LIFE

Your college apps are *finally* done—congrats! But...now what?

Besides breathing a huge sigh of relief and patting yourself on the back, it's time to focus on anything but stressing about looming decisions and refreshing those portals ten times a day. Here are five ways to keep your mind from spiraling about "What's next?" and zero in on the "what now?" 

Catch up with your crew

Now's the time to line up all of those evening walks, coffee dates and sleepovers you passed on when you were in application mode.

Remember, you only have a few more months left in high school, so make the most of it by planning fun and out-of-the-box activities to connect with your crew. Hosting a scrapbooking night or a vision board party? Going on a friend date? There are plenty of ways to make the most of all of your minutes together. 

Set a daily goal (but make it fun)

Your brain's been busy with writing essays, collecting letters of rec and all of the other boxes you've had to check for those apps. Now that you've got them done, find a light-and-easy daily goal to go after. Think: Starting a Wordle streak or a group challenge with your sibs, reading 50 pages of that book that's been on your TBR list for forever or walking 12,000 steps. By focusing on a healthy (and fun) goal that you can chip away at personal goals between now and decision day will keep you occupied and distracted in a healthy and happy way. 

@eleonoraue

Try journaling and meditation

When the fate of your future is out of your hands (okay, we admit that's a little dramatic), it's easy to get caught up in a swirl of anxiety. Channel that nervous energy into a mindful activity that will let you process (and, hopefully, let go of) those fear-driven thoughts. Learn how to journal like a pro or try some simple-but-effective meditation practices to stay centered and identify some of your concerns in a healthy way. More of an active girly? Yoga is another proven way to help reduce anxiety. Namaste. 

Curate a college wishlist

No matter where you wind up, you'll likely be living in a new space. So start scheming about the dorm room of your dreams, bb! Pop onto Pinterest to browse decor aesthetics that speak to you and start pinning now so when the time comes to put those plans into action, you'll be ready. And it's not too early to pull together a wishlist of items you'll need for college: Create one on Amazon or on an app like Gowish.com, which you can eventually share with family and friends. Did someone say "graduation prezzie"? 

@niasioux

Limit your social media

Starting very soon, your feeds may be filled with friends (and IG friends) showing off their college pick. Give 'em a heart, comment a congrats...and then log off. Slipping into a rabbit hole of random people's posts while you're waiting to make your own will just cause unnecessary stress, so avoid it all together by limiting your screen time.

Remember: Your time will come! So stay patient and positive and believe it'll all work out. Because spoiler alert: It will.  

Share your best college app tips with us on socials @girlslifemag! 

Want some more college content? Check out these posts next: 
📚 What to do when college admissions don't go your way!
📚 How to rock your college interview: Advice from real girls
📚 What I learned about the transition from high school to college.

by Kindle Hoey | 12/24/2024