1. Don’t Give Up On Sleep

I know it is so much more fun to stay up and read or watch funny videos all night, but if you don’t sleep you aren’t going to be able to push through a busy week, or even a normal week. If you are human, you need rest to survive.

To help me get to sleep, I’ve found that being off of screens for at least 30 minutes is helpful. Also, instead of immediately laying down in bed, I turn off all the lights except maybe a dim lamp and I just sit on my bed. I think about how the day went, what I’m thankful for and just embrace the silence. After about fifteen minutes, I feel a lot more tired and my mind is more peaceful so then I can lay down and go to sleep.

Don’t try to think too much about everything you need to do the next day. If there is something you feel like you have to do or remember, keep a notepad by your bed and jot it down for the next day.

2. Find Motivation

If you are exhausted, sometimes the right motivation can get you through the day or whatever you are going through. Think about the person you want to be. You can’t get there until you live through the here and now. What will help you find joy in the moment or the strength to get through?

Motivation really depends on the person, so think about a reward of sorts you can give yourself. Maybe it's having a sweet treat if you read the rest of the chapter in a textbook, or making a study playlist that helps you focus. You can even somehow decorate the place where you do your homework so it's more appealing to spend time at. Or, find a song that energizes you, or a person that inspires you to be better.

Talking to a friend and sharing the good as well as the bad parts of your life can also really help. They can keep you accountable for any goals you set, and be there beside you every step of the way and if not in person, then in spirit.

3. Keep a Creative Outlet

Just because school is starting, doesn’t mean your creativity has to stop. If you are a writer, an artist, or someone with a lot of creativity, keeping all your ideas inside is going to make you frustrated at some point.

Find a way to keep up your creative hobbies. It doesn’t have to be attending a class, or writing a chapter a week, but a small outlet can go a long way.

We can learn more about ourselves and obtain better mental health through expressing our artistry which is why it's so important to include it in daily life. Whatever you are thinking or feeling, sing it, dance it, write it, or draw it out. Keep your spark of creativity going!!

I wish you all the best of luck this year, and I’ll see you next time! Thanks for stopping by Readers and have a wonderful start to the school year! <3