Back to Cool: Maintaining Mental Health During the School Year
Category: Misc.
Preparing for back-to-school? Create a routine, practice self-care, and embrace the transition. Tri-Star Counseling is here to support you.
Topic Of Discussion
For even the biggest bookworms, back-to-school season can be a slog. Shifting from the lazy, crazy days of summer back to due dates and report cards usually isn’t an easy transition for anybody, and, too often, the pressures that come with making grades and beating the school bell cause everyone affected – parents, teachers, and students – to put any mental health practices they perfected over the summer on the back burner.
But back-to-school doesn’t necessarily have to mean back-to-pressure. With some good habit-building, preparation, and commitment, back-to-school can just as easily be back-to-cool.
Preparation is key
Changing your pace from 0-10 on short notice is never really a good idea with anything…and back-to-school is no exception. Try to get back-to-school shopping and other prep work done ahead of time to decrease stress and increase mental well-being. In line with that…
Create a routine (and practice it)
It’s just a fact: if you maintain (likely later) summer bedtimes up until the night before school starts…you’re probably going to have even more trouble sleeping than you would’ve if you were just dealing with those inevitable first day of school jitters. The point is, routines take practice. To make your back-to-school routine smoother, start practicing it the week before.
Give yourself grace
Every transition has its hiccups. Give yourself grace in tougher moments. Remember that most things get easier with time to adjust! Take breaks, practice mindfulness, and trust your process.
Joy knows no season
Is it corny to say so? Yes. But is it true? Also yes! Remember that just because summer is ending, it doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun or taking care of yourself. Spooky season is right around the corner, and that time you took to soak in the sun will probably open the door to all kinds of new possibilities as the seasons change. Back-to-school can be no big deal!
Wrapping it up
Is the overwhelm winning out over the joy? It happens. And at Tri-Star Counseling, our compassionate, funny counselors are here to help you if you need it!
