Nobody likes going back to school after the holidays – and no adults really like going back to work after their break either!
But, here’s the thing. If we were on holidays all the time, we’d never appreciate them when they came around. So in a way, we have to get back to a normal routine in order to truly enjoy our holidays when they come around again in a few weeks or months!
If you’re feeling down about going back to school or are worried about exams, here are a few things you can do:
1. Focus on the positive rather than the negative
It’s easy to list off all the things you’re going to miss about being off school but instead, write out what you’re looking forward to about going back to school. For example: seeing your friends again, having a daily routine, getting back to a subject or class you really like, after-school activities or even just your lunch break!
2. Know what you need to do to have a good day
Everyone is different so it’s a really good idea to find out what makes your day great. It might be getting a good night’s sleep the night before, making sure you have all your homework done by 6pm, packing a specific type of sandwich for lunch or maybe having a morning ritual with your parents or siblings where you do a few minutes of mindfulness or make smoothies together!
3. Plan a fun or relaxing after-school activity for yourself each day
If school and homework are not your idea of a good time, it’s important to factor in some time during the day to do something you’re passionate about. All you need is thirty minutes to do what makes you happy – reading, cycling, playing football, painting, singing, doing karate…. Whatever it is, it will help make every day better.
4. Talk about what happened at school
If the thought of going back to school fills you with dread, you’re not alone. And it’s okay to feel those feelings. You don’t need to ignore them. In fact, by bottling them up you might be making them worse than they actually are. Why not make a habit of sharing what happened during your day with your parent or sibling or friend? Alternatively, you could keep a diary where you try to match any bad incident with something good that also happened.
5. Take it one day at a time
It might feel like school is never going to end and that the next set of holidays are a million miles away. Trust us, they’re not. And even though going back to school after Christmas might seem hard, you’ll find that as the days get longer, your school hours will start to feel shorter and before you know it, Easter is just around the corner! Try not to wish the time away – make the best of every day you have and you’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel.
