Back to School 2025: Your September Checklist
Some of you may be sad to say goodbye to the summer holidays and the freedom that can come with it. Others may welcome autumn with open arms and find heading back to school or college and getting back into a routine a much more satisfying experience.
Whichever camp you’re in, September has arrived. You may be back in school or college already, or you’re due to go back very soon. To make the transition back as easy as possible, preparation is key.
So, to help you, here’s a checklist of all the things you need to consider…
Plan your route
This September might be a bit different for some of you. You might have changed schools or started college and you need to plan your route. Or the journey you take to school, or college is so familiar to you, you could do it with your eyes closed.
Whether you’re walking, cycling, wheeling, driving or using public transport, there are lots of factors to consider. Time, environmental impact and cost are all things we need to think of when planning our journey.
If you need help sorting out your journey to school or college, check out our GMACS blog with all the info you need.
Settle into a good sleep routine
There’s a high chance you’ve been told all your life that getting a good night’s sleep is necessary, and whilst most of us already know this we still don’t get the amount of sleep we need. It’s difficult when we live in the digital age and we can’t escape the distractions.
But getting the right amount of rest can do our physical and mental health wonders. Even one bad night’s sleep can impact us for days.
There are some of things we can do to help us get some premium shut eye.
- Put down your devices at least 30 minutes before bed. As hard as it can be, try and keep away from technology as it can cause you to become over stimulated.
- Set a bedtime. It may feel almost childish to set a bedtime, but many adults have a rough bedtime they like to keep to. Having a set time each night to head to bed will help you form a routine.
- Create a peaceful environment. Your bedroom should be a place for rest. Understandably, this isn’t the case for everyone, you might share a room or use your bedroom to work from. If this is you, try and avoid doing anything in bed other than rest. Your body will naturally associate the bed with sleep, meaning you should nod off quicker!
Pack your essentials
There will be some items that school or college have told you to pack, they may have even sent you a list. There may be other things you need in your bag that are specific to you.
Making a list of all the things you need will help you organise yourself better, and means you’ll avoid the panic induced rush to make sure you’ve got everything you need the morning of your first day back.
A good tip to follow is to pack your bag the evening before, so if anything is missing you have time to deal with it.
Check your start date
Knowing the actual day that you’re starting back at school or college is important.
These can be different for everyone, this is because of things like inset days, or that different educational facilities begin their courses on different dates. Some schools have also introduced staggered start times. This means that some pupils will go back to school earlier than others, to make the transition easier.
It’s always worth checking, you don’t want to be the only one stood on a rainy day at the bus stop, wondering where everyone else is!
Decide on your outfit
Similarly to packing your bag, planning what you’re going to wear is quite important.
If you have a school uniform, then picking an outfit isn’t an issue for you. However, some of the advice here will come in handy.
Firstly, dressing appropriately for the weather is important. September can offer us some late summer sun, or the winter weather might have arrived early. It can be unpredictable. Prepare as best as you can for the weather.
Secondly, planning your outfit the evening before can make your morning a much smoother experience. If you’ve been giving yourself lovely long lie ins all summer, an early alarm will be enough of a shock to the system. Make your life easier and pick out your clothes the night before.
Finally, wearing clothes that express who you are and that make you feel good can make you feel more confident. Taking some extra time to pick clothes that make you feel comfortable will help you feel at ease for the rest of the day.
Eat breakfast
Again, being told to eat breakfast is another piece of advice you’ve heard time and time again, and for good reason.
Food is fuel, and making sure we eat something that gives us nutrients can help. Eating breakfast can have many health benefits and give us the energy we need to concentrate during lessons.
If you’d like to learn more about healthy eating. Check out this Curriculum for Life article to see how to incorporate healthy food into your diet.
Take a deep breath. You’re going to be great
It’s normal to feel nervous when you’re starting back school or college in September. You haven’t seen any of your classmates or teachers for some time and settling back into a routine can be challenging.
It’s worth remembering these anxious thoughts you may be experiencing can be worse than the reality of the situation.
However, if your have concerns about your welfare, speak to the adult in your life. You deserve to feel comfortable and safe whilst you learn.
