6 Ways to Start the School Year

School is right around the corner for many of us (sigh) and getting into back-to-school mode can be quite a challenge. Nobody wants to think about going back to school, especially when it’s coming up so fast, but ignoring it will only make the transition more difficult in the long run. Here are 6 ways to get focused, ready, and excited for school while making the transition between summer and the school year a bit easier! 1. Get Organized The best way to start out year is prepared. It will not only make your life easier, but also help you efficiently complete assignments and stay on task. My favorite way to stay organized is keeping a planner! I write down all my homework assignments, tests, and activities in order to stay on top of everything. I also utilize my calendar app on my phone. It is a great reminder for activities and events that normally don’t make their way into my school planner. Photo by  markslauren 2. Shopping! Shopping for office supplies is my personal guilty pleasure. There is something so satisfying about a clean notebook and new highlighters. Plus, with the amount of style and color choices, you can customize your supplies to reflect you! Same goes for clothing! Who doesn’t love a new pair of shoes to walk in to class on the first day? 3. Reconnect Message old friends that you didn’t see during the summer! During the summer months, it’s easy to forget some people you spent your school year with, but it’s never too late to rekindle old friendships. A new school year doesn’t always have to mean new friendships. It’s important to work at keeping relationships you’ve already started as well as establishing new ones. 4. Get ready the night before This means picking out your outfit and packing your school bag the night before you will need them. This ensures you won’t forget anything and you will be ready to leave as soon as you get go through your morning routine and get dressed. It sounds like a broken record, but it really works! 5. Exercise Whether it’s joining a sports team at school, putting in extra hours during conditioning, or just going for a morning walk, moving will not only give you more energy but help you focus in class. It will also help keep stress levels low and is good way to detox from the pressures of school! The more you do it, the less it will seem like a chore. 6. Get to know your teachers Establishing a good relationship with all of your teachers will only help you in the long run. Teachers make great references for jobs and colleges! When you need a letter of recommendation, you will have a handful of teachers to choose from (if you establish good relationship with all of them). Also, your relationship with a teacher can affect your grade in a class. If you are right on the cusp of a certain grade, your relationship with a teacher can make or break that B+ into an A-. Photo by  cliparts.co