Going Back to School, Essay Example

Returning to school after a long break is a challenge for every person. For me, it was extremely difficult because it involved changing my daily schedule, traveling, and term work assignment preparation. According to James Clear (web), changing habits takes weeks. Your body needs to get used to the different biorhythm, meal times, bedtime, and energy needs. However, for me, it was the mental adjustment that was harder than the physical changes.

I have researched several sources to make the process of getting used to being back to school easier. James Clear states that there is a 3-step pattern that makes the adjustment easier: reminder, routine, and reward. For people, who are not used to different activities, setting up a routine, and sticking to it is essential. I have done this from day one, when I planned my returning to school. Although I did not know exactly how much time it would take me to complete assignments and research, I had an idea of how long it takes me to wake up in the morning and get ready for classes. Therefore, I created a daily routine, and added to it over time. I set my wake up time, and created a target of when I would need to be in bed. I set my lunch hours, as well as my break times. I allocated half an hour to lunch every day, an hour for an evening meal with my family, and two hours for revision, library work, and assignment. I knew that even if I had no assignments or homework, I could benefit from rehearsing and reviewing the information I learned about in school.

After getting my schedule and timetable from school, I adjusted the routine schedule, so I could allocate more time for studying on days before tests, and create more free leisure time on other days. Weekends were planned out ahead, while I added four hours of studying for every weekend.

I understood from the beginning that getting good grades was important for my future, therefore, I also created a target for every subject studied. It was hard, and the targets needed to be adjusted, based on my interest and preferences. For some subjects, I had to study less, while some assignments proved themselves to be more challenging.

On the top of my schedule, I also had to ensure that I keep time during school, therefore, I marked all the important assignment dates in my Google Calendar and set up reminders 7, 3, and 1 days before it was due. This way I could manage to complete all coursework in time, and avoid last minute studying for tests.

I also created a reward schedule for attaining good grades. I created my own rewards, such as a Chinese dinner, a picnic in the park, or a movie for every single graded assignment. I had a minimum grade target for all coursework and tests, therefore, I remained motivated to do well in school. Keeping up one’s motivation is the greatest challenge of going back to school: when it becomes a routine, many people start forgetting about their goals.

My goal with going back to school was to learn as much as I can, attain good grades and advance my education further. I believe that self-motivation and a strict routine has helped me achieve my goals so far, and I will use the same method in the future.

Works Cited

Clear, James “The 3 R’s of Habit Change: How To Start New Habits That Actually Stick” n.d. Web.