Sophomore Slump: Not Just For Sophomores

By Maddie Medina

I was starting to think sophomore slump wasn’t actually a thing until this Spring semester. In the slump, it feels like the darkest of times, and you really get into the funk of the “second year blues”. Keeping up with everyone else feels like a never-ending marathon or being forced to tread water in the middle of a very large body of water, like the Pacific Ocean. And all you really want is to be distracted, by anything or anyone, all the time. Social and academic lives are absolutely exhausting and you can’t seem to find the motivation to keep up with either. It’s gotten to the point where it’s become easier to hole up in your room for hours, days even, without any contact with the outside world. Not always to that extreme, but it’s good to realize that you are not alone and it’s pretty normal to feel this way. At least for now, but eventually you will have to take some sort of control of your life. So here you go:

Take risks.

The hardest part about the slump is not wanting to put effort into anything but knowing you have to in order to be seen as a functioning, ‘normal’ human being. So take risks. Don’t turn in an assignment. Don’t study. Skip all of your classes one day (or week). While this may sound counterproductive, if anything hitting rock bottom is the catalyst to leaving slump days behind you. Be reckless but safe. It’ll help put college life into perspective. And I say college life because this is a college website, but the slump happens to everyone everywhere, regardless of a college campus being the type of environment or not.

Clean.

I am the messiest person I have ever met, and the messiest for sure out of all of my friends. It’s never held me back, but this year I’ve actually been picking my clothes off the floor and throwing out the trash, and I have never felt such peace until now. Cleaning is therapeutic and mentally stimulating. Seeing a clean room somehow organizes the mind as well. It’s mental, but it works.

Begin using your calendar again.

Get out that planner you threw under your bed/desk/pile of clothes. Or use the Stickies app on your computer. Don’t be afraid to write down what you need to do because you think you won’t get any of it completed. It’s okay. Since when do most plans work out? Hardly ever. At least you’re trying. Give yourself credit for the attempt.

Be around people.

For studying, go to a coffee shop. They are ideal for eavesdropping or running into friends. And by studying in one, you’ve attempted homework and socializing. Also, attend school events. Dedicate some time in your week for an activity at your school. It’s healthy to get out of your routine once in a while and be active in your school community.

Reach out.

Talk to people. It may be tempting to sit in your room alone, but talking and meeting people helps. Make plans to meet someone for coffee or dinner, and actually try and follow through. Because study plans don’t work out, you should at least try to make it to a dinner every once in a while. Vent too. It may seem like you’re way behind everyone else in all aspects of living, but this is very untrue when you talk to people. And if you don’t want to leave the room, call a friend who lives far away, or a relative. I bet they miss you. The slump is rough but inevitable. Take the time to figure out your life in this too because reflection is just as important as action; and very important: remember that the sun is starting to peep out again-summer is practically here!

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