BEEP! The bell rings, and you head to your R2 class, looking at the schedule that you just got in homeroom. Going down the crowded corridors, you will see all sorts of things: smiling teachers waving, sixies dragging around their backpacks that are too big for their frame and the occasional “cart coming through!” cutting through the chatter. The air itself feels restless. Yet once you have memorized your schedule and the routine sets in, that energy fades. Classes drag, homework piles up and you don’t know what day in the never-ending rotation it is. That is why it is important to find methods to keep the school year exciting, whether it’s by planning outfits, going to your favorite cafe with friends or finding small moments to look forward to. Find joy in the everyday, and life will get easier.
One of the easiest ways to do this is through what you wear. The phrase “look good, feel good” isn’t just for vibes — what you wear helps determine how motivated you feel that day. A recent study from Columbia found that clothes can increase one’s confidence. Wearing clothes you are either not comfortable or too comfortable in can make you distracted, lazy and lower your self-esteem. The more confident you feel in yourself, the less likely you are to second-guess yourself, which also helps you perform better in classes and on tests. Choosing outfits that you enjoy wearing and make you feel your best can set the tone for a productive day.
Music can also play a big part in determining your mood. For example, did you know that classical music can help your mind? Researchers compared two sets of students, one who listened to music and one who didn’t. They showed the students who did listen to music had an 18 percent increase in “knowledge transfer items.” If you are not an enjoyer of classical music, try to listen to songs or sounds that energize you for the day on your way to school, to manage stress late at night or boost focus during study sessions. Treat music as a tool to set a positive tone for the day.
Make classes or studying after school more enjoyable too! Go to cute cafes, even if you only order the smallest and cheapest thing on the menu. Maybe get a head start on your usual hours of homework after school in the Keefe Library with your friends, where you can all silently support each other. Doing homework in aesthetically pleasing places or in study groups can help you stay engaged. Try using cute stationary to encourage yourself to focus during classes, and bring it home to use for studying!
Although it is important to have a routine for studying, it is equally important to switch it up once in a while. Having things to look forward to will help the school year to be more enjoyable. Zane Hansen (II) advises people to “do the Wordle everyday in homeroom.” Get involved in a club, activity or sport. Go out with your friends to keep you excited, especially during times like Term 3, when it feels like the world is ending. Whether it is going out to eat, attending a sports game or skating throughout the colder months, these fun days with friends make school feel more bearable.
It is also important to have mental health days or little activities dedicated to preserving your peace of mind. On these days, you can take a walk and enjoy the fresh air, stay inside and have a movie marathon or binge watch your favorite show. Self-maintenance is also important on mental health days. Make your life easier by decluttering your work space or organizing the messy work that’s piled up throughout the year.
Boston Latin School is a hard school. We often do the same thing for a month straight: wake up to an alarm, go to school, do homework, fall asleep and repeat. It can quickly become depressing. It’s important to cherish the time we have in high school with our friends, despite how tiresome it may be at times. As Sheldon Bol (III) puts it, “Getting to see the teachers I love and [my] friends […] during my time here [makes] it easier to wake up, get dressed and take the bus to school every morning.”
Prioritize making core memories that you can always look back on, and have a different perspective on the lows of the year, because the years pass by quickly. One day, you are memorizing forms of sum, esse, fui, futurus, and the next, you will be walking on the Leader Bank Pavilion, throwing your cap and beginning a new chapter in your life.
