Whether you love it or hate it, the time of back-to-school season is here. I personally love this time of year because it is all the excitement before the reality of midterms sets in and this time means that autumn is right around the corner. Now, there is a lot to get done to prepare for this upcoming season. Here are my tips to getting ready, both physically and mentally, to go back to school:
1. Body Glow-Up
After a long summer, you may have been working or out in the sun every day and your body needs a little TLC. Now is the time to freshen up your body and your look before you get busy with school again. I typically like to book a hair appointment and either get my summer highlights taken out, try something new for the new school year, or get my dead ends off so my hair can look as glowy and healthy as possible. I also spend time the night before doing my nails, putting on a face mask, and choosing a new makeup look to feel fresh for the new school year. During this time, I also like to up the intensity on my workouts to make up for the lack of workouts (let's be honest) that will occur as the school year progresses so that I can feel healthy going into school.
2. Mind Glow-Up
Now that your body is all glowed-up, you can now focus on refreshing your mind and de-stressing. Summertime can often be stressful with working so much and can also bring about mental health issues so take time before a potentially stressful school year to focus on self-care. Give yourself a nice spa night, read a new book, watch your favourite movie, journal, check-in with yourself, and spend as much time with your friends as possible. It will be worth it, trust me! With a refreshed brain and clear mind, anything is possible going back to school!
3. Planning a Refreshed Wadrobe
As the fashionista I am, a new season means a new aesthetic to my style. This does not necessarily mean buying a whole new wardrobe, mostly because I am still a broke college student, but instead means to freshen up your look. Go on Pinterest, create a new outfit board, and refresh your style a bit. I love doing this because changing up things a bit always gets me excited for a new season and makes me feel ready for school, no matter how daunting that can be.
4. Space Clearout
Another way to feel refreshed and ready for the school year is to clear out your space and declutter your surroundings. Clear space equals a clear mind which is essential when starting school. Since I am in second year, I am moving into my apartment so I make sure everything is unpacked, decluttered, and organized because I know if I try to do it later, it will not get done and then it will stress me out even more. Ensure to do this step early on so that you can feel better in your space (in anticipation to spend too many hours of studying later!).
5. Stocking Up
Let's say it together: you do not want to be that person on the first day missing a pen. Make sure that you do not wait to stock up on all your supplies for the year. This includes school supplies and anything you will need for your apartment or dorm if you are in college or university. If you cannot do this, you can always pick things up later, but if you have a choice, trust me, you want to get everything stocked now instead of running around and worrying about it later. I know it can be tricky to get textbooks before your classes so this is the only thing I wait to do, but if you can buy from an upper year, do it! Going into the bookstore and waiting in lines that take forever is not what you want to be stuck doing your first week.
6. Getting all Pre-Work done
Some programs are the worst and have pre-school readings to do so make sure to do them in advance so they are do not all build up the night before. My program personally does not do this, but I like to get any blogging or entrepreneurial work done beforehand so that I have content already scheduled as I start getting busy with school and getting adjusted to that schedule again. This makes me feel less stressed with the overwhelm at the start of a new semester and already puts me in that productive mindset that we all need at this time.
7. Meal Prep
Whether it be making lunches for the week or making various options for dinner if you are living on your own, meal prepping your food for the week makes a world of a difference. It makes you feel productive going into the week and you don't have to worry about scrambling to make food when you do not have much time to do so. It is much better to spend an hour or two making a bunch of food that you can make in a few minutes later in the week than spending an hour a day making your food. Also, this ensures that you are staying healthy too which will help keep your energy up and improve your focus in class.
8. Set New Goals
The new school year is a time to set new goals for the year. I like to make one academic goal (higher GPA for example), one personal goal (workout twice a week, etc.), and one social goal (join a new club, etc.). You always want to push yourself to do better so setting goals for yourself can keep you in this mindset and set you up for a better and more successful year! A pro tip is to not make too many goals: keep a list of 5 or less or else it will be hard to remember all your goals and actually achieve them!
I know that back-to-school can be exciting, but it can also be quite terrifying. Last year, I was going into my first year of university and I was completely horrified. Soon after, I learned that there was no need to be. There are so many incredible opportunities to explore when starting a new year at school and looking into these are very fulfilling. With every year, I learn valuable content in a variety of classes which I am so grateful to attend. A new school year is a fresh start so use it accordingly and begin this new school year with an open and positive mind to make the most of it. Like I said, we are extremely lucky to have the opportunity to receive an education so make the most of your experience and enjoy every minute of it as you can. Finals and midterms are not the end of the world. Do not forget about the little moments and those in-between moments with your friends. Go out there and make the most of this next year!
