In college, the end of the school year comes on like a hurricane. Students are caught up in a whirlwind, with long days of final exams and papers and even longer nights studying (and yes, probably a party or two). And if that’s not enough, they also have to move out of their dorm or apartment for the summer on top of it all. That can lead to fatigue, stress, and worry in a population already coping with mental health challenges.

The journal Depression and Anxiety published a study that surveyed more than 67,000 U.S. college students. Three out of four said they struggled with one or more stressful life events in the previous year; one in four received a mental health disorder diagnosis or treatment in that same time period.

Students grapple with a wide range of issues, from bullying to homesickness to financial problems, during the school year. But the end of the year can also bring particular stressors. Some students may feel pressure to perform at a summer internship, while first-year students could worry about what it will be like to return home after a year of freedom away at school. Still others may be anxiously trying to find an apartment for the summer or the next school year so they don’t fall into a housing gap.

This uncertainty creates a significant mental load at a time when students are already stressed about wrapping up their current coursework. And moving out can have an intense effect on a person’s well-being: It’s one of the top five most stressful life events, according to University Hospitals of Ohio. Leaving the familiar for the unknown, even if it’s just for a summer, can take a toll. 

The sheer logistics involved in moving from a dorm or off-campus apartment can add further stress, especially for young adults who may be taking on personal responsibilities for the first time that were usually handled by their parents. Figuring out when to move, what to do with their belongings, how to arrange transportation and pick up moving supplies can be exhausting, and even more so when students are trying to make these decisions while finishing their calculus exams or English essays. This decision fatigue can also be compounded if there is a lot of clutter to manage, a student tends to be disorganized, or if they have to choose which items to get rid of that won’t fit in their new apartment.

Time and money can also trigger anxiety, especially if there aren’t enough of both. Students may need to calculate the costs of renting a van or storage space, or they need to move on a tight timeline. It’s overwhelming, emotionally and mentally. So a successful transition requires students to take care of both the move-out logistics and their mental health. 

A good starting point is determining the move-out date from the student’s current housing and planning the schedule backward from there. (Note: Some campus dorms may even have a set move-out time, like checking out of a hotel room.) Creating a to-do list, and then working on it for a certain amount of time each day in the run-up to moving day, can make larger tasks more manageable. Plus, the satisfaction of completing tasks will give students a sense of forward momentum that can help ease stress.

Students who are leaving campus for the summer will also need to store their belongings until the fall. This should be at the top of the to-do list, before space fills up at units near campus. Because many students have relatively few possessions from living in a dorm room, they should look for a storage solution, such as Storage King USA, with options tailored for college life (as well as discounted student rates). Putting furniture and clothing in storage helps keep things organized, and eliminates the stress of moving belongings back and forth from campus to home and then back again in the fall. That ease and convenience also bring peace of mind.

Other tasks that can be added to the list: arranging transportation; selling or donating items; gathering moving supplies; and cleaning the dorm room before final inspection. (Here’s a tip sheet that can help students plan their move.) As students tackle the logistics, they should also carve out time for self-care. Sleeping and eating well, exercising, and taking breaks for meditation or grabbing lunch with friends are all great mood boosters that can alleviate feelings of anxiety about the end-of-school-year changes and challenges. 

By minimising decision fatigue and mental overload while maximising organisation and resilience, students can create stability during this transition, so they can enjoy the summer ahead.

Adam Mulligan, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.