It's the moment you've been anticipating all summer: the first day of school. Gear up for the journey of knowledge and self-discovery that awaits you--and for all those pep rallies, football games and proms--by starting the new year with a new attitude. After all, this is your prime time to shine both inside and outside the classroom. And the following tips will help you be your best the instant that bell rings
Stay organized.
Get a handle on long-term assignments like term papers and science projects by making a step-by-step activity plan. Use a date planner or calendar to chart when your work is due so that you can see how much time you have to complete it, and include a list of daily or weekly deadlines.
Create a study zone.
Make homework a pleasant affair by creating a quiet area in your home to study. Establish a set time for homework and ask other family members to respect your study time as do-not-disturb time. Keep your study zone bright, clean and well-stocked with study supplies such as pens, highlighters, notebooks, a dictionary and a calculator. Remove distractions like the television, the telephone and loud music. Allow yourself breaks to prevent burnout, but keep them to a minimum.
Eat healthy.
If deep-dish pizza, double-decker hamburgers, onion rings swimming in ketchup, and nachos dripping with cheese and jalapenos are the only items on your lunch menu, you're doing your body a disservice.
Today, three times as many teens are overweight as in 1980, according to government data. And Black teens are more likely to carry extra pounds than Whites, putting them at higher risk for obesity-linked conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
As a young adult, you have to take responsibility for your good health. Start your school day with a well-balanced breakfast and strive to make healthier food choices outside the home. Go for healthy snacks like fresh fruits and vegetables and limit the junk and fast food, which not only can pack on the pounds, but can cause a host of digestive problems.
Get sleepy.
Teens especially need plenty of sleep since physiological changes that occur during adolescence increases your need to snooze. In fact, research shows that teens need more sleep than younger kids. That said, now is the time to get back on your school-year sleep schedule, especially if you've been staying up with the owls this summer.
And don't forget to create relaxing bedtime rituals for yourself. Take a soothing, scented bubble bath, read a chapter from a good novel, listen to some slow jams or write your thoughts in a journal. Come morning, you'll be so refreshed and alert you'll be eager to answer those tough questions in history class.
Keep an emergency kit.
Head off school emergencies by keeping a personal kit in your locker or backpack. Stuff it with the essentials--extra pair of underwear, tampons, gum or breath mints.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
Stress is a natural part of high school life. But when it hits, find positive ways to keep it in check. Jog around the track, take a bike ride, do karate kicks. Or talk it out. Talking about problems with friends and loved ones helps reduce their impact on your life and health. Or just close your eyes, take slow, deep breaths and chill.
Love yourself.
Nobody's perfect. So instead of lamenting over your so-called flaws, focus on the good stuff about yourself. Accept yourself for the wonderful person you are, and you'll be a success in school and in life.