“Adjusting to School Schedule”

As summer comes to an end, we all must re-adjust our schedules. The days will be getting shorter and school will be back in session. Change is not easy for any of us, so here are some suggestions on how to adjust to your school schedule.

If you have slept late, all summer long, it will take more than the alarm clock to get you out of bed for school! Try getting up a little earlier 2 to 3 days prior to the 1st day of school. This will re-acclimate you to early rising, and you won’t be sleepy during class.

Do your laundry, or have someone assist you in doing it, on the weekends. This way you will have clean clothes for the week of school ahead. You may even want to choose your outfits in advance, this will give you more time in the mornings for other preparation. You may also want to check the upcoming forecast on TV or online to ensure you are dressed appropriately for weather conditions.

Make sure you have your cabinets stocked with quick morning meals like cereal, bagels and frozen waffles. You will have less time for breakfast prep, so it is best to cook simple dishes or eat cold items. You should also have all lunch items purchased prior for the week ahead as well. Based on how much prep time you have before school, you can either make your sandwich or pack fruit or snacks in the morning or the night before.

Plan ahead for an organized afternoon routine. Decide whether you will begin homework as soon as you arrive home, or whether you prefer to have a snack or a nap first. If you participate in an after school activity, you will have less time for homework, dinner and recreation. If your week varies with day to day activities, you may want to purchase a day planner or make up your own written schedule to keep track of daily goings-on.

Re-adjusting to a school schedule after a long summer may be a challenge. But if you follow the simple tips above, you will successfully re-introduce structure into your everyday routine.