Summer is winding down, some people are already headed back to school. How do you prepare to give up the freedom of summer and enjoy the rhythms of school?
Start your planner
Make a plan for prioritizing your time. This might be a paper and pencil calendar, a planner, or some app or calendar you use on your phone or computer. As soon as you learn about big exam dates, sports tournaments, and job schedules, put them in your calendar. This will help you map out the time you need to use for studying, exam prep, and college applications. Make sure your parents see your schedule so there are no surprises for them either. One of the advantages of apps or something like Google Calendars, is the ability for everyone in the family to collaborate in one space. This can also work in physical space with a big whiteboard calendar in a central location.
Sleep
You probably haven’t been sleeping on a regular schedule during the summer. Late nights with friends, afternoon naps, and lazy mornings all interfere with a regular sleep schedule. You will be healthier throughout the year if you sleep on a regular schedule. Start your sleeping routine the week before school starts so you can be acclimated to going to bed at a reasonable time and waking up early.
Forms
Sports, extracurriculars, volunteer opportunities, and more often require medical releases, physical exams, and other forms. Make sure you have your exam and any paperwork signed and ready before the first day of school. You don’t want to be excluded from participation just because you didn’t get your paperwork together in time.
School Supplies
This is one of the most fun things about going back to school…new stuff! You can wait until a day or two after school starts to get the best deals on supplies. Or, if you are picky about the exact kind or brand of different items, you should shop early so that you have a broader selection. Just make sure you have what your teachers are requiring and what you need to stay organized.
Start Prepared
Going back to school is the best time to reconnect with old friends, make new friends, try a new club or sport, and start off organized. With a little preparation you can start the year ahead of the game and feel confident about all this next school year will have to offer.
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