Fully recognize where you are. It may be obvious "The Colony" is not home, but you must internalize this and understand what it means. Mentally separate life in "The Colony" from life at home. Spending time and energy wishing for things from home, such as amenities and friends, does not benefit the "survival" of yourself or your fellow colonists and must be kept to a minimum. Instead of focusing on what you no longer have, reset your worldview by focusing on what you do have and what you can add to that list. Use your former life as a tool to help in situations when it can be useful, but do not let it rule you.
Do work. Everyone in "The Colony" is expected to do their fair share, different from person to person depending on physical make-up and skills. Complaining, doing less than your share, or simply not-working will lessen your likelihood of "surviving" to the end of the experiment. It also will lessen the quality of the experience and anger your fellow colonists. Be clear to the others about your abilities and skills, both what you can and cannot do well, but also be willing to try at tasks with which you are not immediately comfortable.
Focus on the essentials. Each person should spend at least two hours each day focusing on strengthening and expanding the essential resources of "The Colony" before moving on to other projects. Food, water, and security must always be the top priority, even over escape and certainly over leisure or amenities. Develop a strict schedule for daily activities, making sure to include an appropriate amount of rest time, and lookout shifts at night. Stick to these schedules.
Deal with conflict reasonably and quickly. In the two seasons of "The Colony" airing as of 2011, the primary problem the colonists face is dealing with interpersonal conflicts. On a personal level, you can help this problem by leaving your ego out of your life in "The Colony" as much as possible. Since everyone in "The Colony" is in the same boat, your past accomplishments have little bearing on the situation, and feelings of entitlement or thinking something is beneath you will serve only to hinder your "survival" efforts. On a group level, while a leader is often a necessity, it is a good idea to have a rotating leadership system. Also, you should encourage nightly meetings to discuss any grievances. These will help resolve conflicts, soothe egos and encourage progress in "The Colony."
Know the landscape and use it. Go on scouting missions to understand the lay of the land and its contents. Many potential benefits and dangers exist in the landscape around "The Colony," and it will be of great help to know them thoroughly. However, never travel alone.