My 5 Tips for a Successful Back-to-School

I haven't been a student for a few years now, and I don't have any children either. On the other hand, I know the back-to-school days well! Being a very organized person, I always had a little to-do list before school that helped me get ready without becoming too stressed. Personally, I have always loved back-to-school! I saw it as a renewal. A new year that begins!

Whether you are a student or a parent, these tips will help you for sure.

1. Do a fall cleaning

We all know spring cleaning, but I think fall cleaning is just as important and necessary. Yes, we sort out the old laundry and put away the summer clothes, but there is so much more to do! Start back to school with a clean house, get rid of unused items, sort out what you keep, throw away or give away for school.

2. Equip yourself well

After this big cleaning, you can now equip yourself well! Again, make a short list of what is missing and plan a big shopping day to prepare yourself well.

3. Have a large family calendar

I don't have children, but a schedule is needed for just me and my boyfriend. Large wall calendars are ideal (especially dry-erase whiteboards). They allow you to write down all the week's activities and the month to avoid forgetting, making mistakes and being completely lost!

4. Resume a routine

Our routine constantly changes in the summer. You can wake up later, have more days off, eat at different times and eat differently! I recommend quietly resuming a routine a week or two before officially starting the back-to-school. Get up at times that better suit the school schedule, start cooking meals and snacks again (if you do) and resume small daily chores (such as Sunday cleaning, for example).

5. Don't forget about meals and snacks

If you are like me, you probably make your meals in advance on Sunday to be less tired during the week. For my part, I cook my lunches and some diners to save time! I also prepare my snacks ahead of time. Here are some quick snack ideas for the week:

• Breakfast Cookies with Raisins, Chia Seeds and Sunflower
• Banana Bread Energy Balls
• Salty Cake with Green Olives, Spinach and Chia Seeds
• Chocolate Energy Brownies
• Superfoods Squares (No-bake)

It's amazing how quickly summer passes... I wish you all a wonderful back-to-school!

By Katia Bricka
Writer at RAW Nutritional