9 Quick and Easy Things You Can Do to Enjoy Your Fall Semester

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer and back to school season for students of all ages. After a year of disruption and inconsistent time on campus, it’s important that we get back into our school routines and make sure we’re prepared for the year ahead.

We asked DoSomething members and young people to share how they’re preparing for the fall semester and here’s what they had to say:

1. Get Fully Vaccinated Against Meningococcal Disease

Young people and college students living in dorms are at an increased risk of meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacteria, which can cause meningitis. It’s a brain and spinal cord infection with serious health complications, blood stream infection, and death. Vaccination is the best protection against meningococcal disease. There are two kinds of vaccines to prevent meningococcal disease: MenACWY and MenB. Many young people aren’t fully protected because they’ve only completed part of the vaccination series. Take a few minutes today to contact your doctor about getting fully vaccinated against meningococcal disease.

2. Curate Your Semester Playlist

Music can have a huge impact on your mood, so get prepared for the semester by creating your soundtrack to the year. Find the songs that always get you in the studying-zone, the songs that never fail to make you get up and dance, and the songs that chill you down before bed. Then, make your selections into playlists that you can whip out whenever you need them.

3. Get Organized!

Lauren from Howard University (@_lilo4l) starts her semester off by getting organized. Whether you have an IRL planner or live by your Google Calendar, creating a system of reminders so you can stay on task, on track, and on time will let you work smarter, not harder, so you can enjoy your fall semester.

4. Work in a Workout

Mariam (@mariama_965) is preparing for school this year by keeping up with a fitness routine and playing sports to stay healthy! According to the Centers for Disease Control, regular physical activity can help students reduce the incidence of anxiety or depression. Becoming gym buddies with a friend will help encourage both of you to keep moving.

5. Find Your Study Spot

Emma (@emmasherman1) prepares for the fall semester by finding a place to study in the library. Everyone studies differently and habits change, so from a coffee shop to the Silent Area of the library, identifying the atmosphere that works best for you early in the semester will help you be productive all year long.

6. Get Cozy with Your Syllabus

Knowing your syllabus back to front is the best way to prepare according to Celeste (@celestesangster). If you’re juggling a job with your studies, knowing your syllabus back-to-front from the very beginning of the semester will ensure you know what to expect each week, and can give you flexibility to better manage your free time.

7. Make A Textbook Plan

We know the struggle of buying expensive new textbooks: instead, follow Sibrig’s (@sibrig.xx) advice and create a checklist of your books in advance to share with your friends to see if you have any overlap. Going in on textbook rentals or even working together to try to find them in used book stores will help your pockets, and ease your mind.

8. Catch Your Zzzs

Research shows that teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night and college students need at least 7 hours of sleep per night to set themselves up for a successful academic year. So don’t go cramming until the wee hours if it means you won’t get enough sleep to be functional.

9. Re-Style Your Wardrobe

New year, new you. Talessi (@t.lessi9) recommends starting the semester out by rethinking your wardrobe. Whether you’re getting new clothes or just styling your current ones differently, switching up your look and presenting differently to the world can make your semester feel more exciting and fun.