Life Hacks for Better School Days
How to Make School Easy, Enjoyable, and Worry Free
Do you wake up 20 minutes after you’re supposed to, cram breakfast down your throat while shoving random folders (that you’re not even sure are the right ones) into your already stuffed backpack, then leave without realizing you forgot your homework and didn’t brush your teeth? I get it. As a middle schooler, I’ve experienced that too. Mornings like these can leave you feeling stressed, and aren’t a good way to start your day. Even if your mornings aren’t that hectic, here are some tips and tricks to make your day as easy going and enjoyable as possible.
- The night before, make your lunch, lay out your clothes for the next day, and put away school supplies, folders, homework, and anything else you need in your backpack. You will thank yourself when morning comes and you don’t have to rush to do these things.
- Put your alarm clock across the room. This way, you can’t automatically hit snooze. Though it may feel good to press that risky button and get a few extra minutes of sleep, if you snooze, you lose…precious time. Also, as you get up and walk across the room, your body will start to wake up.
- Set your alarm clock for 10 minutes earlier than you usually wake up. You may be surprised at how much smoother your mornings will be. If they are less hectic, keep it that way. If not, wake up 15 minutes earlier.
- Put on some music! Your favorite tunes will not only set a positive attitude for the day, but it will help you awaken from grouchy-morning-mode.
- If you constantly forget things; homework, your lunch, your backpack…here’s the perfect trick. Print out a list with whatever you need for school. Hang it by the front door or somewhere you will check everyday before you leave.
- Does your backpack always feel like it weighs a gazillion pounds? Do you even know what’s in there anymore? Prevent that by dumping everything out of it as soon as you get home. Ask your parents to help you sort out what should stay in your backpack, and what shouldn’t. Sorting for five minutes everyday will transform your bag from feeling like bricks to feathers.
- If you have a locker, things can quickly turn into a jungle of mess. Decide on a time before school starts or after it ends to take everything out and sort, like you did with your backpack. Talk to your parents and friends about what should stay in your locker and what shouldn’t. After sorting, organize. Ask your school if you can get a locker shelf to maximize the amount of space you have, and a magnetic hook to hang sweaters. On the inside of the door, try putting a small, magnetic, whiteboard with a few erasable markers. You can write important things for the next day, like a test to study for or something to bring, so you’ll remember them when you pack up to go home.
- Confused about a topic, have some questions that didn’t get answered in class, or need to go over something for a quiz? At the end of class, don’t leave right away. Ask the teacher if you can stay for ten minutes at lunch, after school, or the next morning to review with them. If you are a bit nervous, think about how happy you will be tonight when you can relax, knowing that you won’t stress over it tomorrow when the test comes. Besides, your teacher will be more than happy to help.
- If you have a test coming up, don’t wait to study. Soon, it will be the day before and you will have to frantically cram facts into your brain. Instead, set smaller deadlines throughout the week. For example, on Monday you can review the topics. Tuesday, you can go over any confusing parts with a teacher, though make sure to ask them the day before. On Wednesday, you can make and review flashcards. Thursday, you can ask a guardian to quiz you after school. Friday, you can ace that test because you’ve studied hard!
- Smile! Laugh! Enjoy your day and try to have fun when you can. This is the most important task of them all. If you are happy, others will be too. A positive outlook will make your day seem so much better.
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Throughout the years, I have had many close calls with being late, forgetting something, or remembering a test last minute. Now, I am an older and wiser middle schooler, and I have learned from my mistakes and picked up these tricks. Hopefully these life hacks help make your day easy, enjoyable, and worry free.
