A Guide: How to Stay Sane at Syracuse
Graphic by Sarah Wong
As a college freshman, sometimes it’s hard to imagine how one can live, laugh, love while in these heinous college conditions. You wake up, contemplate going to the dining hall or spending what little money you have on food delivery, haul ass to classes, and fill your nights with homework or (more likely) procrastination. It can take a toll on anyone, and when adding homesickness into the equation, you’ve got all the traits of the average college freshman.
Classes are hard, but finding time for self care can be even harder. We at Jerk firmly believe that you should play just as hard as you work, so we’ve compiled a list of things to do on campus when you're feeling like the day has indeed not been a slay. Everything on this list is relatively accessible, so if you’re feeling down, give these a try!
Pages cafe
Pages Café can be a bit pricey, but it is hands down one of the best places on campus to grab breakfast. The lattés are divine, and the breakfast sandwiches can carry you through many hours of daily freshman antics and assignments. If you hate standing in the Dunkin’ line as much as we do, consider stopping by here instead.
Otto’s juice box
Barnes Center at the Arch is a great place to clear your head in general, but consider stopping there for a smoothie. They’re good enough to momentarily make you forget whatever illnesses you’re struggling with and, added bonus, it’s great for your physical health!
Take a Walk
This may sound so unoriginal and, frankly, disrespectful considering how much walking freshmen are forced to do already, but try going for a walk just to for the sake of walking. The fresh air can clear your head, and you never know who or what you might stumble upon. Take a break from trying not to cry in your dorm, and go touch some grass!
Eat
Whether you’re forgetting to eat, or binge eating to cope with the stress (so real, btw) it’s so important to find time in the day to actually consume something substantial. Also, sometimes it’s necessary to just curl up with your favorite snack and take a break. When you’re feeling sad, treat yourself.
Call home
Call home, call home, call home. It’s so important to maintain relationships with people who keep you grounded, and comforting to know that the people who love you, love you always with no strings attached. Everybody misses their high school friends, their pets, and their beds. So visit home the only way most freshmen can: call!
Watch your Comfort Show
We firmly believe that escaping reality is a healthy coping mechanism. Open Netflix or Hulu, and binge Gilmore Girls, Keeping up with the Kardashians, New Girl, Criminal Minds, and/or whatever else you’re into.
These are just a handful of things that can make freshman year just a little bit better. Take care of yourselves, and remember that even on our worst days in the trenches, we can still make the best of our college experiences.