5 No-Stress Back-to-School Hacks

Get yourself in gear to make this your best year yet.

September is fast approaching, which means it's time for cooler weather, changing leaves, and BACK TO SCHOOL! As daunting as it can seem, back-to-school season is an exciting time, if you're in the right mindset. It's an opportunity to mentally prepare yourself for the academic year and set personal goals.

Here's a list of things you can do to start your year off right.

Get Back to Your Normal Sleeping Routine

It can be hard to wake up early, especially if you're used to late nights and even later mornings. To prepare yourself for school, in the weeks leading up to your start, try waking up an hour earlier than normal. You'll train yourself to be more alert in the mornings and your wake-up won’t feel so painful. Sleep deprivation is bad for your performance and memory, can make your emotional state rockier, and increases stress. Getting the right amount of sleep is a great first step toward getting ready for the school year.

Learn Where Your Classes Are

If you're heading to university or college, consider going to campus a day or two early to figure out where your classes are. You don’t want to get lost on your first day! Take some time and learn your route. You’ll feel calmer knowing where your classes are and how to navigate between them.

Meal Prep

Your brain uses more energy than any other part of your body, so it’s important you give it the fuel you need to perform. Eat a solid breakfast before class, and do some simple meal prep after, and you'll find you're better able to keep your energy up throughout the day. Hunger inhibits focus and can contribute to negative feelings. Do yourself a favour: go for healthy, whole foods whenever possible, and avoid processed stuff where you can.

Plan Ahead

A night or two before school starts, pick out your outfit and supplies. Get everything ready so you're not scrambling. You'll do better spending your energy on learning, working hard, and being your best self, instead of wondering where your pencil case went.

Create A Budget

Understanding your finances before school starts is key to reducing the stress of over-spending. Figure out how much you’ll need for rent, food and transportation each month, and make a budget. Try to include a bit for entertainment, so you don’t find yourself buying things you didn’t account for. Small things add up — like daily Starbucks trips or quick snacks on your way home from class. When you make an effort to cut down on these habits, you'll have an easier time managing your money. Of course, there's never enough cash — so if you’re super worried about tuition costs, check out ScholarshipsCanada.com.

The back-to-school season can be a stressful time for students and families alike. Try out this advice to help make your transition a little easier.