Coming back to school from winter break is always hard. Getting back into your routine can be very stressful and throw you off, causing a rough start to the new semester. Once you fall behind, it can take time to get back on track. From trial and error, I’ve collected some tips that help with returning to school and staying on track for the rest of the year.

You may hear it all the time but sleep is vital to doing well in school. You may have to stay up late to get all your work done, but the most efficient way to go about things is to find time for homework without cutting into your sleep schedule. Without sleep, you can develop serious health problems, and most teens underestimate the damage not sleeping can do, such as mind fog, stress, and exhaustion. All of these issues can be avoided by aiming for eight hours of sleep each night. If you struggle with sleep, try stretching before bed and staying hydrated throughout the day.

Though sleep is important, starting the morning right by eating also has its benefits. Classes can be very difficult if you aren’t taking the best care of yourself. It’s already 6 in the morning, so it’s good to have a breakfast packed with nutrients to give you energy throughout the day. If you’re eating, drinking water, and sleeping enough, you have the key components to having a clear, hardworking mind for school.

Now that you have a foundation established, you need some ways to manage and organize everything. Having a daily routine can also help you avoid stress, you can start by creating a to-do list. Some people even with a list forget, so setting alarms for the day is another step to stay on track. Having something to look at to remind you of the plan for the day might be helpful.

Making sure you have enough time to work and have free time in the day can be hard but, this can be done with time management. Use your time well, for example, if you finish a class assignment use that extra time to get more done on your to-do list.

 Finally, stress can often be the main downfall for students. Sometimes maintaining a constant schedule can be hard causing you to fall behind, so it’s very important to try and avoid and handle daily stress. To help with this, try to create a pleasant work environment. For you, this could be music or a comfort movie playing in the background as a noise or distraction.  With the busyness of school and life it is good to set time aside to do activities you like, whether this be a sport or an instrument. Don’t be afraid to reach out for some help and to ask questions when you’re stuck. If you reach out to teachers or staff there will always be someone there willing to help.