As we enter another season where a fresh crop of school pass-outs take their first steps into the wondrous world of higher education, their backpacks carry excitement and trepidation in equal measure. Their eyes shine with the prospects of finally making their own decisions and exploring the ‘real world’—where they can shed their boring uniforms, step outside of their fixed school routine, and often live independently if away from home. You couldn’t wait to be independent—until you are! Decision fatigue is a real thing. Add to that the accountability for your own decisions—and now we’re talking! Here is a ready reckoner of simple, sustainable advice rooted in principles of psychology and wellbeing to make this new journey a smoother one. In a world full of labubus, please continue to exercise your social muscle. Make the effort to engage in real, meaningful connections while nurturing the old. Social media friends and chatbots cannot substitute the warmth of shared laughter, life lessons from seniors at the college canteen, and bonding over shared tastes in music and movies. As you will find, the friendships you forged at school and in your neighbourhood as children are deep and authentic. As you meander through new roads, classes and mess food, there’s comfort in connecting with old buddies. These relationships also offer an excellent cushion in the face of the loneliness and uncertainty of young adulthood. Hold on tightly to your emotional intelligence as you navigate a world dominated by artificial intelligence. Rely on ChatGPT for your essay if you must, but please hold space for peers and friends to get a healthy dose of emotional drama, humour and empathy to keep alive the imperfectly perfect sense of human connection. If you have been saddled with a stereotype at the school you attended, this is your opportunity to reinvent your persona! Just because you didn’t excel at something all these years, there is no reason you cannot make a start now. This is a brilliant opportunity to shed the metaphorical old skin and emerge from your cocoon to bloom into a butterfly. If you have been the class topper all along, brace yourself for what might be the new rules of the game. You may need to rework your place in a new system, and if your position on the leaderboard gets shuffled, please learn to take it in your stride. If you find yourself ‘not making the cut’ on a team, scholarship list or what have you—rejoice! It means your playing field just got bigger. As they say, if you are the smartest person in the room, maybe it’s time to change your room. As you chase targets, deadlines and competitive positions, know that each achievement is relative. There will always be others doing better or worse. While working hard to meet the requirements of your chosen course (and the job market), it is worthwhile to invest some energy in finding a sense of purpose, a cause that speaks to you, an initiative that generates impact beyond yourself, and an activity that sparks joy. These will help you feel a sense of motivation and achievement even on days that are otherwise uninspiring or dismal. Bonus, you do not need to ‘win’ at this pursuit, but you win at life nevertheless. Next, some age-old advice, supported by grandma’s wisdom as well as modern science. As you invest in your personal style and OOTDs (outfit of the day, for the uninitiated), please don’t leave behind your nutrition and rest for the day. In the face of convenient food options (and many complaints from those in hostels), the balanced, wholesome nutrition of homemade food is quick to get depleted. As is sleep. Remember the days when punishment meant ‘go to your room and take a nap’? That suddenly becomes a luxury. Your own body is the most precious real estate you will ever own! Adequate nutrition and sleep hygiene will hold you in good stead through your college years and beyond. Remember to recharge yourself as often as you recharge your gadgets. Find your own ‘power banks’ if you must. They often appear in the form of quality time with friends and family, hobbies, rest, exercise, time close to nature, and some ‘me time’ to connect with yourself. Wherever you are, take a moment to feel the sunshine, catch a few raindrops, and walk barefoot on the grass if you can. Nature connectedness offers a host of physiological and psychological benefits. And finally, as you find your feet in a new space amidst new challenges, look beyond yourself. Try to cultivate the habit of giving back to the community. Whether you choose to mentor peers on a skill you can share, volunteer your time at a community space, or join a cause, society or club for the greater good, you will discover the joy of giving. Prosocial acts are a great way to get a rush of happy hormones (and gain some popularity points along the way). Be well, young friends, as you hustle to do well. Pulkit Khanna is a professor of Psychology and Dean at the Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, O.P. Jindal Global University. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.