As we all know, establishing a new routine for the beginning of the school year is often challenging. For example, turning on your alarm, and waking up in the darkness part is not fun for anyone. Thankfully, you are not alone. There are multiple ways to get out of that mindset and get a good start to your year. 

1 – Get Organized

This part of school is crucial to have academic success for your school year and career. You will need to be aware of school policies and supply lists and look into getting a binder, necessary notebooks, and even a planner. Whether it is a physical planner or a digital one, keeping track of your assignments, tests, and appointments can make a big difference in your school day. This will help you sort out what is necessary and what is not. It is difficult to be stress-free when all your worksheets are in the deep, dark depths of your backpack and crumbled beyond recognition. It is important to keep everything separated in their own notebook, binder, or folder to be successful.

2 – Improve Yourself

This arrangement is easier said than done. It is important to develop good habits and find a good routine. Creating flashcards, writing what you know, and/or reading your notes are great examples of how to effectively study. Along with this, you should also prioritize and manage your time wisely. Get enough study time in, complete your tasks, maintain your overall well being, and get enough sleep. Helping the human body stay healthy will reflect on your school ability because according to cdc.gov, “Students should get the proper amount of sleep at night to help stay focused, improve concentration, and improve academic performance.” During your adolescent years, if you don’t treat your body right, you have a “…higher risk for many health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, poor mental health, and injuries.” (cdc.gov) 

3 – Develop a Balanced and Complete Nutrition

Continuing on with improving yourself, eating is one of the utmost importance for your body’s well-being. It is the fuel of the human body and affects your school performance. Every morning before school, you should eat a healthy breakfast as it is the most crucial meal of the day. Try to get your protein, and drink a glass of water, juice, or milk. This also can help you wake up faster and be motivated for the day. Try to pack a nutritious and filling lunch to finish your day off strong, along with some more water. According to unitypoint.org, nuts, seeds, salmon, beans, blueberries, dark and leafy greens, lean red meat, avocados, and tomatoes are excellent examples of “brain food” for high school students. Energy, protein, vitamins, iron, and antioxidants come along with eating these. This can help you focus to the best of your abilities, and get the best sources of nutrition you can get.  

4 – Establish a Routine

Having a routine is essential for a good year. Picking out an outfit before you go to sleep, and pre-setting one alarm for each week day is strongly recommended. This is key for school because you can figure out how to manage your time effectively, create a structured environment, and increase productivity. This can reduce stress, increase motivation, and improve your overall academic performance. According to chacha-olivia.com, “Picking out your outfit at night is so much easier and less stressful than doing it in the morning when you’re trying to rush out the door. I find it to be very similar to a to-do list in that it helps things run a little more smoothly and makes me feel better prepared.” This is even more of a reason to act as needed to be the most prepared for the next day. It is very important for you to be stress-free before going to school. 

5 – Join a Club or Sport

Joining a club or sport is an amazing way to meet new people, develop new skills, and to have fun at the start of the school year. There are clubs for almost anything and it would be great to explore your passion, gain more experience or knowledge, and stay engaged and active in school activities. There are multiple sports you can try out at that Apex offers, including women’s wrestling now! Then there are also art, culinary, and religious clubs that we offer here as well. For example, a current Apex student Laila Hadad 26’ is on the women’s wrestling team.

Why did you join wrestling?

“Coach Morton, and you know I did weight training, and he was pushing me to join wrestling and my friend of the time walked me to coach Morton’s office and put my name on the roster.”

Why are you still in wrestling?

Because it made me a better person and teaches me a lot about life and it kind of shows you how you’re going through life and it’s one big circle. It’s all about mentality and nothing physical. 

I would say her answers are very inspiring because it shows that she has grown as a person while making new friendships here at Apex through her sport. Other than wrestling, there are plenty of other sports and clubs to join and learn more about each other. Laila, (class of ‘26) is a perfect example of how easy it is to make new connections and friendships. 

Overall, school is going to be difficult no matter the scenario. The only solution is to minimize the stress and workload so you can manage your time and do what you need to have a successful year. It is essential to emphasize the importance of finding a balance between academics, extracurriculars, and personal life. By getting organized, improving yourself, developing nutritious values, establishing a routine, and joining clubs or sports, students can create a solid foundation for the start of their school year.