Four Tips To Start the School Year Strong
Back to school season is almost here. After a long summer of travel, sleeping in, and breaking free of routine, facing the reality of homework, exams and after-school activities can be exciting at best and overwhelming at worst. Whether you’re a parent with school-age kids or gearing up for a new college semester, de-stress the season by putting a few simple tips into practice. Read on for four easy steps to start the new school year strong.
1. Restore Your Sleep Routine
Adjusting to a new routine is much more stressful when you’re running on too little sleep. Slowly shift bed and wake-up times (experts say by no more than 15 minutes a day) to acclimate to new routines by the first day of school. For example, if I want to start waking up at 7am and I’m currently sleeping, until 9am, I need to shift my wake up time no less than eight days before school starts. This advice doesn’t just apply to kids, though. If you’re a parent resuming in-person work after a summer of traveling and inconsistent schedules, slowly shifting your sleep schedule will ensure you’re at your sharpest for early morning school drop-off.
You may have heard that consistent bed times are essential for kids, but don’t underestimate their importance for adults. Stable sleep routines regulate your circadian rhythm, resulting in better quality rest and other physical health benefits. Consider a Habit Tracker to keep a record of your sleep schedule and keep you on track.
Tips for restful sleep
- Limit screen time before bed
- Create a wind-down ritual to get in the mood for sleep
- Get exercise and natural light during the day
2. Make a Checklist
The easiest way to combat the overwhelming sense of too much to do with too little time? Make a checklist. Physically writing down your to-dos is a way of “decluttering” your mind. Not sure where to start? We've put together a back-to-school checklist for parents for inspiration:
Timing
|
To-Dos |
---|---|
One Month Ahead
|
|
One Week Ahead
|
|
3. Gather Your Supplies
Now for the fun part—school supply shopping! Getting excited over the little things, like picking out the perfect notebook and pen, provides a sense of confidence when beginning a new chapter. Not sure where to start? For older students (or parents looking for a dose of organization), we recommend a planner, classic notebook, and the perfect ballpoint pen. For younger students, explore our Kids Collection, a set of charming tools to inspire learning & self-reflection in cute and kid-friendly hues.
School essentials for parents and older students
- The perfect planner (not sure which to choose? take our planner quiz to find your perfect fit)
- A notebook or workbook for note-taking
- A favorite pen, pencil, and highlighter
- Adhesives for ultra-organized note-taking.
- A clipboard
- Folders for organizing important papers
4. Make Big Picture Plans
Whether the first day of kindergarten or the first day of high school, returning to the classroom after a few months away can be intimidating. It’s also the perfect opportunity to think about where the new year will take you and dream big for what you can achieve with the power of education. Start talking with your kid about what changes they might see in the new school year—like starting an art class or gaining new responsibilities. The more you repeat these conversations, the more prepared kids will be for changes to come (and minimize first-day melt-downs). For older students, provide more structure with a daily or weekly planning sheet—encourage them to fill in goals, tasks, and chores to help them get back in the swing of a new routine. Check out Appointed’s free Digital Downloads for kid-friendly print-outs, project planning worksheets, and more.
After a long summer, heading back to the classroom can be stressful for kids (and parents!). But as long as you ease into the transition with structure and communication, this time of year can be a time to dream big, learn together, and embrace a new season of change.
P.S. now is the time to save on back to school supplies—take 25% off everything sitewide with code BACK2IT through Friday 7/29 only.
Related Posts
At the end of the day, productivity gives us more time for the things that matter most to us, freeing up our schedules for hobbies, time with family, travel, and more. Today we’re sharing the top 4 benefits to tracking and recording your hobbies. Get ready to unlock your potential—one page at a time.
As a former teacher turned planner expert, I am excited to share some planning tips for teachers as we release our new 23-24 planners. Back to school may feel far off into the future as the current school year winds down and summer starts, but it is never too early to start planning.
The arrival of spring signifies new beginnings and fresh starts. Now that winter is on its way out and the sun is beginning to stick around a little longer, you can take more...
Journaling can have an outsized impact on your mental health, creativity, and more. Today we’re walking you through why you should consider keeping a daily journal, the benefits you might see over time, how to make the habit stick, and some writing prompts to get your started.
Just like putting together the perfect outfit, finding the right accessories for your planner can make all the difference. Whatever your planning style, we’ve put together our favorite accessories for making the most of your plans. Read on for fan-favorite writing tools, clever add-ons, and perfectly-paired extras.
If the last time you used a binder was during your school-age years, we have some exciting news. The brand new Compact Binder is here to help you deep-dive into a hobby, catalog your reading list, track household chores, plan complex projects, and so much more.
Today we’re sharing how your planner can make a difference in your productivity and wellness right away. Read on for our one essential step to using a paper planner, and get ready to change your entire day in under five minutes.
Here at Appointed, the past few years tasked us with navigating a new normal—balancing remote and hybrid schedules for a team that had formerly been all under one roof. Read on for my favorite solutions for common work-from-home problems, plus a few remote work management tips from our Sr. Direct to Consumer Manager.
Go analog with classic pen and paper for your easiest travel planning yet (and to make sure you don’t forget a thing). Here are our top suggestions for getting organized before you’re en route, and pro tips for enjoying the ride.
We’ve compiled our favorite ideas for new seasonal spreads, summer-inspired theming, and more to make the most of our new favorite season. Grab your A5 journal, favorite accessories, and a cool drink, and read on for fresh new ideas from the planner experts.
Your Planner Is a Time-Management Tool College is a time in your life when you can most benefit from a planner system. Juggling endless readings, weekly assignments, and semester-long research papers is a challenge. Previously...
We believe that an optimized, organized workspace is key to a clearer mind. Take some time to rethink your current storage system with our favorite tips for keeping things neat.
Through years of planner practice, we’ve discovered the best ways to maximize our planners, what works, and what doesn’t. We also know that getting starting with a brand new system can sometimes be the hardest part, so we’ve put together an easy-to-follow 10 steps to set up your planner for success. Let’s get planning.
Comments
write a comment