Sophomore year is an often unspoken, transitory period in your college life. After an exciting and honeymoon-like freshman year, you’re now much more settled into the familiar routines. You’re not a naive first-year anymore but rather someone who should be accomplishing their goals and knowing exactly what they’re doing, right?
Well, that’s exactly how the infamous “sophomore slump” hits you. Your responsibilities pile up, expectations feel heavier and motivation tanks. You have too much to do and too little time and energy to do it. While the slump looks different for everyone, I was hit hard last semester. I was burnt out, constantly being pulled in 10 different directions. Even when I had work to do, I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed. College life just didn’t have that same excitement and simplicity to it anymore.
This semester, though, I’m taking measures to ward off the slump and turn this year around. If you’re trying to recover too, or want to just prepare for the worst, here is some advice that can help you overcome the slump in one way or another.
Academics
If it hadn’t already set in for you freshman year, you’re definitely entering the academic trenches now. With many of your general education requirements out the way, you’re now faced with major-specific and upper division requirements, which can get overwhelming and exhausting.
You’ve probably heard of the conventional advice to “manage your time better” and “utilize your resources,” but without systems in place, it can be hard to stay consistent. This semester, instead of going home right after my classes just to end up rotting in bed, I’m forcing myself to stay on campus all day. During my breaks, I’m holed up in the library, which forces me to be at least somewhat productive. And by the time I get home, I can doomscroll all I want without feeling guilty.
You’ll have to experiment a bit to see what works for you, but my ultimate tip is to add more to your days rather than simply removing distractions. Deleting TikTok, for example, takes away one distraction, but you can easily get distracted by other apps. What works for me is purposely picking up night shifts so I have no choice but to focus on finishing my assignments before work, rather than procrastinating until right before midnight.
Sophomore year is also often the time you start thinking harder about your future career, which can be both a good and bad thing. I’m not ashamed to admit that I had almost daily freak-outs about my future and made six different spreadsheets of possible major combinations. Instead, I recommend you consult with advisers and embrace different possibilities.
Social life
Before, the dorms granted us a built-in community and accessible social circles. Now, with most of us moving off campus, you have to put extra effort into finding friends, not to mention maintaining them.
Even if you’re someone who doesn’t mind the lone-wolf lifestyle, simply conversing with people from time to time can greatly benefit your mental well-being and mitigate your stress levels. For many of my peers, including myself, this sudden dip in socialization contributed quite a bit to the “slump” feeling. Loneliness is a beast, especially when you’re fighting your newfound challenges alone.
While it can be scary to initiate, chances are others are looking to make friends too! So make connections — and I’m not talking about LinkedIn. Join clubs and social groups. Reach out to people and plan hangouts. Just having an open ear to rant to from time to time can do wonders for your mood and energy.
Health
For those now without a meal plan to rely on, you’re faced with the task of buying groceries and making food for yourself — which is pretty much as fun as it sounds. While it can be tempting to fall into the “broke college kid” stereotype and eat instant noodles everyday, your diet is huge for not only maintaining your health, but giving you the energy you need to get through the day.
Last semester, surviving off microwavable meals backfired very quickly. It wasn’t until I fed myself properly that my motivation and mood increased dramatically, and I stopped feeling sluggish and dizzy all day. Now, I try to eat a huge lunch to stay satiated through my classes and ward off distracting hunger later on.
Getting enough sleep is important too, though that is easier said than done. You might not be able to avoid the occasional all-nighter, but even an extra hour or two of rest can make a huge difference in how you function during the day. Plus, you’ll actually wake up on time for your 8 a.m. lecture!
Extracurriculars
The sophomores I know usually fall into two categories when it comes to extracurriculars: They either got involved in nothing freshman year and are now trying to catch up, or they joined way too many things and their Google Calendar now looks like a game of Tetris. Either way, this turns into a point of stress for many.
Regardless of which group you fall into, definitely pay close attention to what you align with and what is worth keeping in your schedule. I fell into the latter group and bit off more than I could chew, so I had to reassess my commitments. Experiment, but don’t be afraid to let go of things you can’t see yourself committing to in the long run. Trust me, you’re still doing enough.
Also, don’t make the mistake of seeing everything as a resume booster. Forcing yourself into things you don’t really have the passion for does much more harm than good, and you’ll end up dreading your schedule. Being involved in things that fit who you are will make your time feel more fulfilling and less like you’re going through the motions.
The sophomore slump can be rough, but don’t let it ruin your year. Just remember to take care of yourself and remember that it’s not a sign of personal failure. Despite what you may believe, you don’t have to have everything figured out right now. Take it one step at a time, and things will start looking better for junior year.