Back to school? Here’s how to make the most of it

Get organised from the start, and smash this year into tiny pieces.

You probably tried not think about it over summer, but school is back and it’s time to get your head in the game. Here are four ways to get your year started right.

Get your calendar sorted

It can be online, on your phone or in an actual paper diary (or, if you’re disorganised, an unholy combination of all three). Either way, get into the habit of putting important dates – like when assignments are due – into your calendar.

Work on your time management

Even more importantly, get in the habit of checking your calendar. That way you’ll know how long you have to get things done. But time management is also about what you do in a day as well as long term. Make an effort to ensure you’re not going to be forced to write three essays and paint a portrait of your aunty the night before they’re all due.

Write down some goals

Think about what you’d like to achieve this year. That’s a big taask, so break it up into pieces. Write down some goals you want to reach in three months, six months and at the end of the school year. They don’t all have to be academic, either – the main thing is to picture yourself on this day a year from now. What do you want to have done? Check back on these goals regularly, to make sure you’re on track.

You’re not alone with your studies. There are people all around you in the same boat, feeling stressed and wanting to build a bright future for themselves. Find these people – in your classroom, on social media, through A•STAR – and help each other out. Don’t ever feel like you can’t share your struggles with someone else.