Five ways to get reacclimated to Mercer

Whether you are an incoming freshman or a fifth year senior, coming back to college after a long, relaxing summer can be a bit of a shock. Following these few simple steps can make the transition a little smoother.

1. Get organized!
   The first thing to do when you step foot on Macon soil is get a planner. Write down every class you have, and once you receive your syllabi, plan out your assignments. If you know you have to read 50 pages for biology class by next week, start early and read a few pages a day. Planning out assignments and being prepared is the best way to start a new semester.
   Usually at the beginning or end of a planner there are a few blank pages for notes. Write down longterm goals, and then use your planner to achieve them by the end of the semester. Write a few reminders every few weeks throughout your planner, or have smaller goal deadlines throughout the semester in order to achieve your final goal.


2. Stay healthy!
   Mercer has an amazing facility with a gym, basketball courts, an indoor track and an indoor swimming pool in the University Center (UC). The UC also provides group fitness classes during the year that you can find on their website. If group fitness isn’t your thing, try doing exercises in your room. Look up a workout routine online that you can do in the comfort of your own home: I prefer Pinterest for new and fun workouts at home!


3. Mental health is just as important as physical fitness
   Keeping your mind healthy can be tough with all of the stress of returning to college. You have 20 assignments to complete in your first week, and you still haven’t unpacked all of your colorful pens yet. It can be overwhelming to say the least. But, when the world feels like it is crumbling around you, you need to take time to work on your mental health. Do yoga! Go for a walk! Talk with a friend! Check out the Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) on campus! It is located directly behind Mary Erin Porter residence hall complex. Remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Never neglect your mind.


4. Use technology to your benefit
   US News wrote an article suggesting college students should try five different apps to organize their busy schedules: iStudiez Pro, Quizlet, inClass, iProcrastinate and Outliner. Whether you try some of these apps or use Google Calendar to organize your daily life, technology can be a great help when trying to remember what you have to get done. When your schedule gets so intense during the middle of the semester, it’s nice to have a gentle reminder on your phone to read for your Great Books class or study for your math class, and it’s even better to have a reminder to go to bed on time and to take a breather in the middle of the day. Use technology not only to remind you about what you have to do but also to remind you about what you need to do in order to take care of yourself.


5. Get ahead early!
   When you are writing out your assignments in your planner or setting reminders in your phone at the beginning of the semester, try to do a little more work than required. Instead of reminding yourself to read 50 pages for biology, go ahead and read 55. Getting ahead on your assignments at the beginning of the semester will help you stay ahead when the semester starts getting tough. It’s always good to start early!