Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Buttons_Panel::$networks is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/buttons-panel/SWP_Buttons_Panel.php on line 207

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Buttons_Panel::$is_shortcode is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/buttons-panel/SWP_Buttons_Panel.php on line 210

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Buttons_Panel::$post_data is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/buttons-panel/SWP_Buttons_Panel.php on line 319

Deprecated: Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/utilities/SWP_Post_Cache.php on line 785

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Post_Cache::$post_id is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/utilities/SWP_Post_Cache.php on line 94

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Post_Cache::$share_counts is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/utilities/SWP_Post_Cache.php on line 902

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Buttons_Panel::$shares is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/buttons-panel/SWP_Buttons_Panel.php on line 360

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Buttons_Panel::$permalink is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/buttons-panel/SWP_Buttons_Panel.php on line 504

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Buttons_Panel::$classes is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/buttons-panel/SWP_Buttons_Panel_Trait.php on line 845

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Buttons_Panel::$attributes is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/buttons-panel/SWP_Buttons_Panel_Trait.php on line 824

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Twitter::$html is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/social-networks/SWP_Social_Network.php on line 392

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Linkedin::$html is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/social-networks/SWP_Social_Network.php on line 392

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Pinterest::$html is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/social-networks/SWP_Pinterest.php on line 274

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Facebook::$html is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/social-networks/SWP_Social_Network.php on line 392

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property SWP_Buttons_Panel::$inner_html is deprecated in /home3/ountake9/public_html/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/lib/buttons-panel/SWP_Buttons_Panel_Trait.php on line 803

“Skill is only developed by hours and hours of work” – Usain Bolt

 

When preparing for college, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of choosing a school, planning classes, meeting future peers, and shopping for your dorm. Amidst all of this excitement it is easy to allow reality to slip.

In just a few short months, weeks, or even days, you will be moving away from one of the biggest things we take for granted- our parents.

Yes, this can seem like a relief if you are ready to gain independence, but in the end, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I love being on my own and having to take responsibility for myself, but until I moved to college, learning basic life skills got put on the back burner.

NEWS FLASH: this was a big mistake!

The mundane tasks of life seemed like a waste of time when there were many more (seemingly) efficient alternatives. I mean who wants to spend their precious time learning to maintain a cleaning schedule or learning to make (and actually follow) a budget. When I first got to college, these alternatives were all too appealing. Plus, I could use all my extra time to spend hundreds of dollars on Dorm stuff that Pinterest told me I just HAD to have. P.S. I did NOT have to have it and even got rid of most of it in the first month.

 

I think we all have a wake up call once moving to college, even if you think you know everything there is to know about living on your own. However, I hope I can help you be a bit more prepared than I was.

 

1. How to cook

 

At first, I completely expected to eat all of my meals in the Caf, but after only a mere week, I couldn’t take anymore. Truth is, no matter how much your school hypes up their cafeteria, it is almost always subpar at best. Therefore, I started eating out; I mean you can’t go wrong with Chick-Fil-A or an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant, right?

If only! 

This was great at first, but it did not take long to add up. Considering I chose to focus on school and postpone job hunting, I didn’t have the funds to support this habit. Therefore, I knew I had to learn to cook.

 

In reality, learning to cook is actually simple, and college is one of the best times to learn. There are tons of online resources like these add a link and there are even some cookbooks catering especially to college needs. You don’t have to prepare meals that belong in a Five Star restaurant to survive off your booking. In fact, your cooking doesn’t even have to look picture perfect, as long as you make substantial meals that you enjoy eating.

 

2. How to maintain a cleaning schedule

Personally I love to clean, so that is an easy one for me. However, creating a schedule to ensure every chore gets finished in a timely manner was a struggle. Unfortunately, most people would rather jump off the face of the Earth than clean their home. Most of the time, this creates a never ending cycle. People put off cleaning because they don’t like to, which leads to an even bigger mess causing the idea of cleaning to be even more overwhelming.

 

However, creating a cleaning schedule that works for you and holding yourself accountable for following can make cleaning a breeze. One way to do this is by breaking chores down into daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonally. 

My favorite way to manage weekly and monthly tasks is by dedicating specific days to each individual task.

I have tried to do all my weekly tasks in one day, and it just doesn’t happen. While getting them out of the way may seem like a good idea, it can be stressful to see how long your to-do list is after combining it all into one day.

Life is already hectic, especially in college. The last thing you need is to be overwhelmed with personal responsibilities as well. 

 

3. How to budget your money

Let me point out something you probably already know: college is expensive. Even when you think you have accounted for all of the expenses, more appear. Between technology fees, parking passes, dorm event fees, and more, you’d think that would cover everything, but some expenses I never considered included gas for trips home, spring break trips, weekend trips, entertainment and snacks. 

 

I know what you’re thinking- those are unnecessary expenses, why should I budget for that? 

 

Trust me. They may seem like a waste of money when you’re on a budget, but there comes times that these experiences are the only thing keeping you in one piece. There is nothing like a spontaneous trip with your friends after a long week of exams or a trip home when you just can’t stand another second with your roommate.

4. How to Grocery Shop

This one goes back to cooking, but you’d be surprised how little you know about what groceries you truly need until you’re in the store alone for the first time. Freshman year, my roommate and I went to Walmart as soon as our parents left and came out with nearly $300 worth of groceries. Can you guess how much of our purchase was actually worth it?

 

It can be easy to have a moment like this when you’re excited to stock your dorm room, but it won’t take long for you to regret your decision to decide what you’ll need when you get to the store. Making a grocery list inclusive of a mix of healthy snacks, basic ingredients, drinks and easy meals is essential to staying healthy and satisfied in the dorm. It’s also important to eliminate anything you do not need as most colleges only allow a small minifridge for food.

5. How to Maintain Work-Life Balance

It is completely possible, and probably likely, that you will let one overtake the other. Don’t get too discouraged if this happens. You’re not alone! Personally, I’ve suffered with both and many more college students have too. 

 

The first semester of my freshman year, I got caught up in the idea of the “college experience” and started partying…

every weekend

While this was fun at the time, my productivity plummeted (and so did my grades). At the time, I was a Pre-Med major, which did not come naturally whatsoever. In order to succeed in this major, I would have had to put in some serious work. Obviously, that was not going to be possible when I was going out every night I could. 

 

By the spring semester, I changed my major and told everyone I was done partying for good. I spent the majority of my time in my room studying and doing schoolwork in an effort to compensate for my previous semester. I did not allow myself anytime to meet new people or experience new things.

As an introvert, this didn’t seem like a problem to me, but before the semester was even halfway done, I was burnt out. I had started to think everyone was right when they said changing my major from Pre-Med to Psychology was a mistake.

I fell back into this cycle at the beginning of sophomore year, but after pulling myself out of it, I have never been more at peace with my college experience.

 

All that to say, finding balance in life is hard, yet it is nearly impossible to stay sane without it. 

 

6. How to communicate

Truth be told, I still don’t have this one mastered. I wouldn’t even call myself proficient in communication, but I will say, throughout college I have developed communication skills a million times more advanced than I started with. 

 

So much of college required communicating from dealing with roommates to giving presentations and everything in between. Regardless of how introverted you are, you will communicate in person, through email, on the phone, or on video. ALL. DAY. LONG. Yes it can get exhausting but it’s just part of it, so you might as well be good at it. 

7. How to Network

Branching off the previous point, networking (and every other career skill) is easiest to develop in college before you are thrown into the “real world”. Networking is especially important if your specific field is important to break into. However, anyone can boost their success by connecting with the right people. In many cases, who you know can be more important than what you know when breaking into your chosen career field.

 

Tip: Utilize your school’s career center as well as alumni. Many alumni love to see people from their alma mater thrive and they will go out of their way to help. Professors are also a great way to meet people and find experience in your field of study. 

8. How to take care of your car

Yes you could easily take your car to the mechanic (or in my case, your granddad) every time your car makes a funny noise, but this can get expensive.

I’m not saying you should know how to replace a transmission or anything (although that might be useful), but basic maintenance can go a long way. Knowing how to check, and maybe even change, your oil and fluids are a few basics.

After all, your car has to make it to school and back in one piece.

9. How to take care of yourself

If you master these previous skills, you are on the right track for this one as well. Staying healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually in college is next to impossible without devoting time to each area. Take time for yourself and learn to be aware of your own needs.

Everyone has bad days.

Sometimes classes, extracurriculars, and social responsibilities can run us dry. 

If you don’t take the time to do things you love and nurture your personal well being, every other aspect of school (and life) will be completely draining. In time, you will see the consequences of this neglect, and it can be even harder to get back on track.

 

Be Prepared

The best thing you can do for yourself before starting college is to get your priorities straight. Set goals and consider what you want to achieve during this exciting time, and most of all, be flexible. This is only the beginning of things you should know before setting off on this adventure. 

What skill do you think will be most vital to know while you are in school? Are there other skills you think would be helpful?