Realistic Back To School Advice

Hi!

Okay, so it's that time of the year where many of us are going back to school/college after a long summer. This is often very difficult when we've all had that taste of freedom - 6 to 10 weeks of lie ins, beach days, doing very little and having complete flexibility to do whatever we choose. I'm hoping to give you some encouragement and motivation , having come out of school over a year ago.

1) Work hard (and I mean HARD)
This is pretty obvious, but many people do not stick to it. You generally go into school, decide that this is a 'fresh start' and that you are going to find yourself 'working really hard', yet three weeks into term you've got back into the routine of procrastinating and willing the holidays to come round again. Every day when you wake up, remind yourself that you are very lucky and privileged to be in education at all. Over 65 million children worldwide are not in education - you are going to school for free and getting years worth of quality education to take you far in life.

When your teacher sets you work, write it in your planner (chances are that you'll get one of these from your school) or diary, even take a picture on your phone - anything to remind you to do it. Once you get home, do it. If that means turning off the tv or your phone, then so be it. If you do not do it, then you'll end up more stressed when you have 50 pages of coursework to do due in the next day, which will be even worse. In lessons, listen and respect your teacher. They want you to do your best (even if they tell you off about your uniform or for talking), and it is a two way street.Trust me, you do the work, you'll get the results you want.

2) At the same time, don't stress
If you follow my first step, you will end up less stressed than some people, that's for sure. To minimalise your stress, make sure you take some quality self-care tips. Once you've made it through the week, run yourself a nice warm bath with some candles and take some time to give yourself a well done. This should help reassure you that you can get through the next one. Go out with your friends, socialise, but do your work first. It is obviously easy to get stressed, but if you do, talk to family and teachers about it. You can get some additional support and study sessions this way, and by talking about it, you are not bottling it all up. Remember that when you get to the end of the year, it'll all be worth it.

3) Finally - be organised
I'm aware this is again, self-explanatory, but it is such a lifesaver. Have folders for each subject at school, even if it is a small A4 one, and when you get home, store the days work into the relevant sections. Make sure everything is stuck in your book, and use highlighters to revise crucial info. Have a specific spot in your bedroom where you have all your textbooks, folders and school books, and make sure this is tidy. Not only is this more appealing to look at, but it'll motivate you to keep it like that. If you have a messy room, do you want to tidy it? No, as it's too much effort.

Use coloured pens to make your notes stand out and stick in your head as well - this makes revising fun, or at least vaguely interesting.

I'm aware I've rambled in this post (again, what a surprise, lol) and probs sound like your Mum, but these are all such important tips to stop you falling into a pit of despair, especially if you're going into year 10/11.

I did this post on revision tips a few months ago - feel free to also check this out!

Thank you, and let me know if this helped below!

Katy x

August Favourites!

Hi!

August has flown by, and we've somehow suddenly found ourselves in September! Here's what I've been loving throughout the previous month - let me know your faves in the comments below.

Suedette Bomber Jacket  // £35 // New Look

It may have been summer, but in the UK, the weather rarely reflects that. I found that I spent most the month in this jacket. The beige, neutral tones within the jacket make it perfect for summer wear, and the material is light. Inside the jacket it is silky, so you don't get too hot, but you are also very comfy. This is personally one of the classiest bomber jackets that I've come across and I absolutely love it. I think I'll be living in this in winter this year too, as it is just beautiful! If you don't purchase this yourself, you are missing out!

Adidas Gazelles (Mint & White) // £75 // Adidas

I never used to be into trainers, but recently, I've been obsessed! Adidas have massively upped their game from the unfashionable but comfortable trainers that I used to wear as a child in year 9 P.E lessons to shoes that everybody desires. I decided to splash out on these, and I don't regret a thing. The mint is nice and subtle, easy to pair with jeans and leggings, but also shorts and skirts (when it's hot enough). I think that these look so cute, and they're also incredibly comfy - I've walked round London and Brighton without getting blisters. At £75, they are a little pricey, but worth saving up for. 

Millie Marotta's Tropical Wonderland Colouring Book // £5 // Amazon

This book shows that you can be creative and have fun without breaking the bank. I received this a few months ago as a birthday gift from a friend to de-stress (they all know I stress out at everything, urgh) and have been loving it. I hadn't had much time to use it as I had college full time, but over summer, I've been loving sitting at my desk, reminiscing of a fun childhood full of colour. I think my favourite thing about this has to be that you can make this entirely your own - every person can colour in one section in different colours and exactly how they want it. I made a pineapple pink, purple and red, for example - I thought yellow was too boring!

'Clue' - Period Tracking App // FREE // Apple Store 

So I feel like raving about a period app isn't very normal, but I'm going to do it anyway! This app is incredible - you can track your period so easily with this. When you download the app, you enter a few basic details, such as your birthday, weight, and height. The app works out when you are due based on your last cycle, and gives you an estimate on when that should come on the calendar. It also gives you a 'fertility window', if you are trying for a child (I'm obviously not, but useful for people that are!) It looks super clean, and by being called 'clue' on your homescreen, you no longer have to worry about that awkward moment boys look on your phone, as it's unlikely they'll know what it is. I actually enjoy waking up and filling out the symptoms part. I'd really recommend this!

So that's what I've been enjoying this month! Let me know what you've been trying out below :)

Katy x