Preparing for your first day of class? Here’s what you need to do
This post is all about the first day of class in college.
Whether you’re a freshman or are well into your college career, the first day of class in college at the beginning of every semester is always at least a little nerve-wracking.
People talk about putting lots of thought into what they’re going to wear to school, but what about the other stuff?
You need to be prepared academically, mentally, emotionally, and with all the college essentials you’ll need for the year. And yes… figuring out what to wear is important, too ?
The very fact that you’re on this post is evidence of your desire to be as prepared as possible. I applaud you for that!
So, let’s talk about the most important things you need to do before the first day of class.
This post is all about the first day of class in college.
WHAT TO DO THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS:
1. Plan your breakfast
This might sound like extra work, but I promise it takes 1 minute and will make your life so much easier.
Planning your breakfast ahead of time minimizes the amount of decisions you have to make in the morning when you’re still groggy and disoriented from sleeping (can you tell I’m not a morning person?).
You don’t even need to physically set anything aside or prepare anything. Even if you just check your fridge to see what you have and then make a mental note of what you’re going to eat, this will set you up for success.
How?
You’ll be able to allocate an accurate amount of time in your morning schedule to make and eat breakfast, which is always better than rushing out the door in the morning with a granola bar – or worse, nothing!!
RELATED POST – Tips on Meal Prep (+ 3 Cheap Breakfast Ideas for Students)
2. Pack your backpack
You don’t want to forget anything important… that would NOT make for a good first day of college experience.
If your professor has sent you a list of materials you need, gather those supplies, check your list a couple times and ensure that you have everything you need.
HOWEVER…
I’ve heard this advice time and time again from students (myself included): don’t buy your textbooks until AFTER the first day of class.
This might sound insane, but here’s why:
I can’t tell you how many textbooks I’ve bought because they were on the syllabus that I didn’t actually end up needing. Unless you know with complete certainty that you need a certain textbook, don’t buy it until you know for sure.
Aside from that, here are some basic staple items you might want to bring to all your classes include:
- Planner
- Notebook
- Binder
- Laptop
- Phone
- Pens and pencils
- Glasses or other personal items you need
- Snacks (if you have multiple classes in one day)
- Headphones
For a complete list of everything you need to bring to college, checkout this post that outlines the ultimate college packing list!
3. Try on all your outfit choices (and narrow it down to one)
Trying to figure out what to wear the day of never goes well. If you’re like me and you like planning your first day of class outfit ahead of time, try on all your options the night before your first day of class. Then, narrow it down to one, lay out all the clothes you need, and close that closet door so you’re not tempted to change your mind!
If you want, you can even take this a step further by laying out any jewellery you want to wear as well. That way, all you have to worry about in the morning is washing your face and putting on some makeup.
Honestly, I know this sounds like such a small thing. But I feel like every time I try to pick out my outfit in the morning when I’m still half-asleep, I end up wishing I wore something else halfway through the day ? so just do it when you’re better prepared to make a decision you’ll love.
4. Wake up early
As a natural night owl, I’ll admit that I don’t LOVE waking up extra early. But on the first day of class, waking up early is THE BEST. Who wouldn’t love kicking off the semester with a stress-free morning?!
If you’re wondering what to do on the first day of class and you don’t want to follow any of these other tips, at least do this one. It will make all the difference!
[RELATED – How to Wake Up On Time For Your Morning Class]
5. Set aside morning time for yourself (even 10 minutes is great)
Once again, not a morning person, so I totally hear if you don’t want to spend an hour or even 30 minutes on yourself in the morning. Some of us would rather sleep!
But on the first day of class, setting aside time for yourself is critical. It allows you to go into the semester with a clear and excited mind.
Here are some ways you can dedicate time to yourself that will make you feel great:
Journal.
- Write down at least 3 things you’re thankful for, 3 things you’re looking forward to about the semester, 3 things you’re nervous about. Journal out your unfiltered thoughts and feelings.
Set goals (or review the goals you’ve already set).
Set some goals for the semester. To learn the best way to do this (along with a free goal setting template), check out my post on how to set good goals in college!
- What do you want to accomplish as an academic goal? Maybe that means deciding what GPA you want to strive for.
- What money goals do you want to accomplish in the finance department? Maybe it means staying out of credit card debt. Maybe it means saving a certain amount of money by the end of the semester.
- What do you want to accomplish as a career goal? It could be that you want to create a more specific plan for your career path after college. Perhaps you just want to add a certain amount of people to your LinkedIn network. Or maybe there’s a professor you really look up to that you want to chat with. It can be something as simple as that!
- Are there spiritual goals you want to set for yourself? Perhaps you want to learn the habit of praying every day. Maybe you want to find a spiritual mentor. Or perhaps you already have a mentor but it would be a good idea to commit to spending time with them once a month. Maybe you want to get into the habit of taking every Sunday as a day of rest, or journaling your thoughts every morning.
- Finally, what personal wellness goals do you want to set for yourself? Maybe you want to eat healthier or stay on top of your workouts throughout the semester. Perhaps you simply want to read more books. Maybe you want to wake up earlier every morning or take some alone time for yourself every night.
Practice a spiritual discipline.
- As a Christian, starting my day off by spending time with God is one of the best ways to start my day off on the right foot and to ensure I’m prepared to handle whatever comes at me throughout the day. Doing this at the beginning of a new semester will especially help you let go of everything you’re worried about and start with the right mindset!
[RELATED – College Student Self Care Ideas: 21 Ideas for Students]
6. Look through every syllabus
Having an idea of what due dates and course content are coming your way in the nearby future will really help you mentally prepare.
You don’t necessarily even need to put due dates in your planner yet if you don’t want to (although I love doing that before starting a new semester). Just look through every syllabus so that you’re familiar with what’s going to be happening in the class.
7. Pick your morning media
If you’re the type of person who loves listening to music, a podcast, or an audiobook in the morning, think about what you want to listen to when you wake up to put yourself in the best mood!
I love having some form of morning media to wake up my mind and get me going. Usually, for me, this takes the form of a podcast or an audio book.
My favorites?
I love starting my day with a Christian podcast or a practical audiobook that offers tips on finances, business, self-improvement, psychology, or other topics that make me feel productive right away.
8. Plan your path
Hopefully, you’ve had the chance to explore campus and find your classes. But if you haven’t, it’s a great idea to at least plan your path and figure out how you’re going to get yourself to class and how long it will take.
This is so simple and only takes a couple minutes, but will make you feel so much more prepared because the worst thing ever is wandering around the halls lost while in a rush not to be late!
Which of these tips are you going to use on the night before your first day of college?
This post was all about the first day of class in college.
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