How to Brace Yourself for a New School Year
August is fast approaching once again! Though I’m all for “starting the year/ school year right”, I think it’s pretty much unavoidable for us to get off track. A lot. Because of that, I put together this infographic to help minimize those stressful moments in your brand new school years.
First of all, get your shit together. And I mean both physically and emotionally.
it’s a new start my friend!! detox your mind of all those negative thoughts (and people) and embrace the opportunity to start over.
gather all the supplies you need. if you’re moving into a dormitory, make sure it’s equipped with everything you need to feel at home.
her campus college packing list
don’t go overboard with this step, but go get yourself some new stationery. choose wisely, and ensure that you’ll actually use it and it’s not just for purposes of aesthetic. we all want nice instagram feeds, but don’t let that be a reason for you to buy too much pretty stationery.
why not think of a note taking system before classes begin?
not all may find the idea of going back to school exciting, but you gotta have the motivation to keep that positive mindset in your head throughout the year! go you.
Organize your study space. You may have to stay in it much longer than usual now.
lighting is important. it’s oversaid, but never untrue. opt for natural lighting when you can, but if you can’t or you’re a night owl, get a good study lamp to brighten up those long hours of work.
I did say you’re probably gonna be staying here for some long bouts of time, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. make your desk one of your favorite places to be in. if you want to, make it really pretty. hang up some motivational posters or quotes - perhaps you even want a color scheme with that.
quote posters to get you going
have an accessible stash of stationery on your desk at all times so that you don’t have to go looking for a pen and a sticky note when you need to write something down. keep pens, pencils and highlighters in a jar near you.
keep something green on your desk, like a succulent. plants are adorable and the sight of them can boost your productivity.
have a planner or a bullet journal, and make space for that too.
if working with music helps you, have headphones with you as well. always have a study playlist on hand. go for instrumentals or wordless tracks.
study playlist masterpost
make it a habit to keep your space in check every night before you go to bed. it really could make a big difference in how much work you’re gonna be able to do. don’t forget to stay clear of distractions!
Create a stress management system.
okay. this is what i’m telling you to brace yourself for. there are gonna be those days or those moments when you’re gonna feel really depressed or panicked. you’re gonna be okay. feel free to message me or any other studyblr - we’re here to listen =)
take some time out to practice self care and put off work, even for a bit. school is not the most important thing in the world, keeping yourself alive and healthy is. you can sleep, be kind to yourself.
go get some food too. you can prep some of your own if you’d prefer.
never ever ever underestimate the power of exercise. the feeling of finishing a workout is so so so satisfying and I can guarantee you will feel better in no time.
take out your mat and do some yoga. stretch out all those muscles you held in place for so long sitting at your desk.
I find it important to always have a mini-collection of unread books. if you don’t have any, one of my favorite places to be in is a bookstore or library - and I just read whatever I find. the results can be life changing.
take time to hone your skills in your hobbies. if you can, do it everyday - do that one thing that makes you really happy daily. maybe you like singing. or playing the guitar. or painting. whatever it is, go do it.
write it down! I keep an electronic journal and it really helps to just spill your thoughts out on a notebook or your phone.
honey, please talk to someone if you need to. it won’t hurt.
Get a headstart on academics.
especially on subjects that are easier with advanced reading. if you already know what books you’re going to be tackling for english or literature, go read them.
try asking upper years who used to take your classes if they still have their course outlines, or any material they were given before. this can save lives.
gonna be taking a language class? why not start learning it already?
find textbooks and start using them!!
don’t have any idea of what you’re going to study yet? that doesn’t mean you should stop learning something new. you can listen to a ted talk or join an online course.
Finally, set SMART goals for the school year. And have a concrete plan for how you’ll reach them.
what average are you aiming for? what organizations do you want to join? make your goals realistic and specific.
motivation is very important, but honestly, you can’t count on it to be with you every single day, every single moment of your life while you’re working for your goals. what will push you forward then? discipline.
surround yourself with a community people who support you. like I said in the first step, detox all those negative people from your life. find ways to work with your friends and help each other in attaining goals.
set rewards for yourself too, not just in the long run but for the little things like finishing a good study session or passing a paper early.
that being said, don’t underestimate the power of setting your short-term goals. those will be your stepping stones to pursuing the bigger picture you envision for yourself.
Tumblr and Pinterest, provided you don’t go too far in using them, can serve your daily doses of inspiration. don’t just use them for the sake of looking at aesthetically pleasing shots, though.
on a final note, don’t let academics take over your life. I hope you have a fantastic year, and good luck!
