Back to School Survival Guide

1. A mask: Think school colors, a cheerful pattern, or even a photo print of your own smile.

2. Hand sanitizer: Make sure it contains at least 65 percent alcohol (but wash with soap and water when possible).

3. Hand cream: All that handwashing can cause dry skin, so keep a small bottle of lotion in your locker.

You’re probably using your devices more than ever these days, and it’s always a good idea to periodically update passwords. This time, create new passwords that double as stealth motivators. For example, think of a phrase like “You will make honor roll” or “You’ve got this under control,” then use the first letter from each word, a number, and a symbol (Ywmhr20!) to make the password. Every time you type it in, you’ll send yourself an encouraging message.

SPECIFIC: We’d probably all like to be tidier, especially since we’re indoors so much these days, but as a goal, that’s pretty vague. Make it specific by vowing to clean your room each weekend.

MEASURABLE: What exactly does a clean room mean to you? Making your bed, hanging up clothes, dusting your dresser? Make yourself a list you can check each week.

ACHIEVABLE: If you share a room with a sibling, you’ll never have full control over what your space looks like. Make sure to set a goal you can actually reach, like keeping your bed or closet neat.

REALISTIC: Maybe you don’t have time to make your bed each morning and vacuum each night, but you can put away your clothes every day.

TIME-BASED: Set mini goals, like having a clean room for two weeks in a row, and one big goal, like keeping your room neat for the entire school year. Don’t forget to reward yourself along the way!

TRY THIS: 1. Stack slices of pear and cheddar cheese on a wheat cracker. 2. Pile tuna salad on a piece of rye with baby carrots and cucumber slices on the side. 3. Dip apple wedges and mini pretzels in almond butter. Delish!

Yes, “text neck” is a thing, and it affects teens more than anyone. You get it from hanging your head to look down at your phone, which can make your head feel up to six times heavier to your neck muscles! To avoid putting too much strain on your neck, hold your phone at eye level.

(BONUS TIP: It’s also a good practice to make sure your computer screen is at eye level, so your head is upright and you’re looking at the top third of your screen.)