Sixteen Ways to Start Your School Year with a Smile

It’s that time of year! Here are some ways to help get your school year off to a good start! 

1. Let the sun wake you up. Read why you should consider it.
2. After the first week of school, bike around your block to relax.
3. In the morning, spend one minute doing jumping jacks outdoors to wake up your brain. Bonus: Try it every day for one week.
4. After you settle in your seat at school, take a quick look out the window and focus on a distant view to relax your eyes and body and prepare to learn.
5. Host a back-to-school bonfire and add Nutella, berries, bananas or another favorite sweet treat to your s’mores.
6. Choose delicious-looking farmer’s market fruit then enjoy it in a fresh way by grilling, puréeing or adding it to your favorite drink.
7. Find a nice shady spot and do your homework outside.
8. Bring a bouquet of wildflowers (picked with permission of the landowner, of course) to your teacher. Bonus points if you can identify the plants with their scientific names.
9. Go tubing over Labor Day weekend for one last summery hurrah.
10. Plant winter radishes, swiss chard, or kale to enjoy in a few weeks’ time.
11. Fuel your body by eating the colors of the rainbow. Add fresh blueberries, raspberries and apples to your cereal. Bonus: Pick the fruit yourself.
12. Feeling unfocused? Breathe in the fresh scent of cinnamon or mint. For more information, check out this Huffington Post article on scents and wellbeing.
13. Try orienteering.
14. Grab your family or friends and do a walking scavenger hunt. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen.
15. Take a photograph of an inspiring outdoor view and display near your study space.
16. Schedule a fall camping trip halfway through the semester. Mark it on your calendar and start researching plants and animals you’ll find in your camping area.