If you're anything like me, you're probably enjoying your summer to the fullest while keeping in mind what's coming next. After all, Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, once said:
"Preparation is the key to success."
He's was absolutely right. Did you know the Dalai Lama was chosen when he was two years old and prepared for his role his entire life? I'd say he did pretty well for himself, wouldn't you?
That's why you should start preparing for the year ahead. There is a lot to do before September comes and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. After all, who wants to think of another year of studying and sitting through classes while enjoying the hot weather by the pool?
No need to worry, though. As cliché as it may sound, you've come to the right place. I've compiled a list with the top 7 things you must cross off your list to prepare for a year of productivity and success.
1. Start to Slowly Shift to Your School Schedule
Before you start frowning, hear me out. I'm not saying you should cut your wild nights -- not completely. Keep partying and living forever young! However, how about aiming at sticking those nightly hangouts to Fridays and Saturdays?
Once you've done that, you need to start tackling your weekdays. Sit down and think about what would be an appropriate time for you to go to bed during school. Try to be honest and plan enough hours for a proper rest.
If you're going to bed past that hour, try to reduce the difference a little bit every day -- ten, twenty, maybe thirty minutes. By the time school starts, you'll be ready to start feeling fresh and rested every morning.
2. Buy School Supplies
Everyone one knows with every new school year there is a mandatory hunt for school material. We all want the shiniest, the newest, the craziest materials we can get our hands on. Some of us go with a theme -- Harry Potter, Marvel, Barbie, and so on, -- while others keep it minimalistic.
I tend to go with functional. As long as it does what I need it to do, I'm taking it, regardless of being red, blue, or made out of gold -- especially the latter, as it would probably be beyond my budget!
If you want to keep your school year organized, you need to get yourself a Bullet Keeper. There is no way you'll make it through without a reliable planner by your side. You can try to use a notebook, sure, but you'll easily get lost in all your notes. Keeping your ideas, habits, and goals organized will help you more than any colored pen you may buy.
3. Block Out the School Calendar on Your Agenda
Now that you got yourself a Bullet Keeper, it's time to put it to use. Using the new model, you can start your monthly planner on whichever month you prefer. If you still want to keep tabs on all your summer events, just start your planner with July, for example.
Once you've organized your months, block out the dates of important school events -- exams, holidays, celebrations, etc. Having a visual picture of the year ahead will help you visualize your opportunities.
4. Organize Your Workspace
You can't study in bed, it just doesn't work. You need to make sure there is a corner in your home dedicated to school tasks. If you can't find a desk or a table, you can always sit on the floor -- some cultures do it, so why wouldn't you?
Declutter your desk and get rid of old papers from past years. Stock up on paper sheets, pencils, pens, whatever you need to create an environment for success to thrive. Keep your Bullet Keeper front and center, if you don't carry it around with you, so you can always refer back to it and keep yourself on track.
5. Buy Textbooks for the Coming Year
Don't leave this task for the end of your summer as it might backfire -- by the time you get around to do it, the book could be sold out. You don't want to be that student who shows up to class without a textbook. Especially if you were alerted to it a couple months in advance.
Before you head to your local bookstore, though, you should check what are the options online. Nowadays, it's much more affordable to do your textbook shopping at online bookstores -- and you might even get something else with the money you save.
6. Review the Materials from the Previous Year
It's always good to do a quick recap on what you studied the past year. As you flip through the dusty pages of last year's textbooks, you will see you forgot a lot more than you thought.
If you come across a specific topic you certainly have no knowledge about, it might be smart to make a note of it to address it in class. You can write little reminders on your Bullet Keeper for the day of the class, for example. Alternatively, you also can do a bit of studying on your own and try to figure it out before school starts.
7. Prepare for the Year Ahead
You're all set now -- you have your monthly planner, your textbooks, your new school supplies, and your workspace. All you have to do now is prepare for what's coming next. While this isn't a necessary step as the above, it will ensure you're on the right path to success.
You might want to have a quick look at the content you'll be covering -- maybe even get a headstart on those textbooks. However, if you're determined to succeed; grab your Bullet Keeper and start jotting down your SMARTR goals.
All done? Sit back and relax now. The school year is about to start.