Beating the Week One Anxiety

Week One…

Whether you’re starting at Carleton for your first term or coming back for your ninth, Week One is always an overwhelming experience. There’s so many things going on and your schedule isn’t set yet. If you’re struggling this week or are just curious about what the first week at Carleton looks like, here is how I set myself up for success. 

Fully Unpack

I’ve almost fallen for the trap of “I’m tired, I’ll unpack later,” but if you can unpack everything, your space will feel so much more organized. I usually get here a day or two early to do that, and it’s a great way to make sure I have everything in order before my classes start. For new students in the fall, read more about first-term move-in here (congrats on admission, by the way!)

Find Your Classrooms before the First Day

We’ve all been there. The first day of class, students rushing past you, you’re desperately looking for the new classroom, and somehow it’s the one in the corner that you’ve never seen before. The best (and truly only) way to overcome this anxiety is to find your classrooms the day before classes. It’s actually become a fun tradition for me now to walk through my schedule before everyone is back on campus.

Read the Syllabus

I know this is one of those things everyone says to do in college, but the syllabus is really important. It can be overwhelming to go to three new classes and hear all this new information, but if you can make a habit of rereading the syllabus after the class, the stress will feel a lot more manageable. 

Build a New Routine

Whether that’s waking up early even without a morning class or doing work the day it’s assigned, getting a jumpstart on the term during the first few days will help set you up for future success. You’d be surprised by how much easier it is to manage three courses worth of reading if you start them when you’re supposed to…

Find Time for Yourself

That being said, don’t throw yourself into a new term without looking out for yourself. Whether it’s doing your nails before the first day of class or spending time with an old friend, finding ways to connect with yourself and others as a new term begins is a great way to maintain balance. (Other resources for managing stress can be found here!)

Kate (she/her) is a junior History  and Theater double major from the Bay Area, California. She loves Carleton’s artsy community, and is involved in the Vocal Studies Program and occasionally the Experimental Theater Board when her fight choreography skills are in high demand. Kate’s favorite places on campus are the practice rooms, either in Myers or the Weitz, where she can sing or play the ukulele. She loves the campus during all the seasons but thinks nothing could compare to the beautiful colors of Northfield in the fall. When not in class, you can find Kate either petting the nearest cat or forcing her friends to watch bad movies in a study room.