As the summer comes to an end, we're all left with our new notebooks and our new expectations for the approaching academic year - whether you're in high school or in university, there's always a flurry of thoughts to overcome.
Getting those butterflies in your stomach can be scary. Here's how we suggest you beat the back to school anxiety!
1. Clean your space.
This sounds like something your mom would say, but it really does help. Clearing your space of any and all clutter can help you focus, and also provides a good opportunity to donate or (if damaged) toss. Release yourself of the past and get rid of some of the stuff you no longer wear, need, want, so on!
With a clean space, you can focus on things you need for school - do you need stationary, folders, new books?
2. Reset your schedule.
If you're one of the lucky folks who can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, then we envy you! For everyone else who's been sleeping at 3 a.m and waking up in the afternoon, we'd suggest taking a look at your schedule and trying to get to sleep earlier. We know, easier said than done. It's worth it though - cut the caffeine for a few days and re-work your day to day routine to get some good rest. Feeling more stable in a routine can help eliminate some of those pesky jitters!
3. Talk it out.
If there's something major that is bothering you, the best option would be to sit and talk it through with a close friend, a loved one, or family. Speak out to people you trust, and you can grant yourself a support system that could ease your tension. It's worth it, and bottling up what you dread is never a good thing - for serious matters, there are always local resources you could use to get the help you need.
4. Do not threaten yourself.
Before the academic year starts, we always try making promises to ourselves - this year, I won't hand in any homework late, I'll be early to every class, and I'll study as soon as I get home.
If you are making yourself extremely uncomfortable in the hope of progress, it will be harder than you think. Take little steps, do your best to meet your deadlines, and aspire for growth and not perfection. Often unknowingly, we stress ourselves out trying to be robot versions of ourselves. Create an environment that encourages growth towards your goals, do not try stomping growth into you.
5. Remember that everyone is going through life, just as you are.
It's easy to feel cornered or threatened by people who seem like they have everything under control - at the end of the day, everyone tries to put their best foot forward. Someone else's togetherness does not take away from yours! Everyone is on a journey, and they are not meant to be compared. Mistakes will always occur, the wrong thing might always be said, and there are no perfect pupils.
Remember to enrich yourself and worry less about what other people are doing with their time.
Good luck with your on-coming year!
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