The New York Times just highlighted how students have become more lonely on campus due to digital media. Stuck on their phones and remaining too connected to their high school friends, new college students are more reluctant to venture out into university life to meet new people and explore the world. They can experience homesickness, anxiety, and depression.
Moving to a new city with no friends or connections can be a daunting experience. ThinkSTEP has some suggestions for avoiding the natural feelings of loneliness and homesickness that may occur during your first semester at university.
Warning Signs of Depression or Loneliness
Be on the lookout for specific feelings and habits that you may not notice occurring (either for you or for friends). These include:
- Loss of interest in one’s favorite activities and hobbies
- Changes in sleep (such as sleeping too much or too little)
- Lack of energy
- Change in appetite (losing weight, eating less or more)
- Downtrend in academic performance
Preventing Loneliness and Depression at University
Remember that loneliness is a universal experience for everyone at some point in time. As you transition into this new setting, remember the following facts to help ease your move.
Understand that every student feels how you feel. So go introduce yourself!
Every student is in the same boat—away from family, in a new place, with no friends. If you reach out to a new person, they’ll probably be just as excited to meet you as you are excited to meet them. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Use activities (not social media) to create new friends and social relationships
Despite the usefulness of social media, in-person experiences are irreplaceable. When you join activities or clubs at university, you’re joining mini-communities with members who share common interests with you. Clubs make it easy to make friends!
Study in groups with classmates
Nothing builds friendships more quickly than when a group of people must face a challenge together. If you create one study group per class with 3 or 4 participants, then you have the opportunity to make at least 10 to 15 new friends. Studying with a group also enables you to commit to a timeline and homework obligations. In fact, all group members should rely on each other to get the work done on time so that everyone can discuss it.
Respect your health!
You are what you eat (and anything else that you consume!). Eating at freshman dorms makes it easy to pick healthy foods, because the university has chosen and prepared everything for you. Make sure to have a decent balance of fruits, vegetables, carbs, proteins, etc. so that your body has the right fuel to read, think, and write!
Have a routine for taking a break
Take time out of your day to relax your mind and body—go for a walk, hit the weights at the gym, or even go see a movie. When your body takes a break, it’s simultaneously recovering from your recent stresses, meaning that you will be even better prepared for the next challenges you need to face.
Never hesitate to ask for support, but don’t over rely on it.
Your family, friends, professors, and many other people in your community are ready to listen if you have worries or concerns that are overwhelming you during this transitional moment in your life.
Remember who you are, but also use this opportunity to grow.
Being in a new environment is a daunting task—you must leave your high school identity behind while simultaneously building your new life at university. It’s a fresh start to try new things that you may have been nervous about in high school (or couldn’t find the right friends to explore a new idea with). At university, the sheer number of students means that you can find the right niche to become a happy member of your new community. For more suggestions on transitioning to university life, click here. Good luck!
