10 Signs You’re Partying Too Much in College
You are like many of your college peers, you want to experience all of college life, including the party scene. You want to meet new people and create new memories. Many times, this means you will engage in drinking alcohol. It may even mean participating in drug use.
In this article, we're looking at some of the common signs you may be partying too much in college.
Partying Too Much in College?
While this is not healthy behavior, it can be common on college campuses. According to reports, over half of college students drank alcohol in the last month, with many of those students participating in binge drinking.
You may be experiencing some negative effects of partying. These symptoms may be causing you to question whether you are partying too much in college. To answer this question, there are ten signs to look for. If you are experiencing any or all of these, then yes, you are partying too much.
1. Poor Sleep
Sleep is one of the most important factors in maintaining good academic performance in college. Research shows that a lack of sleep leads to college students having a harder time concentrating on their studies.
Your memory also suffers when you do not get adequate sleep.
2. Poor Grades
If you are partying too much, you may have noticed changes with your grades.
You have likely found it harder to complete assignments and keep your grades high. You are not the only one who has noticed this change. Your professors have seen this type of behavior change too many times and they have little sympathy for you.
You may find professors, family and friends are even commenting on a change in your attitude.
3. Poor Attitude
If your attitude has gone from upbeat and happy to defensive and sour, this may be because you are partying too much.
When you first get a buzz, you are happy. But after the buzz and into the hangover, attitude changes from positive to negative.
Your poor attitude is likely because you are tired and are experiencing the downside of alcohol and drugs.
Over time, your attitude can begin to affect your relationships.
4. Poor Relationships
If you are tired of hearing friends and family members complain about your attitude or accuse you of partying too much, then you are partying too much. When people you would normally trust and respect are making you feel defensive with the questions they ask, the problems are likely with you, not them.
If you notice yourself moving away from positive influences in your life and toward negative influences, you are partying too much. You are surrounding yourself with friends who will not help you when you need it, even when your physical health starts to suffer.
5. Poor Physical Health
Partying too much leads to many physical ailments. You will notice more headaches, likely caused by dehydration. Your muscles may cramp or spasm, you may gain or lose weight without trying, and you can experience digestion problems.
Long-term partying can lead to liver and kidney damage, as well as dependence on drugs or alcohol, which can lead to addiction and can affect your mental health.
6. Poor Mental Health
Your mental health is directly connected to how healthy your lifestyle is and the things you do to stay mentally fit. Drinking too much alcohol or using drugs are considered unhealthy activities that lead to different mental illnesses.
Some people party to self-medicate their mental health problems. They may not realize that alcohol and drugs only increase the problems associated with their mental health.
Others may not have a mental illness until they begin partying. That’s because alcohol and drugs lead to issues such as anxiety and depression. This can lead to a struggle when you try to control your partying.
7. Poor Ability to Control Your Partying
There may be times when you do not want to party, but then find yourself on the college party scene, getting drunk or high anyway. Even when you tell yourself and your friends you are going to quit partying for a while, yet each night you repeat the same negative behaviors.
You may be easily influenced by others who want to party. Or, you may have an addiction. At this point, you are not able to stop drinking or using drugs on your own, no matter what you try.
This will make it hard for you to succeed in college and in your job.
8. Poor Work Performance
Many college students work while attending classes. If you were once a stellar employee but now find you are arriving late, making up excuses to leave early, and treating customers like they are the enemy, this could be because you are partying too much.
Has your supervisor made comments about the changes he or she sees in your performance? How are your relationships with your co-workers? Answers to questions like this can give you great insight.
9. Poor Decision Making
You are smart. You wouldn’t have gotten into college if you weren’t. But you can be a smart person and make poor decisions if you are partying too much.
Poor decisions include skipping class or other responsibilities to party. Spending money on alcohol or drugs when you need it to pay for rent, food, gas or books is another example. You may even be allowing negative influences to make decisions for you.
10. Poor Influences
If the only people wanting to hang out with you are those who want to party all the time, this could be a sign you are partying too much.
Negative influences do not have your best interest at heart. They want you to skip school, get drunk or high at times when you have other responsibilities, and they want you to spend your money on them.
If you are suffering in any of these areas, and you think it may be because of your partying, it is time to reach out for help.
There are plenty of resources on campus to help you curb and even stop your partying so you can reap the positive rewards of college life.