School days can be tough; from waking up early, to looking presentable, to getting your brain into gear for a full day of learning. School is stressful not to mention the social activities.The workload and constantly being on the go can take its toll on you and make you feel miserable.
Gurl.com has come up with 18 little pointers to help you manage your day better. Try to incorporate these into your daily routine and see how much of a difference it can make to your overall mood. It is a little time consuming but a little bit of planning can really help to lift your spirits. I promise you, the hard work will pay off.
1 Interact with Your Friends
Seeing or talking to your friends can make any school day a little bit better – making friends in school is one of the best things about it! If you don’t have any classes with your friends, try to meet up with them during lunch or even for a minute by your lockers to say hi. And if you have no friends in your school, text them and chat for a little bit. You would be surprised at the difference it can make.
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2 Do Something Enjoyable before You Leave the House
I know, I know – waking up earlier than you have to is not ideal. Except… maybe it is. Giving yourself a little extra time in the morning to relax can change the entire rest of your day. Wake up a half hour earlier and give yourself some time to do something you like, whether it’s slowly drinking coffee in bed, reading your book, watching a TV show, or just cuddling with your dog. It puts you in a good mood, makes you feel calm, and puts your day off to a good start.
3 Wear Something Comfortable That Makes You Feel Good
I’m a pretty firm believer in looking put together when you go to school – I don’t live for the idea of wearing sweatshirts and pajama pants for class. However, I also don’t love the idea of getting really dressed up like you live in a TV show. There’s a happy medium, and it consists of comfortable clothes that make you look and feel good. Find what your definition of that is, and wear it. If you feel confident and comfy in what you’re wearing, it will put you in a better frame of mind.
4 Try Quick Yoga and/or Meditation
It sounds really cliche, but honestly, doing a few minutes of yoga or meditating a day can really, really make things so much better. I used to wake up an hour earlier than necessary and do a half hour of yoga every morning, and it was life changing. I haven’t done it in a while, and I really need to start again. Just give yourself 10 minutes, if that’s all you have, and I promise it will make a difference.
5 Manage Your Time Correctly
Staying organized is such a crucial way to have a good day. Keeping a to-do list and staying on top of your stuff helps make you more productive and keeps you from feeling totally overwhelmed. I feel lost when I go a day without my bullet journal, personally. You don’t need to get super elaborate with your planner or bullet journal, but you should at least write out a to-do list every morning.
6 Eat Breakfast
Yeah, I know, I know, you’ve heard it a million times before: “Eat your breakfast!” It’s old news, I get it. But you know what? It’s popular advice for a reason. Breakfast makes you feel more awake and energized, and can really kick start your day. You don’t need to get crazy and make an artistic smoothie bowl like these – a bowl of cereal will do.
7 Listen to Your Favorite Song
Download your favorite songs and listen to them at some point during the day. They should preferably be upbeat and fun, something that makes you smile and feel like dancing. Just three minutes of happiness can really lift your mood.
8 Have Something Fun Planned for when You Get Home
Giving yourself something to look forward to can do one of two things: either put you in a good mood, or make the day drag. I like to have something to look forward to when I’m home, even if it’s just a new TV show episode I want to watch. If you feel the same, give yourself these little reminders to pump yourself up.
9 Get as Much Sleep the Night before as Possible
This is another popular, yet annoying, tip, but it’s also important. Waking up exhausted sucks. I hate when I stay up too late, wake up late, and then throw off my entire morning routine. It can mess with my whole day, and it probably does the same for you. Force yourself to go to sleep earlier so that you can be well-rested.
10 Give Yourself Some Kind of Midday Treat
Eating healthy is really important, obviously, but who says you can’t have a little treat every day? No one! Have a little chocolate, your favorite candy, or some cookies if you feel like you need to.
11 Smell a Lemon
Weird? Sure. But research has shown that smelling a lemon, or another citrus fruit, can make you feel more energized, awake, and happy. Throw one in your bag, and take a big whiff of it when needed.
12 Laugh at Something
“Laughter is the best medicine” is a saying because it’s true. Giggling over something silly can make you feel better pretty quickly. Save some funny Tumblr posts in your Photos on your phone to look at when you need to smile, or talk to a funny friend.
13 Avoid Negative People
It can be easier said than done, but try to stay away from the negative people in your life. Seeing that girl you used to be friends with or the guy you hate is going to bring you down. Avoid them as much as possible!
14 Pay Attention in Class
You know what makes class go by really fast? Paying attention to what you’re learning. Sitting there, daydreaming and watching the clock, is only going to make things feel super, super slow. Start taking notes and doodling with them, even if you’re not a good artist. Focusing on making your notes look nice could be beneficial in the end.
15 Have Your Work Finished
I’m starting to sound like your teacher, but hear me out! Getting your homework done on time will make your school day feel better. You know when you didn’t finish an assignment and you feel stressed out and hectic all day? That feeling sucks.
16 Exercise at Some Point
You’ve heard this before, but I’ll say it again: exercise boosts endorphins, makes you happier, gives you energy, and just makes you feel accomplished. Get it done in the morning or after school, even if it’s just 20 minutes.
17 Take a Few Minutes for Yourself
Whether it’s eating a piece of chocolate or some cookies, snagging a few minutes of quiet time in a bathroom stall, or reading your book during a short break, give yourself a little bit of me time in the middle of the day. Your schedule should allow for something.
18 Have Something You Wear Every Day That You Love
It sounds weird, but try wearing something signature, like a favorite necklace or earrings, or a patch you love, or your favorite lipstick. If it means something to you, looking at it will make you feel good when you need it.
