From Routines to Goals: Your Ultimate Guide to a Successful School Year

Getting ready for the new school year takes more than studying and grades. Be at the top of the class with ways you can prep yourself and children or college students to succeed. From establishing a daily routine to setting goals, learn how you can manage the school year stress-free and motivated.

Creating a Morning Routine

Keeping yourself on track with a consistent morning routine can help you feel more in control of the day. You’ll feel more relaxed and prepared, with less stress and anxiety. With a consistent morning routine, you have structure, discipline, and stability to support long-term growth and achievement. Start your morning routine with a basic plan:

Create a checklist to keep yourself organized and on schedule
Have flexibility if something unexpected happens
Reward yourself to something special for keeping a routine
Keep a positive attitude to boost motivation, improve focus, build better relationships, increase engagement in learning, and overcome challenges

A morning routine may feel much smoother when taking care of some tasks the night before. It may avoid any unexpected changes in the morning.

Preparing the night before:

Lay out your clothes for the next day
Pack your bag with everything you need for school, including homework, lunch, and supplies
Make your lunch and snacks to keep you from rushing in the morning
Plan your healthy breakfast to save time in the morning
Set your alarm to allow yourself enough time to get ready without rushing
Wind down with activities before bed to help you relax and fall asleep easily

Navigating through your morning routine:

Wake up early to give yourself the time you need to get ready
Make your bed to start the day
Get dressed in the outfit you picked out the night before
Brush your teeth and wash your face to help with confidence and overall health
Eat a healthy breakfast to give yourself energy for the day
Pack your lunch before you go or make the previous night
Double check your belongings to make sure you have all your supplies
Go to school with a positive attitude

Your morning routine may be more successful by:

Working together with your family to make a routine for everyone
Making it fun and engaging such as listening to music
Reviewing and adjusting your routine to ensure it stays effective

In addition to a morning routine, you may consider building an after-school schedule to help manage their time. Make a simple time or task-oriented checklist or chart outlining activities including homework, chores, snack time, dinner, and bath/bedtime. You may also include extracurricular activities if your kids are in sports or after-school organizations.

To organize college classes, assignments, activities, and work, create a routine to manage your time and productivity. Like routines for younger students, college students can use the same tips to navigate each semester.

Shopping for School Supplies

Take some of the stress out of back-to-school shopping and your bank account this year. Planning ahead can help you avoid spending too much for the new school year.

In 2024, the National Retail Federation expected total spending to reach $38.8 billion, lower than $41.5 billion in 2023. Spending on back-to-college was forecast to hit $86.6 billion as compared to last year’s $94 billion.

The NRF estimated an average of $874.68 on back-to-school spending for elementary to high school students in 2024, down from the previous year of $890.07. Students heading to college were expected to spend an average of $1,364.75 on school supplies.

Some ways you can save money before the school year begins:

Take an inventory: See what your child already owns. There may be unused notebooks, pens, markers, and rulers hiding in a drawer or in your child’s backpack
Try last year’s clothing: Make a list of what clothing needs to be replaced
Compare prices online and flyers: Before heading out to shop, see which stores have price match policies and which are running the best deals
Check with the school: Refer to your child’s school or supply list before buying any high-priced items such as computers and calculators. They may require specific supplies
Buy backpacks with the right fit: Buy the right backpack to help prevent injuries and joint problems. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, look for backpacks with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back. You can even invest in a rolling backpack if your child normally has a heavy load
Use your smartphone apps: Scan bar codes to see if you’re getting a good deal
Buy for durability: Buy sturdier folders and binders so your child can reuse them next year
Spread out your purchases: Instead of buying all your child’s supplies at once, buy their school supplies in waves
Split bulk deals: If you have several children in school at the same time, split the bulk supplies between all the kids. You could even split supplies with other parents to save money
Wait it out: Once school starts, school supplies may become cheaper. Hold off until then for possibly better deals

Review your child’s checklist the school usually provides. If the school doesn’t provide one, there are essentials that are most likely included. From K-12 through college, check out some recommended supplies to get the year started.

Creating a Dedicated Study Space

Once you’re set up with school supplies, consider creating a study space for optimal learning. Regardless of age, a dedicated space helps with concentration, productivity, and performance while reducing distractions. Follow these basic recommendations to optimize the study environment:

Choose a dedicated space. The bedroom may be an option, but it could be a distraction, while hurting productivity and hindering sleep
Have minimal disruptions. High-traffic areas, televisions, tablets, phones, and video games can be some ways to interrupt studying. Consider background instrumental music or noise-canceling headphones if noise can’t be avoided
Have proper lighting. Good lighting reduces eye strain, improves focus, and boosts visibility. Cool white or daylight bulbs are the best for longer study sessions while warm white light helps with focus and relaxation
Use comfortable furniture. Have a relaxed and comfortable environment that helps with posture and reduces discomfort
Remove any clutter. Use organizers, shelves, and files to declutter the space and keep your school materials accessible
Add personalization. Use a minimalist approach with simple artwork or photos instead of an over-decorating distraction

Staying Current on Vaccinations

Make sure your child or college student gets all the necessary immunizations on schedule before they start. This helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protects their health. In New York State, the Department of Health requires specific vaccinations to attend or remain in school.

Children in daycare and pre-K through high school: Consult the department’s vaccine schedule, school requirements, and immunization questions for more details.
College students: The state mandates proof of immunity for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). For any additional immunization requirements, check with the college or university’s health services. They may also include tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap), meningitis, hepatitis B, and influenza.

Setting Goals for the New School Year

Create a roadmap for your child to track your progress and success during the school year. By setting goals, you can help your child excel academically while building their important life skills.

Determining the goals could change depending on what grade your child is at. You may tailor the goals to teach more about hard work than being successful. Try introducing the SMART goals concept as part of your child’s plan, setting realistic and manageable goals.

Specific: Define what you want to achieve
Measurable: Determine how you will track your progress
Achievable: Set realistic and attainable goals based on your resources, capabilities, and challenges
Relevant: Align your goals with your overall objectives and values
Time-bound: Set a deadline for your goals to help you stay on track

Consider some of these options to start:

Improve grade point average (GPA) by dedicating time each evening to studying and homework
Increase participation by contributing to class discussions several times a week
Learn better time management by creating a weekly schedule for classes, studying, and after-school activities
Improve study habits with a dedicated study space and a timer to focus on tasks
Reduce procrastination by breaking down assignments into smaller, manageable tasks and marking them in a weekly calendar
Get organized with your backpack, desk, and homework each week to easily find what you need
Ask a classmate, teacher, or tutor for help with challenging subjects
Learn new skills to improve academic performance, boost creativity, and promote personal and professional growth
Boost mental health and wellbeing with activities like exercise, spending time with family and friends, or a mood journal to track your emotional triggers and coping mechanisms

For college students, create SMART goals that develop healthy school habits and set clear objectives. Aim for goals to grow your academic, career, personal, and financial aspirations. These goals may include improving your GPA, finding internships or jobs, or participating in clubs and organizations on campus.

Get Ready for School with Adirondack Bank

Whether it’s your first day of elementary school or college, Adirondack Bank is here for all your financial needs. Get a head start on your child’s financial future with an interest-bearing Children’s Savings account with a $10 deposit required to open, direct deposit, online/mobile banking, and low balance minimum requirement of $10. Once in college, use our online application to open a Campus Checking account with no minimum balance requirements, no monthly services charge, a $25 minimum deposit to open, and a new account opening gift.

At Adirondack Bank, we aim to help you gain the skills you need to make the right financial decisions. Stay financially ready with our Learning Center, featuring interactive calculators, videos, fraud protection, and our Financial Learning Center modules.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with Adirondack Bank. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. Adirondack Bank is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the information provided or the content of any third-party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. Adirondack Bank makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

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