big sister blog

fomo is a college student’s worst nightmare, especially when you’re attending one of the top party schools in the country. it results in a dreadful amount of going out when you feel your body deteriorating and just want to stay in bed and watch tv. i was never the person who operated like a machine and could rally 24/7, but i knew many people like that and was always amazed by how they did it. it’s truly a gift. 

but, as you get older, you realize that it is not necessary to go out every day of the week and actually start appreciating nights in. my favorite nights of my years as an upperclassmen definitely included staying in with my roommates and watching movies with a glass of wine. there’s just something about being in the comfort of my own home with my favorite people that makes me feel more content than any night out ever made me feel. 

the act of getting ready for nights out becomes exhausting and repetitive, especially when most nights end up being a flop. one of the hardest things for me was coming back after an hour and having to wipe off my whole face of makeup that i worked so hard on a few hours earlier. it’s a waste, which is why if you aren’t feeling up to it, simply don’t go. 

that’s easier said than done, but you will have an unlimited amount of opportunities to have your fun while in school. here are some ways to combat fomo and prioritize yourself during the times you feel most conflicted about going out. 

be proactive about what you’re going to do for the night:

whether that’s watching a movie you’ve been wanting to see, catching up on sleep, making or ordering a yummy dinner, or getting a head start on homework, you should always have a game plan to keep you busy that night. there’s nothing worse than staying home and succumbing to checking your phone every second to see what everyone’s doing. therefore, you must do everything you can to keep yourself busy and stay off your phone for the few hours everyone is out. 

do the whole self-care shabang:
i find it so helpful to have lengthy self-care nights every time i stay in. not only is it relaxing, but it keeps my mind off of fomo. knowing you have no responsibilities to focus on that night or the next day provides you with a different peace of mind, rather than doing your typical routine every night before class or an event. this is when i will do an “everything shower,” journal in-depth, do my laundry, wash my sheets, and clean my apartment. there’s nothing better than getting into a bed with warm sheets right after showering. this alone is what makes me excited to stay in. 

get ahead on homework:
on the nights i don’t have anything to watch, i will focus on completing any homework that i know is due soon. it’s a prime time to focus, as you’re often completely alone and have no distractions or other things to prioritize. i find that my work ethic is the highest during these times and it pays off, freeing up lots of valuable space for me to do other things and have more “me time” during the week. 

have a late night gym sesh:

i personally love going to the gym late at night. i’m not sure if that’s a good thing, but there’s something about an empty gym that is so soothing and motivates me to do more than usual. just make sure to not forget your headphones, otherwise, it’d be a little creepy. i’ll even take time beforehand to make new playlists and find new music, which helps with keeping busy and finding things to do that don’t involve stalking snapchat stories all night. 

research job opportunities:

i know this is probably what you don’t want to do, but one of the best things i’ve done is getting internships throughout my college experience, starting the summer of my sophomore year. if you’re a communications major or anything similar, this is especially important, so i definitely encourage you to find and apply to as many internships as you can, as early as you can. this is the perfect time for that! 

a little hack is to apply for college ambassadorship programs, which acknowledge that you are a student and therefore don’t require too much time to be spent. programs such as the one for hbo max one even pay you, which is a major plus. this looks great on resumes, no matter what your major is, and if you’re working with a brand you’re interested in, that’s even better. 

if working during school is not your thing, simply looking for little gigs to make some extra cash over the summer is another option. after all, any experience is good experience. i’ll find myself doing this for hours on end without even realizing it. it’s dreadful, but a good and efficient way of keeping yourself busy! 

find a hobby: 

this is also easier said than done, but finding hobbies that don’t include going out and doing homework is very important in college. especially ones that relate to your major/intended profession. doing research on this or finding inspo on social media (try to be focused on this and not get distracted) can be very beneficial. it’s also okay to start with baby steps and work towards bigger hobbies!