As school starts back up for the fall semester and college students start migrating back toward their home away from home, I think it is important to reflect on what we should keep in mind for the next few months. If you are like me and went home for the summer, then it will probably take some adjusting when you go out on your own again, or even for the first time if you are an incoming freshman.

1. Constantly remind yourself of why you are here.

I know it can be easy to get caught up in hanging out with friends, going out to eat, or just living the “poor college student” life. It really does take up a lot of time and energy just to live your day to day life, let alone to keep up with class projects, clubs/organizations, and even the occasional job. Life is busy. But, you aren’t paying tuition just to learn how to live on your own. College may be about finding yourself and having fun while figuring out how to function without parents, but your priorities should revolve around class. Some professors are going to say “attendance is not required.” It’s a trap. Go to class. Do your work. Get the grades. You can do all of the celebrating you can handle (safely of course) once that is done. After all, college is a stepping stone, not a destination.

2. Be as active as possible.

If not for your resume, do it for your sanity. Clubs and organizations exist on campus for a specific reason; keep the students active in shaping the culture and give them a way to interact on a meaningful social level. You will be able to make friends without becoming involved, but you will not get the same powerful connection that you might expect. When you hang out with people just to have fun and laugh, you will get to know them and have good passing conversations with them, but it’s not the same. Whether it is Greek life, co-workers, club members, or a study partner, you will need someone that is there for more than just fun. The friends and connections you will make by being involved will push you and inspire you to put your best foot forward every single day. Not to mention you will have someone to help with bad days (and trust me, there will be bad days).

3. Keep moving.

This one just happens to be my favorite tip. After you have been sitting in lecture halls and libraries all day, it’s tempting to grab Taco Bell and head for a solid Netflix session. I’m here to say don’t do that. Instead, go to the fitness center, play intermural sports, find a friend with a dog and go for a walk, play Pokémon Go on the quad, just do something to activate your body and break up the routine of sitting. It seems like a no-brainer (of course I will work out and be healthy, it’s not that hard to go walking), but you may be surprised to find out what kind of dedication it takes to carve out 30 minutes of your day and devote it to your physical well-being. My biggest tip would be that on days where you just really don’t want to get out and do it, do it anyways. You will instantly feel better and find out that when you take care of yourself, you actually start to like doing it.

4. Eat the right kinds of food.

I know you’ve heard it before, but one more time: your parents aren’t going to be there to spoon feed you. This may take it a little more literal than usual, but it still rings true. Eating Doritos and Mountain Dew everyday will eventually take its toll on you. Skipping meals or overindulging every chance you get will throw your body and mind off balance. Instead, aim for a complete diet with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even a snack or two of real food. A good diet will promote a healthier, more productive life and help you stick to tip number one that I talked about earlier (not to mention the fact that it will help you see results from the paragraph above). As a general rule, I try to make two meals a day well balanced and lean choices, which leaves a decent amount of wiggle room for the rest of the day.

5. Don’t take the last two paragraphs too seriously.

Some of you may have started to think “man, this guy is all about rules and not doing stuff. Where’s the fun in that?” Well, this is where the fun kicks in. I realize that life can’t be all about a strict routine and sticking to all business. So, make room for cheat days, fun adventures, and waste a little time. Like I said before, college is meant to be an experience. If all you experience in the inside of a textbook and come out after four years with massive biceps and cut abs, you missed out. Fun doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, it makes all that work you do during the semester that much more bearable. You should find a way to express your creativity, and enjoy your hobbies with friends, or even learn something outside of the classroom. When you are 60, talking to your grandkids about college, do you really want to say “I hung out in my dorm room all the time and studied but never had fun”? Make memories. Create stories. Learn what it means to enjoy life.

There is no way that I could possibly predict what each and every one of you need to know for college. There is no perfect combination or balance that can be applied to every single student on campus. Ultimately it is up to you to decide what is important, what needs to be cut out, and what is just right. For a lot of you, this semester is the first time you really get to experience that. For others, you are seasoned veterans by now. We all have our challenges and we all have our ways of dealing with them. Just remember that no matter what you choose to do, what balance you find, or what goal you set, it is up to you, and you alone.