How to Start the School Year Off on the Right Foot
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Start planning ahead.
Buy a planner! Write down important dates and times, like university holidays, exam times and paper due dates. These are a few important things you should jot down. This way you’ll have time to plan ahead without any surprises.
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Make sure you have the right shoes.
You will probably be walking around campus all the time and will want a few pairs of good, sturdy shoes that won’t wear down too quickly. This is especially vital if you’re attending college somewhere where it’s known to be snowy or rainy.
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Organize your room.
Try to get everything unpacked and in its place before school starts. If you took summer classes and are already moved in, organize and get rid of any old homework assignments you don’t need or don’t think will help you later.
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Start getting up earlier.
If your sleep schedule is out of whack from the summer, a good way to get it back into school mode is to simply start making yourself wake up earlier. When you do this, your body will start getting tired earlier at night. Drink some coffee to wake you up but not past 10 a.m. This way your body will be wide awake in the middle of the day but the effects of caffeine will wear off by bedtime.
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Get some Zzzz’s.
Try to get enough sleep at night. This varies by person, but most young adults need 7-9 hours a night to function at their best during the day. If this means cutting out that extra hour of Netflix, just do it! I promise you’ll thank yourself the next morning.
Don’t go to toooo many parties.
Syllabus week is definitely known for its parties, in fact there are probably more parties during this week than any other time of the year. Even though you may want to go to all of the parties right at the start of school, you and I both know this probably isn’t the best idea. Limit going out to two or three nights when you don’t have an early class the next day.
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Get to class the first week.
Unless, of course, you want a wait-listed student to take your spot. Some teachers may start assigning homework the first week of class. You definitely don’t want to start the year off with a missed grade right off the bat.
Start a workout schedule.
Try to workout at least a few times a week. This will give you more energy in the long run and ward off diseases like anxiety and depression…as well as keep that freshman 15 at bay.
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Plan lunch.
I made the mistake my freshman year of not giving myself a lunch break. Don’t do what I did. Plan your schedule out ahead of time, and bring a snack with you during a long stretch of classes.
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Have the right supplies.
Wait to buy books, I’m serious. I’ve wasted so much money on unused books. However, I do recommend bringing a backpack, laptop, notebook, planner and pencils to class.
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Set some goals.
Lastly, set some goals for yourself for the upcoming school year. What better way to start the year off right than to have in mind something to strive for.
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Have a great school year and good luck!
Image source: quinnipiac.edu and dailyinfographic.com
Autumn Echols is a student at Washington State University majoring in advertising at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication and minoring in Fine Arts. Autumn loves the autumn time, Pinterest, fashion, advocating for feminism, and relaxing with her friends, her boyfriend, and anything cute and fuzzy.