A young girl and boy jump. Another girl wears a backpack.

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Your Back to School Survival Guide

Are you back in a classroom? Learning from home? A little bit of both? Make the most of the school year, wherever you are!

Don't Wait!

You’re going to start your project . . . as soon as you finish this game. Sound familiar? Putting tasks off is called procrastinating. It can end up making you fall behind and feel upset. Here are tips for fighting it.

MAKE A LIST of what you need to do. Check things off as you do them.

SET A TIMER for 20 minutes. Work until it stops. 

TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK before starting again. (It’s a perfect time to stretch!)

When you finish, REWARD YOURSELF with a favorite book or fun video.

Be Calm!

School can bring stress. You might face homework overload. Or you might have computer problems right before an online lesson. Don’t hide under your desk! Try using your five senses to calm down.

1. Name five things you can SEE. 

2. List four things you can HEAR. 

3. Identify three things you can TOUCH. 

4. Name two things you can SMELL.

5. Identify one thing you can TASTE. 

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Set Smart Goals

In summer, your only goal may have been to stay cool. Now it’s time to aim higher! What do you want to get done this year? Make sure your goal is a S.M.A.R.T. one. That means you should:

State what you want: Know exactly what you want to accomplish.

Mark your progress: Ask yourself how you will know when you have met your goal.

Act on your plan: Write an action plan describing the steps you will take.

Review your goal: Make sure your goal is not too hard or too easy.

Take the time you need: Plan a time frame for meeting your goal. If your goal is a big one, try breaking it into smaller goals.

Tech Trick

Are you spending more time on a computer these days? Make sure your screen is at eye level so you don’t have to look down or up. This will help you avoid getting a sore neck.

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