Back-to-School Tips

After being on summer break for a while and what seems like ages of doing things on your own time, you’re anticipating the start of another school year. Whether you're an anxious freshman or a confident senior, making the transition from summer to a regular schedule with new classes, new teachers, and a new social scene is bound to be stressful. Here are some back-to-school tips to help you become the best you this school year.

1. Get Plenty of Sleep

New studies prove that teens need around nine hours of sleep each night to feel rested. One study found that students who got Cs, Ds and Fs slept about 25 minutes less a night than those who got As and Bs. It’s important to try to get plenty of sleep.

If you’re finding it hard to sleep, make sure your bedroom is set up for you to get a good night’s sleep. A nice, cool and dark room with a comfortable bed can help. If possible, associate the bedroom with sleeping only. If you must watch TV, play video games or read before bedtime, do it in another room. The more you associate your bedroom with sleeping, and sleeping only, the easier it will be to get some shut-eye.

A bedtime routine goes a long way, too. If you wash your face, drink a glass of milk and brush your teeth every night, your brain will know it’s time to get some rest and power down. It's a hard promise to keep but so very important. Go to bed on time!

2. Eat a Healthy Breakfast

This might be the most important back-to-school tip of all. Those who eat a healthy breakfast are more likely to have better concentration, problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination. They have more strength and endurance. They can be more alert, creative and are less likely to miss school. Whether it's yogurt, whole grain muffins, cereal or a fruit smoothie, a good, healthy breakfast will set you on course for a productive day.

3. Plan Ahead and Make Good Choices

There are so many priorities and choices competing for your time. A back-to-school tip to not becoming overwhelmed is to plan ahead. Before the chaos begins, make sure your school supplies include a wall calendar or personal planner to help with your planning. Mark the due dates of upcoming assignments and exams and list any other time commitments you have (sports teams, volunteer activities, work, rehearsals, etc.). When the schedule starts looking crammed, it's time to start making choices and declining additional commitments.

4. Shop Smart

It’s exciting when you have the opportunity to purchase new items for your wardrobe, and more importantly, it’s important to shop smart. When buying new items, first take inventory of what you currently have on hand. Donate any items that no longer work and make a list of what you need to purchase. Consider building upon your current items and classic pieces while adding a few trendy pieces to fill out your wardrobe. And don’t forget to accessorize! Sometimes it’s all you need to create a new look!

5. Continue to Improve

Keep in mind, you may encounter some hiccups along the way and everyone is nervous. Many people find beginnings a challenge and can struggle as they juggle the too many things that need to be done. Just don't forget that a new year is also a chance to step out of your comfort zone and try new things, make new friends and continue to make improvement while you learn cool, new stuff. It's a chance to master a new skill, succeed where you once failed and grow into the adult you want to become.