Dorm blues get everyone down. The semester is quickly coming to a close, and your once cozy, exciting new abode is starting to feel like it’s closing in on you. At least, that’s how it feels for me.
Living in a dorm for three years makes it all the more difficult to enjoy dorm life, especially when the only person I know on my floor is my roommate (all my other friends live in on-campus apartments. So not fair.) Still, there are things you can do to keep yourself from going stir-crazy.
· Visit a friend. Practically all of my friends live in on-campus apartments. I try to go over to a friend’s whenever I start to feel a little suffocated. Even if you don’t know anyone in an apartment, text a friend who lives on a different floor, even in a different room to get a change of scenery.
· Do your homework in the library. Sometimes working in your room around your roommate, the TV, Facebook… it can all be a little distracting and add to your frustration. Go to the library to focus on your work. You’ll probably get more done and feel less tense than trying to work around dorm room distractions.
· Eat in the cafeteria. Grab some friends and instead of getting food to go and eating in bed, eat in the cafeteria. I remember eating alone several times freshman year when my roommate wasn’t around. Text your other friends and get dinner with them. You’ll feel better being surrounded by a ton of people instead of sitting by yourself in your room.
· Spend some time outside. Whether it’s homework, tanning, hanging out, or just relaxing by yourself, nothing is better for the soul than some fresh air. Plus, now’s the time to enjoy the last few beautiful days of fall!
· Do things without your roommate. It doesn’t matter if the two of you are the best of friends; you are not going to get along if you spend too much time together. If you feel that things are getting tense between the two of you, do an activity with another friend. You’ll feel better about being in your room if things are going smoothly with your living buddy.
· Exercise. No matter what is frustrating me, I can shake the tension by going for a run. Whether it’s in the gym or in the great outdoors, exercise is good for the body and mind. It’ll help relieve all kinds of stress, roommate and schoolwork related.
· Have a sleepover! Tossing and turning at night? Stay in a friend’s room for the evening. Freshman year, my friend Julia’s roommate was visiting home and she didn’t want to be alone for the night. So I traveled to her dorm and slept in the spare bed. It was a nice change of scenery and a fun adventure for the night.
How do you escape when you need some time away from dorm life? How else can you cope with living in such a small space?
Great tips! I'm really sad about the upcoming winter season...it was always FREEZING in the dorms!
ReplyDeleteAll great tips at a great time! I'm a believe in seasonal depression-- when you're inside with nothing to do, it's dark, it's cold, who wouldn't get the blues.
ReplyDeleteMy friend was having some rough times with her dad not being well, and she would come crash on my house's couch so she didn't have to be alone. I think it really helped!
These are all great tips! I especially agree with the studying in the library. I always feel more studious when I'm there, and then when I do go back to my room it's more relaxing. Of course, spending too much time in the room is never good. It's definitely different from living at home, where you can be in different rooms doing different things, and talking to your family members, and even going outside. A dorm room is a really cramped space,and can feel even more so for freshman, so its a good idea to get out sometimes! :)
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