Skip to main content

7 Smart Ways to Get Ready for the Upcoming School Year

Let’s be honest—getting ready for the school year can feel a bit daunting. There's the mental gear-up, the shopping lists, and the deep existential questions like “Do I really need to remember the Pythagorean theorem?” (Answer: Yes, but only if your math teacher says so.)

Whether you’re excited to reunite with friends or dreading the return of early alarms, a little prep goes a long way. Here’s how to get ahead of the game without losing your summer chill.

1. Set a Sleep Schedule (Yes, Really)

Summer may have been late nights and skipping breakfasts, but your body needs time to adjust before school starts. Begin shifting your bedtime 15–30 minutes earlier each night until you’re close to your school-year schedule. You’ll be shocked how much easier mornings become when you’re not snoozing six alarms.

2. Get Organized Now (Your Future Self Will Thank You)

Grab a planner, a calendar app, or even a dry-erase board—whatever works for you. Start inputting important dates like the first day of school, sports tryouts, or club meetings. Organizing now helps you feel less overwhelmed later. Plus, it’s a low-effort way to feel productive (and kind of impressive).

3. Clear Out the Clutter

Go full Marie Kondo on your backpack, desk, or room. Toss out old papers, broken pencils, and that granola bar from last March. Clean space = clear head.

4. Review Just a Little

No one’s asking you to do a full-on cram session, but glancing over last year’s notes, skimming a few key chapters, or reviewing flashcards can reactivate your brain and make the first few weeks feel less brutal.

5. Set One or Two Goals

Pick a couple of things you want to improve this year—like raising your GPA, joining a new club, or just actually using your planner. Write them down and keep them somewhere visible. Concrete goals give your school year purpose beyond “just survive.”

6. Stock Up on Supplies (and Snacks)

Yes, you need notebooks and pens, but also—don’t forget snacks. A solid stash of granola bars, trail mix, or even mints can be a game-changer during long afternoons. Pro tip: get school supplies you actually like, so you're a little more motivated to use them.

7. Plan Something to Look Forward To

Whether it’s a weekend hike, a movie night, or a reward after your first week back, give yourself something to be excited about. It helps break up the "back-to-school blues" and keeps your mood lifted. 

Final Thought:

Most of these prep steps take just a little time—and once they’re done, you’ll feel way more in control heading into the year. Plus, the best part? You’ll still have plenty of time to soak up the rest of your summer with a little less on your mind.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Calm Back-to-School Anxiety After a Break

I used to get anxious the night before going back to school after winter or spring break. I’d lie in bed, wide awake, thinking about my early alarm clock, what to expect academically and socially upon my return to school, and the general chaos of getting back into a routine. And of course, the more I stressed about not sleeping, the harder it was to actually fall asleep. Eventually, though, I figured out a few ways to handle that pre-school anxiety and make the transition back a lot easier. 1. Get Back Into Routine Early One of the biggest reasons going back to school feels stressful is because breaks completely throw off your schedule. If you’ve been staying up late and sleeping in, suddenly trying to fall asleep early the night before school starts is basically setting yourself up for failure. Instead, try adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before break ends—go to bed earlier, wake up earlier, and get used to a normal routine again. 2. Prepare the Night Before A lot of my a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Easy Ways to Improve Your Writing

Let’s be honest—writing can feel like a chore. You sit down to craft a simple paragraph, and suddenly you’re wondering if you even know how to use commas anymore. The good news? You don’t need to be the next Shakespeare to write clearly and confidently. Here are some ways to level up your writing—no painful grammar drills required. 1. Know What You’re Trying to Say (Before You Start Writing) Writing is a lot easier when you actually know the point you’re trying to make. Before you dive into your essay, take a minute to ask yourself, What am I trying to argue or explain? If you can sum it up in a sentence, you’re on the right track. Otherwise, you might end up writing a lot of words that don’t actually say much—which is impressive, but not helpful. 2. Keep It Simple Big words might sound impressive, but no one wants to read a sentence that feels like it was written by a robot with a thesaurus addiction. Use clear, straightforward language. Instead of saying, “I endeavored to ascer...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Value of Extracurriculars (Besides Just Impressing Colleges)

Getting good grades is important—but if all you do is study, you might start to wonder if there’s more to life than memorizing the periodic table. Extracurricular activities—those magical things that happen outside of class—aren’t just resume fluff for college applications. They actually make life more interesting, and here’s why you should try a few. 1. You Might Discover You’re Good at Something (Besides Taking Tests) Maybe you’ve got a hidden talent for playing the trombone, scoring goals, or arguing so persuasively that you could win a debate about whether cereal is a soup. Extracurriculars let you explore hobbies and skills that algebra class somehow misses. Plus, finding something you love can make school more enjoyable. 2. Friends: They’re Easier to Make When You Leave Your Desk Sure, you could form a lasting friendship by bonding over a group project—but do you really want your social life to depend on dissecting frogs? Joining a club, sport, or volunteer group connects you...
Post a Comment
Read more