When school starts up again, how do you prepare? If you stayed up into the wee hours almost every night during summer like me, it's best to start waking up at the time you do for school a week ahead time. Again, if you're like me, you overlooked that and stayed up until the morning even until two days before school started. No big deal, you'll adjust. Sure, you may feel a bit drowsy the first few days, but to help, eat breakfast and listen to music while you get ready to wake you up and help put you in a better mood. How you start the day is important, especially when you know you'll be making first impressions.

Throughout the first couple weeks of school it takes awhile for things to become routine, anyway. Just throw yourself out of bed and hop to it. Listen to upbeat music and eat that breakfast. Eventually things will settle down and your body will get used to waking up at that time that seemed so early the first few days. If you can, on the way to school keep listening to music that keeps your energy up and ready to dance. Who cares if someone sees you jumping around singing "I might even be a rock star!"

To stay awake in your classes through the boring lectures, try not to "rest your eyes" as much as you want to by picking a pretty spot on the wall behind your teacher and staring at it. Also avoid letting your mind wander. This rule does not apply, however, if you see a cute guy walking by and start wondering what his name is, if he has a girlfriend, what class he has next, where he is going... I think you get my point. Have one of your more alert friends keep a tab on you and give you a whack if you start drifting to sleep. She may get carried away and give you a headache or a bruise, but hey, that's what friends are for.

Like I said previously, eventually things will settle down as you get back into the swing of school life again. Stick it out through the times when you feel like grabbing a fluffy pillow and taking a quick nap, and then you'll thank yourself in the long run.