If you're anything like me, then you've probably spent nearly every waking hour of your break inhaling much more Netflix than is humanly possible. Then, all of a sudden, the realization that school starts soon hits you, and your Netflix queue, right in the face. So -- let's talk getting back in the mindset to knock out and rock out another semester.
1. Read Something
One really easy thing you can do is make yourself read something. Whether it's a for-pleasure-reading book, a (lengthy) online article or a current event or news story, making yourself read something can help when you have to transition back into doing your required reading for classes or studying. It's a super simple way to help you refocus on the impending semester, and it can make the adjustment back into assigned reading a lot easier if you're already working on getting back in the habit of making yourself read things.
2. Regularize Your Sleep Schedule
This one is a biggie. Going back to school with an already-normal sleep schedule can make getting up for morning classes so much easier. I guess I'm an old lady because I'm usually in bed by 10:30 anyway, but this can be difficult for some people. A regular sleep schedule and a decent amount of sleep every night can do great things for your health, mood and mental health. Knocking this task out while you're still on break will relieve a lot of unnecessary stress once you have classes to worry about.
3. Practice Relaxation And Stress Management Techniques
This one is also important. This can be as simple as taking a moment to breathe when you get overwhelmed. If you're a yogi, taking time to practice can help with relaxation. Many people find breathing exercises helpful, and they don't take much time to get you calm and relaxed. Here is a link to a short list of breathing exercises (the 4-7-8 is also known for helping you get to sleep). Working down time into your schedule is a good way to relax and stay calm so you can tackle the upcoming semester. Another technique for stress management is being proactive. There is no school work on break, but you can get in the hang of being proactive on break by completing a task as soon as you think about it. For example, if you remember you need to look at what books you need to buy, do it as soon as you think about it. Being proactive is a great way to manage stress and anxiety from school work, and practicing proactiveness will help when the time comes for you to do homework or write papers.
I hope this helps, and I wish you a successful and low-stress semester!
