Cultivating New Habits During the Back-to-School Season

With the arrival of the back-to-school season, a sense of renewal can be embraced even if you’re not returning to the classroom. Many activities reminiscent of school days can be adapted for adult life, offering fresh routines and changes as you move into fall.

Meal-Prepping for Adults

Miss packing a school lunch? Try meal-prepping. Kevin Curry, founder of FitMenCook, dedicates two nights a week to meal preparation. During these sessions, he spends 45 minutes cooking five dishes to mix and match, such as chickpeas, chicken, jasmine rice, roasted vegetables, and greens like spinach, chard, and kale. These components allow him to create around ten different meal combinations, varying flavors with condiments like tahini dressing or barbecue sauce.

Revamping Your Wardrobe

If you’re nostalgic for back-to-school shopping, consider updating your wardrobe. Asia Jackson, actor and YouTuber, recommends trying on every wardrobe item to decide if it should stay or go. The key questions are, “Do you feel good in this item?” and “Do you look good in this item?” Items that don’t evoke positive feelings should be cleared out, leaving only pieces you love to form the base of a rejuvenated style.

Boosting Your Reading Routine

Miss learning new things? Read more books by incorporating reading into morning routines. Former NPR culture correspondent Lynn Neary advocates reading in the morning, especially on weekends, as a delightful way to start the day without the risk of falling asleep as you might during bedtime reading.

Improving Your To-Do List

For those who miss writing in planners, creating efficient to-do lists can help. The two-minute rule is crucial: if a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. For larger tasks, break them into manageable parts. Writer Oliver Burkeman emphasizes the need for specificity in task descriptions to ensure completion.

Integrating Playful Activities

If reminiscing about recess brings a longing for play, introduce more playfulness into daily life. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, suggests finding joy in observing nature. Whether through hobbies like painting or games, playful shifts in attitude can enrich daily experiences.

Building New Friendships

For those missing the social aspects of school, shifting your perspective on friendship can help. Heather Havrilesky, author of Ask Polly, notes that many believe others already have friends, which isn’t true. Making friends involves vulnerability, so embrace the awkwardness when reaching out to new acquaintances.

This digital story is crafted by Clare Marie Schneider, edited by Malaka Gharib, with visual editing by Rebecca Harlan.