Listening to the sweet melody of ocean waves, watching blue skies fade into orange, wind blowing in your hair, sand in your toes….describe summer without saying summer. We know, we miss summer too, tell us in the comments how you spent your summer vacation.
Unfortunately, folks, it is time for us all to snap out of summer and land feet first into back-to-school mode. It’s time to transition mindsets.
For those of you who are going from High school to College for the first time, this year is going to be different from anything you’ve experienced before. More challenges, more opportunities, and a unique opportunity to start afresh. The same applies if you are a graduate student. Or, if you are returning back to school for your next academic session. So read on to find out how to transition your mindset. To set you up for success, we present to you your official guide on how to transition back to school mode.
Transition Tip #1: Organize and Plan
You know we are all about planning here at the SASS. So, as you get back into the groove of the semester, make sure you organize and plan. Identify and organize all the study materials you might need, including textbooks and other supplies. Take some time to note down important dates for exams, assignments, and project deadlines. Use a physical planner, or a digital planner/calendar (for those who do not understand the joys of crossing things off) to keep track of the different dates. Lastly, ensure that you create a daily or weekly to-do list to help you keep everything on track. If you can stay on track in the 1st month of the semester, you have a higher chance of finishing strong.
Tip #2: Re-establish your routine
During the summer break, you were probably not paying as much attention to your previous routine as you should have. The re-start of classes/school is a good time to get back in the groove. If you have 8am classes, you no longer have the luxury to sleep in until 10 am like you did during the summer. So you’ll need to adjust accordingly. Working out in the middle of the day might not be possible depending on your class and work schedule, so you might also need to re-establish the habit of waking up earlier in the day to workout or later at night. If you follow step #1 and take stock of all the activities you want/need to do in a day, you’ll have a higher chance of actually accomplishing them.
Transition Tip #3: Set S.M.A.R.T goals
Go check out the blog post we wrote on goal setting. Our top 3 tips on goal setting still apply, be TRUE, KIND and FIRM to yourself as you set your goals.
Tip #4: Schedule your time for breaks
Do not neglect the importance of planning periods of rest and leisure in your schedule. The lack of scheduled breaks and planned leisure events often leads to burnout – the feeling of energy depletion or exhaustion. You want to avoid the feeling of burnout because by the time most people arrive here, it can take months to re-invigorate them or inspire them to keep going. The semester is only a few months long, if you feel burnout halfway through you may not have time to recover. So pro-actively take care of yourself.
Transition Tip #5: Attend Orientation
Highly recommended if it is your first time on a College Campus. We understand that the idea of attending orientation might seem lame to you. But there are only a few places where you can meet other new college/graduate/international students like you en-masse. Your first week on campus is a unique time. Take advantage of this and attend as many orientation events as you can. It is a time to learn the campus culture, and make some friends that will help keep you sane once the not so fun realities of school sets in.
In conclusion, while it’s natural to feel a bit anxious about the unknown, a new school year or semester, remember that every student around you is probably experiencing similar feelings. Lean into that. The beginning of a new school year is a collective experience, so don’t feel isolated. Take advantage of the chance to make new friends, discover new interests, set ambitious goals, and re-write your story.
Remember, your friends at the Savvy Afro Success are only a phone call away if you ever need someone to cheer you on! Book a call with us, we are rooting for you!