Each and every year, we’re stunned at how fast the back-to-school season comes around. This year is no different. With August approaching, it’s time to start getting ready to head back to school. With the back-to-school season comes not only shopping but mentally preparing for the year ahead. Do you have enough clothes? Are you happy with the way your style has evolved? Are you mentally prepared? Do you have a plan for how you’re going to tackle your homework this year?
Whether you’re the parent of a young kid going back to school, you’re a teenager heading into middle school or high school, or you’re an adult heading off to college for the first time (or the third), going back to school can be stressful. Here’s a helpful guide for everything you may need to do before stepping foot in your first class this fall.
Going Back to School Shopping
With your syllabi ready, it’s time to walk the familiar halls of your favorite office supply store (or shop online, whatever you’re into). Get binders, notebooks, and your favorite pens. Opt for something more expensive that you like more, it’ll be a good way to boost your motivation throughout the school year.
Not everything you need to purchase can be found in Staples or Office Max, though. There are some things you may want to add to your back-to-school kit, such as pimple patches for any large or embarrassing zits that take up residency halfway through the 4th period. Having a small makeup kit to keep in your locker (or backpack) is a great way to ensure you can always touch up your makeup if you need to.
Back-to-school shopping is also a great opportunity to purchase new clothes for the 2021/2022 school year, but more on fashion trends later.
Check-In with Your Mental Health
When going back to school, no matter your age, thinking about your mental health is incredibly important. It’s especially important to think about how you’re doing before going back to school, as you can avoid making yourself feel worse by taking on too many extra-curricular activities. Or, if you’re feeling lonely or sad, taking on more extra-curricular activities may help you feel better.
Think about your workload and whether or not you’ll be able to handle it. If you’re in high school or college, you may be able to move things around if it seems like they’re too much for you. If you don’t check in with how you’re feeling before heading off to school, you may not be properly prepared for what the school year has to throw at you.
Tips for Making New Friends
If you’re shy, or if you’ve just moved from another school, it may seem hard to make friends. However, there are many different tips and tricks you can use to help you make friends in the scariest of situations. Here are some great ways to make friends, even when you’re shy or nervous:
- Use conversation starters to help get the conversation moving. Compliment someone’s outfit or ask to borrow something you may have forgotten to bring along with you. After saying thank you, follow up with a question about the person you’ve borrowed from or complimented. It’s much easier to talk to people this way.
- Use your friends to make more friends. Now, that sounds bad, but it really isn’t! The more you hang out with your friends and their friends, the more likely it is that you’ll be absorbed into the friend group, making more friends along the way.
- Talk to people who are all alone. They’re probably nervous too, so it’s a great way for you to both make a new friend!
- Look for people who may have common interests. The best way to do this is through extra-curricular activities. It’s so much easier to talk to people when you know you have something in common.
- Be approachable and make yourself easy to talk to. It’s easy to close yourself off to new conversations when you’re shy or anxious, but being open will make others want to talk to you more.
- Ask open-ended questions. Don’t ask questions that have a yes or a no answer, but instead ask questions that can start a conversation.
The best tip we can offer you is to just be friendly and easy to talk to. If you’re warm and open, you’re bound to make new friends eventually. Remember that these things can take time, and keep trying!
Develop a Study Plan
Another thing that you should have ready before starting school is a study plan. This is especially important when you get into college, but having one in high school is good practice. For this, you’ll need to make sure you have study essentials, such as a good desk, notebooks, and a computer or laptop. Study essentials will also include any study materials you receive from class, such as books, notes, and study guides.
If you’re working a part-time job outside of school or have any extra-curricular activities, it can be hard to schedule in time to study, but it’s essential that you do so. The best way to do this is to get a planner or agenda and budget your time accordingly. Put all of your commitments into your planner, including your study time. You’re much more likely to spend the time studying when you plan it out in advance.
And remember, studying is important. While you can procrastinate on t
things like assignments, leaving them to the last minute, last-minute studying is often ineffective and can result in poor grades on tests and exams.
In high school, your exams are important, as they help you get into college. In college, you have to maintain a certain GPA in order to receive your degree. On top of that, you also pay for your courses, so failing because you didn’t study is a huge waste of money.
What to Wear for the 2021/2022 School Year
With each school year comes a new style guide. This year is no different, here’s everything you should wear if you want to be “on trend” for the 2021/2022 school year. This year is especially exciting because most people are heading back onto school campuses, meaning no more pajamas!
Back-to-school trends for this school year include:
- Oversized polos
- Vintage button-ups
- Slip skirts and cardigans
- Matching slacks and blazers
- Athleisure
- Anything that has 90s vibes
- Bermuda shorts
- Tie-dye
- Split dye shirts
- Layered floral shirts and dresses
- Leopard print and leather jackets
- Matching masks
- Retro prints
Are You Ready to Go Back to School?
Now that you’ve read through your guide, it’s important to ask yourself: are you ready to go back to school? Do you have everything you need when it comes to studying materials and clothes? Do you have your schedule prepared and are you ready for the workload that you’re taking on this year? Have you signed up (or thought about signing up) for the extra-curricular activities you’re interested in? And of course, do you have your first day of school outfit planned?
There are so many things that go into going back to school, it can be easy to miss a step here or there. No matter what, we know you’re going to do great this year.
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