Let’s get real, summer is going by much too quickly. I can’t believe it’s more than half over! Depending on when your school starts, there is only about a month or a month and a half left until you’re back on campus. Of course, you want to make sure to enjoy the rest of your summer, but if you’re anything like me, you need a little bit of time before the school year starts to fix some of the habits you’ve let slide this summer. Working on these little things everyday right now can make a big difference in how your semester starts off.

1) Checking your email multiple times a day.

You might let this slide during the summer because you get less emails. However,  your professors and pretty much everyone else uses your email to communicate with you, and if you don’t get in the habit of checking it regularly, you’re going to miss out. Also, your school or professors probably send important information during the summer that you need to see! If you don’t get automatic notifications every time you get an email, get in the habit of quickly checking your email a couple of times a day.

2) Making a to do list.

Start writing everything you need to get done down, and check things off your list as you accomplish them throughout the day. If it’s not written down, you’re much more likely to forget it. Your list might not have a lot on it right now, but during the semester, you’ll get busy fast. Cementing this habit now will make sure you don’t forget to add things to your list later. Plus, it always feel good to see how much you’ve accomplished, even in the summertime!

3) Going to bed early and getting up early.

I know that it’s tempting to stay up all night during the summer, but if you don’t break that habit now, your first 8 am class is going to be painful. Start getting ready for the semester by going to bed and waking up just a little bit earlier than normal. Bump this up a little every night or week until you’re at where you need to be for school. It’s not much fun now, but you’ll thank yourself later.

4) Eating three meals a day.

I don’t know about you, but when my days are less structured, my eating habits can get a little crazy. I know that breakfast is usually the first meal to go, but while you’re at school breakfast is so important, especially if you have a lot of classes in the morning. Get in the habit of giving your brain a little fuel to start the day with.

5) Taking time to learn every day.

You’re probably not in classes right now, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get into the habit of taking the time to learn every day. Try to read an article about a topic you’re interested in, watch a video for a skill you’d like to learn, or read a new book. Work your brain out now, and having to study everyday won’t seem as daunting when the semester starts.

What habits are you trying to get into to make next semester your best semester yet?