Start Strong: New Habits for a New School Year

Habits are the things that you do without really thinking about them, like brushing your teeth, saying “please” and “thank you,” or even setting your alarm before you go to bed. Think of them as all the tricks you’ve learned and practised until they’ve become second nature. Many habits are extremely useful because they help you do things quickly and smoothly. Developing effective habits when it comes to school can also be beneficial. They can make you less stressed, feel more in control, and leave you with more free time to do the things you love to do. 

Remember: It can take time for new habits to become part of your routine. To help, try habit-stacking. Decide on what your goal is, and then add it to something that you already do naturally. For instance, organize your backpack for the next day right after you brush your teeth at night, or check your class schedule every time you open your locker. 

There are many other ways to develop habits and achieve goals. For more ideas, read our article How to Set Realistic Goals.

It’s no secret that high school demands juggling numerous classes, each with a substantial amount of materials to keep track of. Whether it’s course outlines or assignment guidelines, organizing everything is crucial; otherwise, finding what you need can become quite the challenge.

Let’s start with your school bag. An organized and tidy backpack not only makes it easier to find what you need, but it will also be less heavy to carry around. Follow these steps:

• Sort your materials into separate binders or folders by class, or use dividers if you’re combining different subjects into one binder. Colour-code or label each binder to distinguish between subjects.
• Check your schedule to see which classes are coming up, and pack only the materials you need for those classes. Your back will thank you!
• Use the smaller pockets in your bag to store your wallet, phone, keys, bus pass, and smaller items like a pencil case or geometry set.

Your school locker also needs a little TLC. Here’s how to get it working for you: 

• Sort things by subject. Keep your materials grouped together by class—math books and papers with other math stuff, your science textbook with your science folder, and so on.
• Give everything a home. Got a loose paper? Store it in the right binder or recycle it if you no longer need it.
• Maximize space. Use every bit of space you have. Hang bags with gym clothes or class materials on the hooks. Store your binders and books on the top shelf, and keep shoes or winter boots at the bottom. You can even get additional locker organizers like magnetic holders and adjustable shelves. Check your local thrift store for some cool finds or ideas! And how about a magnetic dry erase board? They’re great for jotting down reminders or motivational quotes!
• Keep your schedule on display. Tape your class schedule to the inside of your locker door so you always know where you need to be.
• Keep it locked. Always use a lock. Make sure you practise the combination beforehand!
• Keep it tidy. Clean out your locker regularly. You don’t want to find an old sandwich or half-eaten fruit hiding in there after a few months!

And one final organization tip: Avoid the morning rush by getting ready the night before. No one likes starting their day scrambling to find things, while also trying to decide what to wear, make lunch, eat a quick breakfast, and dash out to catch the bus. Being prepared will make your mornings much less stressful!

Developing good study habits can boost your confidence and reduce your anxiety. They also help you learn and remember information better. Building effective study skills takes time and practice, so the beginning of the school year is the perfect time to think about what habits you’d like to build.

A great place to start is thinking about what kind of learner you want to be this year. What skills or habits would this learner practise daily? For example, an organized learner would:

• Keep their papers and assignments in the right binder
• Write due dates in their agenda or on a monthly calendar
• Organize their backpack 

Once you know the type of learner you want to be, check out our handy list to see which skills can help you reach your goal.

• Develop strong note-taking skills. Being able to summarize the most useful or pertinent information during a teacher’s lesson is an important skill and one that will serve you well even beyond high school. Alloprof’s concept sheet Taking Notes has some great tips and downloadable tools to help you improve your note-taking skills. 
• Activate prior learning. Try going over your notes from the previous lesson before your next class. Not only will this help you make connections to new  information, it will also highlight areas where you might need help from your teacher.
• Try asking more questions. Asking questions in class will help you clarify your thoughts, especially when it comes to complex ideas and concepts. You could also schedule a one-on-one meeting with your teacher for extra help.
• Dare to answer more questions. Raise your hand to contribute answers in class. This will help confirm that you understand the material and demonstrate to your teacher that you’re actively engaged in your learning. 
• Aim to work more with your peers. Sharing and working through ideas with your classmates is another effective way to learn new information and practise your skills. Work with someone during class, if permitted, or at lunch in the library. Form a study group to practise and review for tests and exams.  
• Try doing more homework at school. The more you get done at school, the less you‘ll have to tackle at home. So, if your teacher gives you time in class to do homework, make the most of it. Alternatively, you could use some of your lunch periods to prepare for upcoming tests and evaluations. These time-savers will help you especially if you have extra-curricular activities or a part-time job. 
• Focus on maintaining a positive attitude. If you’re feeling dread or stress at the start of a new school year, now is a great time to practise seeing the glass as half full. Try positive self-talk, relaxation techniques, or joining new activities like a school team or club. Worried about building relationships with new teachers, especially in subjects you’re not fond of? Be patient, open-minded, and always respectful. Remember, a new year means a fresh start. Check out Alloprof’s article How to Improve Your Relationship with Your Teacher for some excellent tips and advice on building a positive student-teacher relationship.
• Incorporate active study strategies. Active studying involves using techniques that help you engage with and retain the information you learn in school. Some examples include self-quizzing with flashcards, organizing concepts using graphic organizers like mind maps to show connections between ideas, using Venn diagrams to compare and contrast information, and even doing physical activities like walking around while you study. 
• Strive to be on time. Are you often late handing in assignments? Do you have trouble getting to school on time? There are some simple habits you can adopt to improve your punctuality. Get ready the night before by packing your school bag, making your lunch, picking out your clothes, and setting your alarm. Use your agenda to keep track of assignment and test dates. Try Alloprof’s prioritization tool to help you plan out your tasks according to their level of urgency and importance.  
• Stop multitasking. You might think you can handle multiple tasks at once, but research shows that most people can’t. For instance, avoid studying for a test while streaming your favourite show or switching rapidly between subjects. Instead, create a timetable and break down assignments into smaller, manageable steps. Make sure to incorporate breaks into your homework schedule to recharge your brain!
• Avoid distractions. Although your phone can be a great source of information, it can also take precious time away from your schoolwork. This year, try limiting your phone use. You’ll find some great tips in our article Avoiding Phone Distraction While You Study. 

High school is an exciting time filled with unique opportunities, but it can also be daunting. Here’s a list of healthy life habits to keep you in top shape: 

• Get consistent sleep. 
• Focus on healthy eating.
• Exercise regularly.
• Keep hydrated.
• Spend time with people who lift you up. 
• Find an extracurricular activity unrelated to school.