With summer drawing to a close, many of us are feeling the stress of the back-to-school season, and while we can’t always take a step back from the hustle and bustle of our new schedules, there are a few simple rituals and tricks that can help ease you into the new school year. For example, taking the time to sip on a cup of tea or coffee before you leave for school in the morning can help you clear your head and relax for the day ahead of you. Similarly, stretching for five minutes immediately after you get out of bed can wake up your mind and body and help you focus on what you have to do to be ready for school.
In general, there are a few preventative things you can do to stay ahead of the rush as well. Using a day planner, as simple as it seems, helps you feel a sense of order and, just like checking off a to-do list, can leave you feeling accomplished after a long, busy day. Likewise, just committing to doing one portion of one of your long term projects a day can make a huge difference in managing stress in the long-term; for example, just writing one paragraph of an essay due at the end of the semester a day will set you well on your way to not chronically procrastinating and becoming anxious and stressed. Overall, by taking time for yourself and staying organized, the usual back-to-school anxieties and stresses can be much more manageable.
