Whether it’s being away from home, living with a new roommate or getting back into the swing of school, many students are adjusting to a variety of changes in their lives. While some may seem like they are taking the adjustment process in stride, others may find it more difficult.
No matter how it looks from the outside, adjustment is a process all students go through. Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) shares tips for supporting someone who may be struggling to adjust.
What do we need to know about adjustment?
Adjustment is the process of adapting to new environments and challenges. For students, it includes anything from learning to do laundry and feeling at home in a new place to acclimating to a new course schedule and academic expectations.
What can someone do to start adjusting?
Time is a key factor for students to adjust to a new situation or environment. Additionally, the time it takes to adjust to changes varies from person to person. People sometimes need a little bit of support, even if it looks like they are adjusting well.
Here are a few ways to help a student through the adjustment process:
- Having friends to talk to and finding a supportive community helps create a sense of belonging. There are many places for students to find groups and connect with people who have similar interests, including the Center for Student Involvement, Center for Inclusion and Social Change and the Rec Center.
- Help them go at their own pace. Validate their feelings if they are feeling apprehensive about going to a student group meeting or campus event, but help them stretch the boundaries of their comfort zone.
- Encourage them to develop a routine. Routines can create a sense of familiarity in a new situation. Students can start establishing some small routines by finding a favorite spot to relax in between classes or studying at the same time each afternoon.
- Encourage them to prioritize their health and wellness. Getting enough sleep (7–9 hours per night), eating balanced meals and staying active can all help when going through times of change.
If you notice a student exhibiting signs of distress, struggling academically or appearing withdrawn, sullen, upset or depressed, consider referring the student to Student Support & Case Management Services (SSCM), which supports students throughout their college career in order to achieve their academic and co-curricular goals.
Resources
As students work through the adjustment process, there are two workshops through CAPS that can help with establishing routines, starting out the semester strong and developing skills to succeed.
- Getting It Done: This is a free two-session workshop that supports students in overcoming low motivation and procrastination. Students can sign up by visiting CAPS in C4C N352 or calling 303-492-2277.
- Bounce Back Retention Program: This is a free 10-week program for students on or near academic alert, academic probation or academic recovery. Through Bounce Back, students develop time-management skills, learn how to cope with test anxiety and adopt effective study strategies in a supportive group setting. Students can sign up on the CAPS website.
Both workshops are free and confidential. Students do not need to be a CAPS client or complete CAPS paperwork to attend.
