Back to school survival guide

Getting back into the routine after the summer holidays is hard and you'll soon be thinking about the Christmas holidays while you're in class staring into the distance.

But we want to make the return to school as painless as possible, so here are a few tips that will cushion the fall. Some of these tips involve a bit of work and effort before class, but you'll thank yourself in time.

The key is to have everything ready and prepared before you start, buy all the textbooks and materials you will need. Doing a bit of work beforehand will allow you to rest much better when the course starts. 

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• Always keep the timetable in mind

As soon as you get the timetable for each class, it is important to have it everywhere you can. It's good to have it in a folder and stuck on the front page (or on the first page of the diary), but there are better places.

Always put it on the lock screen of your mobile or in a shortcut on the home screen, so that, at most in one click, you will have it at your fingertips. It is normal not to know it at the beginning of the course (there are some who finish the year and don't know it), so always keep it in mind.

But the most important thing is to keep it in your room or study place. That way you will know at a glance what subject is due tomorrow and if you have something to do. You can write it down on a large blackboard with space to write things down or on a poster board with space to stick post-its.

• What motivates you to study?

You have to have something that encourages you to study, something that is more than just passing. A holiday trip, a party, seeing someone, the release of a film or a game. There has to be something that you count down the days and look forward to.

Write down what motivates you to study and set a calendar with a countdown. That way you will know that in the end your work will pay off. There are many ways to find motivation, find your own.

• Use various tricks to get up in the morning.

On the first days of school it is always more difficult to jump out of bed, it's more like crawling out of bed. So use some tricks that can help you:

• Use a song that motivates you: start the day with a song that keeps you wide awake and encourages you to eat the world. You may end up hating it, but it's worth making the sacrifice to avoid being late and getting off to a bad start.
• A very annoying noise: some people find it works to start the day in a bad mood and play a very annoying noise in the morning. You may end up hating yourself and start the day in a foul mood, but you'll start it, which is what it's all about.
• Set the alarm earlier: for the first two weeks it is advisable to get up a little earlier, or at least set the alarm. This has two good things, the first is that you run less risk of being late. The second is that you'll get into a good routine and when you start to get into a bit of a hurry, those extra 5 minutes in bed will be very beneficial.
• Set the alarm clock away from the bed: one of the oldest tricks in existence. If you set the alarm clock far away from the bed, you force yourself to get up to turn it off. But the complication lies in not going back to bed to continue sleeping.

• Prepare everything the day before.

Prepare your backpack with your books and clothes for the next day in the evening, before you go to bed. This is the key to not rushing around in the morning and not forgetting anything. If you are able to do this every day and have a routine you will gain a lot of time and peace of mind in your life.

This may be one of the things that you only do for the first few weeks and then you may neglect it as you get older, but if you start with the intention of doing it you will get through the first few weeks on the right foot.

• Create your work and materials space

You need to have a space to study every day and a place where you have all your books and school materials. It is important that you always study in the same place or at least have a place set aside for it.

Try to keep it tidy at all times, it is perhaps the most important part of your room so keep it in good condition. If you do it every day it shouldn't take more than 2 minutes to tidy and clean, although the less stuff you have the better. Clean up and only have what you really need.

• Go to bed earlier and get up a little earlier

As mentioned above, this is a good routine for the first few weeks. Set yourself a bedtime and try not to make it too long. Sleep 8 hours every day, the beginning of the course is more relaxed so make the most of it, later on you won't have so much time.

Have a routine, such as watching a series or reading before going to bed and when you finish, turn off the light and rest. It is not advisable to cut back on sleep, but if you end up doing so, it is better to do so having had enough rest beforehand.

• Have a lazy day before you go back

Learn to disconnect in the best possible way. Before the first day of school, try to rest as much as possible, do things that don't waste your energy and allow yourself to indulge as much as possible. It's your last day of holidays, make the most of it and recharge your batteries for the first week.

• Buy all the material before you start.

There is nothing like starting the school year with new school supplies. There are many people who like to have new pencil cases, backpacks and pens. Don't underestimate the power of looking good on the first days of school, anything is necessary to get motivated and get good grades.

• Make a list of contacts

You may have most of your classmates on your mobile, but if you don't, it's always good to know everyone and have their phone number. You never know when you might need notes or help from them.

Many tutors work by email, so keep a paper list of all their email addresses, so you can email them if necessary. If you are one of those who loses things, make several photocopies.

• Use technology

How many apps have you downloaded to study better and not used? It is normal that you end up forgetting about them, but give them a chance from time to time. If you manage to use apps like Google calendar or Evernote you will end up doing things twice as fast and much better.

All these tips will help you, none of them will hinder you from returning to your studies. But it is clear that nobody does them all, let alone all the time. If one day you don't get up earlier or you don't use the calendar on the wall, don't worry, tomorrow will be another day and maybe even more productive than today.