Back to school prep - 10 tips to help you out :)
So, September is just around the corner and the summer is coming to an end. For some of you, this means going back to school/college and facing all the stress that comes with it. These are just a few tips to help you out before the new school year.
petit disclaimer - this post is particularly aimed at Sixth Form / College students (UK) as this is the extent of my experience (although I’m sure they can be applied to other ages/schools). These tips are not at all intended to shame anyone w/ a disorganised study space etc. and they will not work for everyone, but if you’re worried about the new school year, they could be of some help.
I’d love to see any of your additions/suggestions! :))
★ optimise your study space : so it’s been a while since school. naturally, the desk (or wherever you like to do your work) is not its cleanest. It doesn’t have to be pristine studyblr white (unless that’s your cup of tea), but make it usable. Take everything off the worktop, give it a clean and only put back the things that need to be there.
★ sort out your school supplies : this doesn’t necessarily mean buying 15 new notebooks and an assortment of highlighters etc... (although lord knows I love getting new stationery) organise what you have and make a list of things you need. if you’re unsure what/how many you need, wait until the first week of term before buying new folders/notebooks (although make sure you have the essential pens, paper etc for the first day so you don’t turn up empty-handed and give your teachers the wrong impression)
★ summer reading : if you read all your required reading at the beginning of the holidays, chances are you’ve forgotten what half of it was about. If you have time, skim read again, or look up the plot synopsis / key points on SparkNotes (or a similar website). The same goes for if you’ve left your reading till the last minute (hey, we’ve all been there) - try and get through as much as you can and google the key points you may have missed.
★ get a new planner : (my favourite bit) buy a new diary or academic planner, download a calendar app just for studying or make some back to school spreads in your bullet journal. If you want some flexibility but don’t like the idea of a bullet journal, maybe try some printables ( @emmastudies has some really good ones). Either way, set up something where you can write down all your term dates, deadlines and extra-curriculars. Trust me, you’ll need somewhere to note down all the deadlines - they accumulate pretty fast.
★ fix your sleep schedule : if you’re anything like me, the summer holiday means late nights and long lie-ins and the back to school season comes with the shock of waking up wayyy earlier than you’re used to. Try to plan ahead by going to bed and waking up a few minutes earlier each day. Also, you could try to stay active during ‘school hours’ by studying, going out to see friends, or exercising (so the first day back isn’t so much of a shock to the system).
★ sort out your back to school wardrobe : This doesn’t necessarily mean buying new clothes but if, like me, you’re in England, ‘back to school’ means Autumn and a lot more rain. This time of year I always go through my wardrobe and get all my autumnal clothes out of storage to replace all the summery ones. You might also need to check your school’s dress code for any ~forbidden~ items. Schools vary in how strict they are when it comes to clothes and they can change from year to year; some allow anything except open-toed shoes, others require office wear only - don’t be the guy who turns up in flip-flops on the first day only to be sent home to change. If you’re feeling extra organised, plan out what you’re going to wear for the first week back.
★ find out your new timetable : This isn’t a necessity, and they aren’t always available before term-time but I like to be warned in advance that I’ll have to stay an extra hour every Wednesday for History (me this year lmao) and it makes me feel a little less anxious now that I know where I’ll be going for what. Also, find out what teachers you’ll be having for different topics and, if you haven’t had them before, ask some other students what they’re like. Again, it’s nice to have an advance warning that your new Theology teacher is really strict etc.
★ catch up with friends : maybe there are some people you didn’t manage to meet over summer for whatever reason - drop them a text! This is the last time for a while that you’re absolutely free of school commitments so make the most of it.
★ set some goals : kind of self-explanatory, but have a think about what you want to achieve this term or this year and write them down! These goals are completely personal and can be anything from ‘get a B on the next French assignment’ or ‘ask for a solo in Jazz band’ to ‘go out more with friends’ or ‘spend less time on tumblr’. They can be as vague or specific as you like. They don’t have to be academic; they can be related to your mental health, wellbeing or social life. Having something written down to aim towards can help you boost your motivation :))
★ pack that backpack : (the most obvious ‘tip’, I know, but I wanted to make it to 10 and i’m dumb) Now that you’ve organised your stationery, bought a new planner, and you know what subjects you’ll be doing, put it all in the backpack (or whatever bag thing you’re using for school). I can’t count the number of times I’ve gone looking for something in my bag only to pull out 12 irrelevant objects (often rubbish). The best thing is to pack the bare essentials and keep on top of it! And do this the night before!! there is always bound to be something you forget first time round so give yourself an extra day to sort it all out.
Yo I hope these helped :))) I’d love it if you added any of your own tips & tricks for dealing with the back to school season !
