10 Things to Do Before School Starts
Get your sleep schedule back on track
The easiest way to do this is gradually, by waking yourself up earlier and earlier each day until you’re back at where you need to be. If you’re finding it difficult to go to bed at a reasonable time so you get enough sleep, try exercising during the day so you sleep better, or take an all-natural melatonin supplement just before you go to bed. Be self-disciplined with when you wake up, especially if you have a bad night’s sleep, as it will be easier for you to fall asleep at the right time if you don’t oversleep in the morning
Figure out what your goals are for the year and how you will achieve them
This isn’t necessary per se, but I always find it useful to set a couple of goals for the academic year. Obviously, there is one academic goal (what kinds of grades are you aiming for/where do you want to end up?), but remember to think about how you want to develop as a person, and which skills and personality traits you think should be worked on over the year. Figuring out how you will achieve this is more difficult, but even if it’s through practising a daily habit for ten minutes or being self-aware when it comes to a certain aspect of your personality, there are always ways to grow academically and emotionally as a person
Organise your supplies and buy what you need
I really like bulk-buying for the school year, mostly because I know what my go-tos are, and if I can buy 100 pens for £16 (16p per pen), then I sure as hell will because firstly it saves money and secondly I don’t have to worry so much about running out of pens if I have 100 of them (same goes for notebooks, snacks, etc.). The best way to figure out what you need is to think about what kinds of activities/studying you will be doing, and what kind of stuff is absolutely essential for you to be able to study efficiently. I like having notebooks, refill pads, black biros, and coloured felt tip markers at the very least (as well as other essentials like pencils and rulers), and after than I can build up what I like, but it’s imperative to have your essentials down before the school year starts. (Also I’m gonna be doing some stuff on here next week to do with this, so watch this space)
Get your dates and timetable together as much as you can
Often, you’re not going to know your exact timetable until you get there. However, your school may provide you with dates and events, even if this is just term time, that will help you get your life together a little more if you know when these are and can start thinking about what you can do with your time. Even if you don’t know the exact timings, but know how many hours a day/week you spend doing certain things, for example, you can at least plan what kind of spare time you might have and how you might be able to spend it. The more you organise yourself before the year starts, the more put-together you’re going to feel during the year itself.
Start new habits now
If you’ve promised yourself that you’re going to drink more water when you’re studying, or that you’re going to get up early or make your bed every morning, then it’s easier to start doing those things as soon as possible rather than making an excuse and putting it off until later to start, even if those habits are going to be primarily associated with the academic year. There’s no real reason you should wait until you start building yourself towards who you want to be.
Plan outfits
If you’re in a situation where you need to plan outfits, then start thinking about it now, especially if you’re heading off to live away from home and study, and you have limited space to transport clothes. Start with the essentials, and build a coordinated wardrobe that is functional and suits your own style. If you plan whilst you’re buying the actual outifts, you can build up a colour-coordinated wardrobe which means that you can throw almost anything together when you’re in a rush and it will still look like you have it all under control. As someone who’s been through a very long wardrobe-based trial and error process with living away from home and studying, just trust me on this one.
Plan meals
Again, if you’re in a situation where this applies to you, start thinking about it now. To study effectively, you need to think about your nutrition, and thus which staple foods you need to rely on. The more thought you give this, the easier it will be when you go food shopping and when you make the meals themselves.
Figure out the locations of things if you’re starting somewhere new
Of course, sometimes this isn’t a possibility until you get there simply as a result of the setup, but if it is at all possible, even using google maps, figure out where things are on campus, as there’s nothing worse than starting the year off on a bad note by showing up late for lectures/seminars/supervisions. Obviously, it will still take some time to get your bearings when you arrive, but at least having a vague idea of which direction you are heading in (and how long it will take) is a massive help.
Find out if you already know anyone in your courses
In the internet age, it’s easier to connect with people and figure out if you already know someone taking the course, or if you can link up with someone before. Not only does this help because you aren’t going into the unknown completely alone, but also if you miss any classes, you already have someone who can help you and give you the materials you need to allow you to catch up, which is invaluable.
Get excited!
Every new year is full of new beginnings, and this year is no exception. Whether you’re in the same place as before, or you’re starting somewhere completely new, you should never forget that there are so many open doors that are just waiting for you to walk through. This year’s going to be fantastic, and you will make it so!
