Back to School Self Care
The notebooks and backpacks at the front of the store indicate that school bells will be ringing in a matter of weeks. As you prepare to enjoy your last few days of summer fun, why not go ahead and begin your back to school self care so that you can be refreshed and ready for whatever the new school year brings.
Whether you’re a student, a teacher, a parent, or anyone else who has anything to do with school, you need to take care of yourself to be in tip-top shape physically, mentally, and emotionally. Habits that you form now can have a significant impact on how your school year begins.
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How can I make going back to school easier?
Even if you love school, being out of your normal routine for a couple of months can make it a bit challenging to go back to school. Implementing a solid self-care routine that includes simple things like getting more sleep, exercise, and hydration can make a difference in preparing yourself to focus at school.
Planning meals, outfits, and schedules are other strategies that can help make returning to school less stressful. A little preparation can make such a big difference for students, parents, and teachers when it comes to planning for back to school.
Why is back to school a good time to focus on self care?
Going back to school can be challenging for teachers, students, and parents. Anyone who is preparing to head back to school should be taking care of themselves so that they can be ready for a great opening to the new academic year.
A new school year can cause lots of stress and anxiety for many people. Here are just a few things to consider at the beginning of a new academic year:
- New classes.
- New students.
- New routines.
- Separation from parents (or kids if you’re a teacher going back to school).
What are some back to school self care tips?
Everyone’s situation is different, but there are some strategies that you can incorporate that may make returning to school just a little bit easier:
- Start making arrangements early. If you know you’ll need help getting your children to/from school, don’t wait until the last minute to ask for help.
- Create a daily schedule. Did you struggle with getting everyone out of the house on time last year? Don’t start this school year with the same shenanigans! Go ahead and make a daily schedule and discuss it with your family so everyone is on the same page about how the morning and afternoon schedules will work.
- Go back-to-school shopping early. Back-to-school sales seem to start earlier and earlier every summer. Don’t procrastinate. Go ahead and get your shopping done and avoid the last-minute chaos in the stores.
- Begin having conversations about school with your kids. You don’t have to have long, drawn-out conversations with them, but go ahead and begin having conversations with them about school. Keep it simple. Ask them what’s on their mind. See if they have any questions or concerns about the upcoming school year.
- Get in some last-minute relaxation. A new school year brings a busy schedule so take advantage of any time that you have to sneak in a little relaxation. If you can grab an extra nap, curl up with a good book, or spend some time outside in nature, do it.
Self Care for Elementary Students
Elementary school is the time to teach children how to take care of their bodies. It’s the perfect time to begin conversations about prioritizing hygiene and physical health. This is also a great age to begin conversations about mental well-being.
Self Care for Middle School Students
Many students have a difficult time transitioning from elementary school to middle school. Guiding middle school students through strategies to promote physical and mental well-being can help ease some of the stress associated with a new school year.
Self Care for High School Students
High school students may not have as many challenges transitioning to a new school year, but they may have difficulties in other areas related to school. Balancing extracurricular activities and academics, facing peer pressures, and planning for the future are just a few of the issues that several high school students deal with. Implementing regular self-care strategies can help high school students be better prepared to deal with all the things that high school brings with it.
Self Care for College Students
Because college students are typically young adults, parents don’t always consider the difficulty that their college students may have transitioning to a new school year. There are several factors that may influence the success of a college student’s year.
Self Care for Teachers
Teachers have many tasks to complete in preparation for a new school year. They spend numerous hours planning and organizing to welcome students back into the classroom. The long hours they spend preparing for their students often keep them from their regular self care routines.
This imbalance should be avoided as it may negatively impact the start of the new school year. Teachers should make every effort to adhere to their self care routines as much as they possibly can.
Self Care for Moms
Back-to-school time can be a stressful time for moms, too. Getting kids ready to get back into a routine can be challenging after weeks of a flexible summer schedule. Moms can make the back-to-school transition a little easier by focusing on their self-care to better deal with the chaos that comes with a new school year.
Speaking of Back to School…
Do you have school supplies yet? You can avoid the chaos and lines at the stores by grabbing several of your back-to-school necessities online. Check out my back to school Amazon Store for some must-have items for the new school year!
