An opportunity to develop good habits

School starts back in a few weeks for many, and I hope that you guys are ready.

Maybe it’s because I cover schools, maybe it’s because I miss school, or maybe it’s a completely different reason, but I love the start of the school year.

There’s a feeling in the air. It’s a mixture of hope and possibly a little bit of dread. New clothes are worn by some, new supplies are brought by others and a new year begins again.

Students may or may not be ready for the school year, so I would like to challenge all parents and students to think of the start of school as an opportunity to start changes and develop habits.

Now, I have no children in any school system this coming year. I am also not returning to college.

I have no absolute idea what each child –or their parent– is going through to prepare for this school year, whether that’s buying more school supplies than last year or having to figure out which bus to take to get to school. I still remember preparing for college, and even the thought of going through another year of that freaks me out.

Still, I’m just going to talk about some general habits that might make anyone’s life better or easier, no matter what age you are or grade you are in.

Now, students, simple things can help you with studying during the school year. For example, the University of South Florida’s College of Education website says setting up a study schedule, taking a break every now and then, and rewarding yourself can help improve your study skills.

The USF website also says that taking good notes while in class, using flash cards or rhymes to improve your memory, and working on effective reading skills can also be helpful.

Parents, there are also ways you can help your child start the school year on the right foot. Help encourage your students to study from the beginning of the school year. Making changes as soon as possible will only make it easier on them when their home and course work gets harder.

PBS.org suggests that parents should help their student with homework. Don’t do the homework for them, obviously, but just help them when they hit a difficult part in their assignments.

Of course, for both the parent and the student, nothing seems better than a good night’s sleep.

A Harvard Healthy Sleep article says that without enough sleep, a person can seem to lose what they have previously learned.

“When we are sleep deprived, our focus, attention, and vigilance drift, making it more difficult to receive information,” the article says. “Without adequate sleep and rest, over-worked neurons can no longer function to coordinate information properly, and we lose our ability to access previously learned information.”

When it comes to a big test or quiz, being able to remember what you’ve learned is important. So is rest.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute also suggests that healthy eating habits, staying active and spending less time in front of the TV or any electronic screen can only help a student during the school year.

Take this time to prepare to start some healthy habits for the new school year. It might make your life easier and slightly less stressful in the end.

Cassie Gibbs is a staff writer for The Southeast Sun and Daleville Sun-Courier. The opinions of this writer are her own and not the opinion of the paper. She can be reached at (334) 393-2969 or by email at [email protected].