Back-to-School Readiness: How to Start the Year Off Right
Is the coming school year-daunting? Does it feel like you will never be ready? Or like it is more than you handle and will be too hard?
If the answer is yes to any of those questions you are in the right place. getting ready to go back to school (either as a parent or a student) is hard and brings some very real challenges. You are not alone in feeling this way.
As overwhelming as it may seem there a are few things you can do to make the transition to the school year easier. We know the school year can be hard, so we want to help you be as prepared as possible.
Organize Your Schedule
Step one is to figure out what your week will look like. Returning to school and seeing your class schedule can be incredibly daunting, especially when you look at it all at once. The best way to prevent the overwhelming realization of all that will need to get done is to put it on the calendar. organize your week and your day so you can take it one thing at a time.
Organizing your schedule like this does two helpful things. First, it helps with time management and school-life balance. Second, it helps with ongoing preparedness so surprises in the future don’t throw you for a loop.
Time Management
The Calendar Productivity Center states that “A well-planned and organized schedule empowers you to take charge of your time rather than letting it control you” The goal is not to become a slave to the calendar of impending events and responsibilities. Rather, the schedule or calendar you use should hold the weight of the tasks you must do as you focus on one piece at a time.
“A well-planned and organized schedule empowers you to take charge of your time rather than letting it control you”
Sticking to what you have scheduled for a day can be incredibly freeing. You know what needs to get done in a day and as long as you finish it you do not need to overcrowd your day or week with everything all at once.
Doing what you have planned for a day allows you to know when and how you get to say “yes” to fun and exciting invitations that come up last minute because you know how long what you need to do is going to take.
We want to avoid being overwhelmed. The calendar gets to hold all the stress of the tasks and you get to enjoy being productive and feeling like you’ve accomplished something at the end of the day when you complete everything on the calendar for a day.
Now, setting up a calendar can be difficult, especially with new classes and school expectations. If you do not know where to start but know you need to come on in for an hour of tutoring we would be happy to help you organize your schedule and teach you how to manage and update your schedule.
Long-Term Preparedness
Another huge benefit of organizing your schedule is that you are prepared for the future. The habit of managing and organizing your schedule allows you to prepare earlier and better for upcoming events.
When you put an assignment’s due date on the calendar you can work backwards and see when you need to start it to get it done on time. This helps prevent last-minute cram sessions that just end up exhausting you.
To be prepared for the future also means to allot time in your schedule for unexpected tasks. Create blocks of “free time” that can be used to handle surprise tasks get ahead on something for the future, or even act as a time to breathe between the litany of tasks that assail you every day.
Organize Your Supplies
Step two is to get all your “stuff” together in one place. Once you know how your week and day-to-day will look, you need to know what you have and need.
Taking Stock
By taking stock of your supplies, you ensure that you have everything you need to start the school year without any last-minute scrambles. This includes basic items like notebooks, pens, and binders, as well as any specialized materials required for specific courses, such as calculators, art supplies, or lab equipment.
For most elementary education, teachers provide a list of supplies that are needed. Take the time to go through that list and check what you have and what you need.
This does a few things for you:
Ensures You’re Fully Prepared
You ensure that you have everything you need to start the school year without any last-minute scrambles
Saves Time and Reduces Stress
Helps you avoid the stress of missing something essential when you need it most.
Helps You Budget Wisely
This prevents unnecessary purchases and helps you budget more effectively for the upcoming school year.
By planning your supply needs, you can take advantage of sales or discounts, further reducing your overall expenses.
Promotes Organization and Efficiency
You can quickly access the materials you need for each class or assignment, reducing the time spent searching for items.
This level of organization helps you establish productive study habits from the outset, leading to more efficient use of your time and a smoother daily routine.
Builds Confidence and Readiness
Being fully equipped allows you to focus on learning and achieving your goals, rather than worrying about whether you have the tools you need to succeed.
Identify Goals for the Coming Year
Before the school year begins, set clear academic and personal goals. What do you want to achieve this year? Whether it’s improving your grades, mastering a new skill, or getting involved in extracurricular activities, having specific goals will keep you motivated!
Motivation
Staying motivated to go back to school and be ready for the academic rigors is never easy. One of the best ways
When you know what you’re aiming for—whether it’s earning a specific grade, mastering a new skill, or participating in extracurricular activities—you’re more motivated to put in the effort needed to achieve those outcomes.
Goals give you something tangible to work toward, helping to guide your decisions and actions throughout the school year. This clarity keeps you focused and committed, even when challenges arise, as you have a clear understanding of why your efforts matter.
Challenges arise and can make us want to quit because of how difficult they are. We get motivated to push through the challenges by knowing the goal. Knowing why it is we are trying gives us the energy to keep trying even when it is difficult.
Accountability
Setting clear goals helps to hold yourself accountable for your actions and progress. When you have specific objectives in mind, you’re more likely to monitor your performance and stay committed to achieving those targets.
This accountability encourages you to stay disciplined and consistent in your efforts, which is crucial for long-term success. Knowing you have a goal to reach can motivate you to push through challenges and avoid procrastination, keeping you on track throughout the school year.
When you set goals, you’re committing to personal and academic growth, which naturally leads to having others know your goals and keep you honest about the goal you are pursuing.
This mindset helps you to stay motivated, even when facing difficulties, as you see each challenge as a stepping stone toward achieving your objectives.
End Your Summer
This step is usually the most difficult but possibly the most necessary for a smooth transition. If you walk into school still feeling like it is summer for the first two weeks, then you are not going to be as engaged or ready for the academic workload.
Start adjusting your sleep schedule, winding down summer activities, and mentally preparing for the responsibilities ahead. While it’s tempting to cling to the last moments of summer, recognizing the value of the school year will help you start strong and stay motivated throughout.
Ending summer on a positive note will set the tone for a successful and organized school year. Don’t let a longing for the summer hinder your academic performance as school begins.
