How to Go Back to School

Co-authored by Ronitte Libedinsky, MS

Last Updated: February 4, 2023 References

Going back to school can be both exciting and stressful. Whether you want to reinvent your look or just prepare for a new workload, talk to your family, friends, and teachers to keep you on track and your anxiety at bay. Don’t feel overwhelmed as this is a fresh start that you have the power to control.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Changing Up Your Look

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Get in some back to school shopping. Create a budget and a list before diving into a shopping spree. Use social media or just ask your friends if they want to have a clothing swap if your budget is tight. You don’t have to get expensive pieces like jackets or designer tops. Focus on smaller accessories that make it easier to switch up your look.
- If you’re lucky to have your birthday fall close to the start of school, ask for gift cards or make a wishlist of clothes you’d like so your family and friends know exactly what to get you.^{[1]
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- Think about the main outfits you’d need throughout the school year. Do you need gym clothes? Should you get a new winter coat?
2
Repurpose your wardrobe. Look through your closet and see if you can find new ways to wear your clothing. You could layer older pieces with something new to create an entirely new outfit. For example, if you have a favourite pair of shorts you could still wear it in the fall if you layer it with a sweater and tights.
- You could also wear a summer dress with leggings, a cardigan, and boots.^{[2]
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- If you’re a guy, wear your favourite short sleeve shirt under a sweater so that the collar gives you the right touch of flair.
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3
Find a new style. Style can go beyond a wardrobe change. The start or school gives you an opportunity to reinvent your look. Rather than change your wardrobe, try changing your hair colour or style. You can also change your makeup and nail color. Make a statement with bold colours.^{[3]
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- Find inspiration from celebrities or look on social media sites if you don’t know where to start. You can also mimic the look of an older student or family member that you admire.
- Pinterest is a great site to search for style as it allows you to save images and follow influencers.^{[4]
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- Whether you’re just getting a trim or going for a completely different hair style, make sure you find a hairstylist that you trust. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions about what look suits the shape of your face and texture of your hair.
- You do not have to trim anything off your hair if you learn how to create different styles. For example, learn different braids or style your bangs.Research or ask a stylist which hair products work best for your hair. For example, gel is great for hold but gives you a wet look.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Preparing For a New Workload

1
Clean out your backpack. Relieve the stress from your shoulders and back by keeping your backpack clean and organized. Pack up the night before so that you don’t feel rushed in the morning. Make sure you look over the next day’s lesson before you pack.
- Clean out any food or gym equipment so that your bag doesn’t smell. Keep food and liquid in separate compartments and containers to make sure they stay fresh and protected.
2
Pick up supplies. Go over what you can still use from the year before and make a list of the essentials. Check with your teachers, older students, or online for tips on specific brands that may be worth their price. ^{[5]
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- Create your list based on what makes your life easier. Just because something looks good, doesn’t mean that it’s worth the price. For example, a binder with your favourite band on it may be twice the cost of a waterproof binder that has extra compartments for your pens.
3
Use a timetable or scheduler. Whether you download an app or use a physical scheduler, learn how to follow a scheduler so that you don’t miss any important deadlines.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Ronitte Libedinsky, MS
Academic Tutor
Expert Interview. 26 May 2020.} Staying ahead of projects, presentations, and exams lets you balance your school work with your social activities.
- Planners and schedulers give a quick snapshot of your schoolwork. Understand how much time you need for projects, papers, and studying so you can keep your grades up. Cramming and last minute work is a surefire way to increase your stress level and lower your GPA.
- Read reviews and forums to ensure you download the best scheduling app for your needs.
4
Learn anti-stress and anxiety techniques. School can bring stress and anxiety on a variety of levels. Remember that you’re not alone. Talk to your friends, family, and your teachers about how you’re feeling. Take advantage of any counseling and stress management resources your school offers.
- Contact older students who have gone through the same process to ease your mind about the upcoming school year. You can also reach out to other students outside of your social group. Understand that it may take time and effort but establishing a solid support system of peers is an essential way to relieve stress.
5
Be confident. Understand that you do not have to change your personality or do anything that you don’t want to. Avoid peer pressure by focusing on your studies and being comfortable in your own skin.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Settling Back into the School Routine

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Get plenty of rest. Summer time is a great time to have longer days with warm weather and free time. Your new schedule may be a shock to your system so don’t underestimate how tired your body will be as you change from easy late nights to early morning class. Sleep early during school nights because you don’t want to be grumpy and lackadaisical in class. If you need to take a nap, limit it to 90 minutes at most to make sure you’re able to do your homework and still fall asleep at a decent hour. ^{[7]
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2
Stay organized. The first couple of weeks back can be very hectic as you try to settle in to your classes and extracurricular activities. Prepare your lunches, outfits, school bag the night before. Use the weekend to map out your week.^{[8]
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3
Balance your social life. You may put a lot of pressure on yourself to do well in your studies. Having a strong support system and an outlet for stress can help you get through the school year. Check in with friends and family to let them know how your transition back to school is going. If there is anything causing your stress, they may be able to provide help or at least someone you can vent to.^{[9]
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4
Be disciplined and responsible. It may be easy to think that transitioning back to school will come within time but you have to understand that only you can can make a smooth transition. Continuing to stay up late or follow your holiday schedule will make it more difficult to transition back to school. Your friends may have easier schedules or may not have as many responsibilities as you do. Let them know that you have to limit your time with them now that school has started.
- Going to class and doing your homework might not be the most exciting things ever, especially after being out of school for a while. Try to find ways to make them more fun. Reward yourself for finishing your homework in the evenings, and look for one thing you're excited about in each of your classes.^{[10]
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  Ronitte Libedinsky, MS
  Academic Tutor
  Expert Interview. 26 May 2020.} This can help make the back-to-school transition easier.
5
Eat healthy. Food plays a major role in how much energy you have during the day. Stay away from junk food and replace them with fruit and vegetables. Keep your mind and body healthy to get yourself through what can be a stressful transition.^{[11]
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Allow yourself to fail. The transition may be more difficult than you anticipated. It’s okay to get a low grade on your first assignment or find it difficult to make new friends. Ask yourself what you can do differently to assure that you won’t repeat it. Everything is school can be a learning experience especially failure.^{[12]
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Talk to your teachers. Teachers know that this is a difficult time of year and understand that you are not the only one going through the transition. Teachers can not only help you develop effective study habits and work habits but they can also help you if you’re finding it difficult to make friends. ^{[13]
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Learn the rules. Your school may have changed a few small things or you may be in a new school completely. Know the rules so that you don’t find yourself in trouble for small infractions. For example, there may be rules about using a mobile phone or the length of your skirt or shorts, so make sure to check.^{[14]
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9
Have fun in the last few days of your holiday. Make sure to enjoy the remainder of your holiday. Creating lasting memories will help you when you're stressed or anxious during the transition back to school. It may also allow you to build your social circle and concentrate in school as you have gotten the holidays out of your system and are now looking for other things to occupy your brain.^{[15]
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10
Establish a routine. Make a habit of homework, early nights, and early mornings. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if your life feels chaotic and out of order. Ask parents, friends, and teachers to help you with your routine if you don’t know where to start. Better yet, let everyone know your new routine so they know when you’ve fallen off track and can remind you what your routine should be.^{[16]
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11
Create a central calendar with your family. Your calendar should not just include your activities. Including the activities of the entire family gives you a snapshot of when your parents can help you best especially if you have other siblings. It also will remind your parents when you have important exams or due dates so they can support you in anyway they can.^{[17]
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Warnings

Don’t join too many extra-curricular activities. Get a sense of your workload before adding to your schedule.

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Don’t stay silent if you feel like you’re being bullied or generally overwhelmed by school, tell your family and school so that you can work together on an effective action plan.

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