advisor, friends, coach, or campus counselors.

10. CONTINUE YOUR HEALTHY BEAUTY + GROOMING ROUTINE

Obviously sharing a bathroom with many other girls from your dorm floor isn’t the most glamorous thing in the world, but it’s really important to continue your current beauty/grooming routine, whatever that may be. I recommend getting a shower caddy so that you can throw all of your products for your morning and nightly routine into it. Then you aren’t having to juggle a million bottles in your hands on the way to the bathroom.

Since college, I love keeping makeup-removing wipes on me at all times. If you’re too tired to wash your face after a late night, at the very least – you need to use a makeup removing wipe. For a lazy girl hack, keep them in a drawer or bin near your pillow so that you don’t even have to get out of bed to use one. But seriously, take off your makeup! There’s nothing worse than waking up to greasy, pore clogged skin because you didn’t take five seconds to wipe your face with a makeup removing wipe. Plus, if you’re anything like me, sleeping in mascara can cause eye issues the next day. I love the ultra-calming makeup removing wipes from Aveeno because they’re gentle on sensitive skin and have a natural, calming scent to them.

Another beauty item that was an essential for me in college was an anti-acne face wash, specifically for that time of the month or whenever I felt extra stressed (since I get those pesky underground pimples that pop up around my chin at the worst times possible… and always before events, amiright?!) However, be careful with this cleanser and others that have benzoyl peroxide in them, because they can bleach your towels and t-shirts if you get any on them. I recommend sticking to white towels, and not washing your face with a shirt on that you care about. I like to use this a couple nights a week, otherwise it’s too harsh on my sensitive skin.

I also still swear by Clean & Clear’s Oil Absorbing Sheets! They were great for college game day when I would be sweating, but can’t take makeup off, and they’re still great now when my face is just a little oily for my liking. These are super easy to throw in a book bag, purse, or backpack.

^LOL sometimes you just need to rock your alma mater’s t-shirts proudly! Go Black Bears! 😉

Questions about college?! You can comment below, on any of my social media channels, or if you’re interested, I can do a college Q&A on my Instagram.

ALSO- Make sure to enter this sweepstakes for a chance to win a $50 Target gift card!!!

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This post is sponsored by NEUTROGENA®, CLEAN & CLEAR® and AVEENO®. I only recommend products I use personally and believe my followers will also enjoy! Some of the products mentioned were provided by NEUTROGENA®, CLEAN & CLEAR® and AVEENO® for this review.