Even if you wear a uniform to school, you can still put all your clothes in one place and double check that they’re wrinkle-free.
If you usually buy lunch at school, put your lunch money on the counter the night before so you can easily grab it in the morning. If you’re looking for easy, healthy lunches you can prepare in advance, try peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bagels with cream cheese, or turkey and cheese sandwiches. Don’t forget to pack a couple sides, like fruit, trail mix, carrots, or crackers.
Keep your backpack in a really noticeable spot, like next to the front door or on your desk in your room, so you don’t have to look for it in the morning.
When you’re finished with your homework, don’t forget to put it in your backpack right away. That way, you won’t forget it or have to go looking for it in the morning.
If other priorities are interfering with your schoolwork, talk to your parents about how you might be able to reschedule things so you can get enough sleep for school.
Coffee and tea aren’t the only beverages with caffeine in them. Sodas and sports drinks can also have caffeine, so always check labels or look it up online if you’re not sure.
If you need a reminder, set an alarm 30 minutes before your bedtime. When the alarm goes off, you’ll know it’s time to put away screens for the night.
If you’re between 6 and 12 years old, try to get 9-12 hours of sleep every night. If you’re between 13 and 18 years old, try to get 8-10 hours of sleep every night.
Generally, you’ll sleep best if your room is 60–67 °F (16–19 °C). [11] X Research source
It’s OK to sleep with a dim night light if you need one. Just make sure the rest of the lights in your room are off.
You can journal about anything that’s weighing on your mind. For example, if you’re worried about a big test, write down the main points you need to remember so you can stop obsessing over them. Or, if you have a lot of assignments that are due soon, write out a quick to-do list for the upcoming days and weeks to get them off your mind.
Ideally, you should set your alarm for an hour to an hour and a half before you need to leave for school. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to take a shower, get ready, and eat breakfast. [15] X Expert Source César de León, M. Ed. Educational Leadership Consultant Expert Interview. 11 November 2020. If you’re used to hitting the snooze button in the morning, it might take some time to break the habit. Just try your best to sit up and get out of bed immediately after your alarm goes off. Use an old-school alarm clock instead of your cell phone. That way, your alarm will still go off even if your phone isn’t charged. [16] X Expert Source César de León, M. Ed. Educational Leadership Consultant Expert Interview. 11 November 2020.
Choose a spot that you won’t be able to reach from your bed, like a desk across the room or a far-away window sill.
You could also ask an early-rising friend to call you each morning to make sure you’re awake. [18] X Expert Source César de León, M. Ed. Educational Leadership Consultant Expert Interview. 11 November 2020.
There are even alarm clocks you can buy that have lights built into them. When the alarm goes off, the lights turn on, making it easier to wake up.
If you plan on showering before school, try turning the water to cold for 30 seconds right before you get out to help wake you up.
If anyone in your family is still asleep, listen to music using headphones so you don’t wake them up.
If you have short hair and it’s messy, wet it down with water and run a brush or comb through it to quickly style it.
For example, you can simplify your eye makeup by skipping eyeshadow and eyeliner and just applying mascara. You can also speed up your routine by ditching foundation and just using concealer on any spots you want to cover up. If you usually fill in your eyebrows before school, try running a colored brow mascara through them instead, which will be faster than using powders or pencils.
To save yourself even more time in the morning, make your breakfast the night before. For example, you can make a breakfast burrito by wrapping scrambled eggs, potatoes, and meat in a tortilla. Then, wrap it in aluminum foil and store it in the freezer. In the morning, you can heat it up in the microwave and eat it while you’re getting ready. If you’re running behind in the morning, you can eat your breakfast on the way to school to save yourself time.
For example, if the bus picks you up at 8, plan on heading to the bus stop at 7:50 every morning. That way, you have 10 extra minutes in case you ever need them.
