The Dorm-Life Blues

Once the newness of dorm life wears off after a few weeks, college life and dorm living becomes the norm. That’s not a bad thing by any means, however, it also means that all that excited, new energy can dissipate, leaving you feeling a bit drained. A few weeks or even months at school is enough time to meet and get to know plenty of new people, yet perhaps you haven’t made any good friends yet and you don’t feel as if you’ve found your niche. Don’t panic; there’s still plenty of time left. Even so, those dorm-life blues can set in, so know how to respond.

First of all, don’t feel alarmed if you find yourself feeling blue. There are so many new things you have to take in that the abrupt lifestyle change is enough to make anyone feel anxious. Don’t think you’re alone in feeling that way, either. It’s normal. College life is good at keeping you occupied so that those feelings don’t set in as deep. Schoolwork alone, while not a very fun alternative, can keep your mind on your grades, which isn’t a bad thing by any means. Still, keeping busy through other means will automatically improve your mood and outlook. If you haven’t yet, start getting involved in some extracurricular activities. Whether you’re at a large or small school, there’s a club out there for everyone.

By joining a club or becoming involved with an organization, you’ll not only stay occupied, you’ll meet more new people who have similar interests. This in turn makes making some good friends much easier. Once you’ve made a couple good friends, the social side of college life is a breeze. The nice thing about being involved and meeting new people is that you’ll find everyone’s open and receptive to hanging out. Other new students are in the same position as you; they want to meet new people, make friends, and combat those dorm-life blues.

There might never be a time in your life again when you have so many opportunities and activities in front of you. Many students who find themselves unhappy in college likely aren’t very involved, and therefore they don’t have as much to accomplish and find fulfilling throughout college life. But by staying busy and staying involved, you’ll find your time well-spent and enjoyable. Even if you don’t go out and join a few new clubs, college is also the perfect time to pick up a new hobby, which is another surefire way to quell those dorm-life blues.

It’s common advice to hear that it’ll get better if you’re experiencing dorm-life blues, but it still rings true. Even if you’ve been at school for a couple months, it takes longer than that to really let college life sink in and to find your routine and niche. Making good friends and lasting memories also takes time, so be patient and don’t try and back out too soon. It takes a little time, it takes a little effort, but dorm living and college life should be a great, memorable experience, and it will be if you want it to be.