New School Year Survival Guide for Cincinnati Students and Parents

While it's hard to believe, a fresh school year is starting in Cincinnati. Whether you're a parent of school-aged children or heading back to school yourself (or perhaps even a combination), we've created the following back-to-school survival guide to help you make a smooth transition.

The best way to set yourself up for success is to establish a routine. If you're a parent, a routine will help your children anticipate what’s expected of them each day. Routines will allow each person in your household to self-regulate themselves and ultimately take responsibility for how the day turns out.

To create a routine that is realistic and will work well for your family, jot down which tasks need to be taken care of each day. Then, create a timetable for accomplishing each item on your list, taking into account your energy level and what time you're most focused. Refer to this list periodically over the next few weeks as you get started with your new routine.

Take 15 to 20 minutes at the end of each day to pack lunches, load backpacks, and pick out clothes for the following day. Knowing this is done will help you to sleep better at night and save you a headache in the morning.

Ideally, this should be a quiet space tucked away from distractions. However, sometimes simply being in the apartment with family members and roommates can make it difficult to focus. An alternative for Springs Apartments residents is to escape to the on-site community clubhouse. Our Springs at Liberty Township and Springs at West Chester communities feature a clubhouse with Wi-Fi, making it the ideal place to study with few distractions.

When you're in a rush, it can be tempting to run out the door without having breakfast. However, without this necessary fuel, you won't be able to perform your best. To make life easier on your whole family, stock your fridge and pantry with convenient grab-and-go items like yogurt, fruit, cheese and granola bars.

Time is limited during the school year, meaning that preparing a home cooked meal every evening is probably not realistic. However, opting to make dinners that yield plenty of leftovers for subsequent meals can help relieve you of the burden of cooking something new every evening.

What are your favorite tips and best practices for surviving the school year? Let us know in the comments section below!