The first day back to school after summer, or your first day at a new school, is always pretty nerve racking, but this year there’s a whole lot more going on. There’s probably some new rules at school, maybe a new layout, and it’s been a much longer break than the usual 6 weeks - has everything fallen out of my brain?! Although I can’t say I’m not feeling nervous about my first day at sixth form, here are my top tips to feel confident on your first day.
Dress to impress… yourself!
Wear something that makes you feel confident. Maybe this is your favourite outfit that makes you feel awesome, or maybe you want to put on a little makeup or get up early and do your hair, forget about what other people will think, all that matters is how you look makes you feel great. Whatever makes you feel confident, wear it.
Extra tip: Pick it out the night before so you don’t need to think about it in the morning.
Bring Lunch
It might seem simple, but there’s nothing worse than feeling hungry. If you’re going to a new school you might not know what they serve for lunch, where the canteen is, whether you’ll like the food, if you’ve got the right money, and even if you’re returning to the same school, who knows what will be happening with lunch times and canteens. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Bring your own lunch, something super yummy and maybe a little treat, so that you don’t have to worry.
Smile
This will help you feel more relaxed and put the people around you at ease too! Smiling has been shown to lift your mood, lower stress, boost your immune and make you feel more confident and friendly, making it easier to make new friends.
Plan your morning
What time do you need to leave? How long do you need to get ready? So what time do you need to get up? Take some time to actually plan out your morning (especially if your start time or journey time has changed) making a note of what you need to have done by each time. For example you might need to wake up at 7:00, take 15 mins to wash your face, clean your teeth etc, then get dressed, ready for breakfast at 7:30.
Extra tip: include time in your morning routine to do something that makes you feel confident and energised such as yoga, journaling or repeating mantras in the mirror.
Get an Early Night
Even if you won’t have much actual school work on the first day, meeting new people, forming relationships, remembering names, finding your way around, and generally being stressed takes up a lot of energy and brain power. Feeling rested and energised will really improve your first day!
Remember to Breath!
When we get stressed we start to breathe shallowly and quickly, remembering to breathe deeply and slowly will tell your brain to stop panicking (and stop producing the stress hormone cortisol). Whenever you start to feel a little overwhelmed, take a moment to notice your breath, maybe put your hand on your tummy, and try to slow your breath a little bit and breath a little deeper, perhaps making your exhales longer than your inhales.
Whatever happens on your first day or in your first weeks, or in fact any day at school, is not the end of the world. Know that your wellbeing comes first!
You’ve got this!
Flo xx
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Why not comment below what makes you feel confident?
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