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5 Ways to Prepare for Going Back to School

Live
Aug 10, 2018
You’ve bought the books, packed the backpacks, set the early morning alarms—it must be time to go back to school. Whether you have little ones entering first grade or are a recent high school graduate heading to college, adjusting to a new schedule can be difficult. However, there are few simple tricks that can help you get into that back-to-school-groove.

Put it on the Calendar

If going back to school could be summarized in one word, it would be “busy.” Between carpool schedules and orientations, extracurricular activities and study groups, it can be hard to keep everything in order. Nevertheless, having a physical planner and/or calendar can help you and your family stay organized. Having a calendar displayed in your living space improves your memory and allows you to better manage your time. In addition, children will be able to see at glance what their schedules look like and become more accountable.

Designate a Work Space

A nice way to establish a back to school rhythm is designating an area at home where you or your kids can get work done. By labeling this area as a productive space, you or your kids will be able to stay on task and keep personal work in a centralized location. To make this space enjoyable include comfy chairs, desk supplies and nutritious snacks to keep you or your kids focused and motivated.

Take a Tour

A new school year can be daunting and stressful, so it’s normal to have back-to-school jitters. Ease that anxiety by familiarizing yourself or your kids with the new environment. Sign up for a campus tour or take time to walk your kids through their new school, doing so will help calm nerves. Learning how to navigate your surroundings is a great step to navigating a new schedule. Nevada Health Link also has numerous back-to-school events that can ease your health insurance jitters. Discover an event near you.

Eat Smart

Busy school schedules demand a lot of brain energy and it’s easy to resort to quick, unhealthy foods when in a time crunch. To avoid this trap prepare easy, nutritious snacks bags for yourself and your kids the night before school begins. Fruits like blueberries or bananas are great foods that can help brains stay alert. Or, whip up these chocolate protein balls that will keep you full and focused.

Celebrate the Start of Something New

New beginnings can be scary but also exciting. Cook your kids’ favorite meal for the first day of school, or make a plan to go out with your friends to celebrate finishing your first week of college classes. Little celebrations make big changes something to look forward to throughout your new experience.

Going back to school isn’t always easy, but these tips will surely make the transition a little easier. However, if your schedule isn’t the only thing changing and other life changes are on the horizon, you could qualify for a special enrollment period, which would allow you to enroll in health insurance even though it isn’t currently the annual open enrollment period. Certain qualifying life events (QLE) may make you eligible for a special enrollment period. QLE’s are life-changing events such as job loss, income change, marriage/divorce and birth/adoption of a child to name a few. Visit nevadahealthlink.com for more information on obtaining affordable health insurance.