HOW TO PREP FOR A NEW SEMESTER: Organizing + Back to School Tips for Online School

In this video, I'm sharing how I prep for a new semester in terms of organization and mindset. This video is applicable to both college and high school students attending online classes!

1. Organize & reflect on your last semester
A. Sell books → on Facebook, sell them back to the school bookstore
B. Organize notes
C. Filing assignments/projects
D. Throw things out
E. Reflect on how your last semester went?
a. What went well? What didn't go well? What's one thing I can improve for the next semester?

2. Prepare for the upcoming semester
A. Order new books
a. Used - facebook groups
b. New
c. Digital - there are ways you can get those textbooks for free
B. Organize/buy school supplies
1. Notebook

3. Figure out your planning system
A. I like changing up my planning system often because I get bored. In the past, I've used phone apps, to-do lists, notion, digital planner, physical planners, bujos.
B. Organize your planning system

4. Create a semester dashboard
A. On the planning system of your choice, create a dashboard that includes information on your professors, TAs, and important dates in the semester

5. Create a schedule (at least for the first week)
A. Realistically, how long are you gonna spend studying, doing personal things, working, passion projects, and relaxing? Make sure to outline this in your planning system
B. We all have a lot going on in our lives and it's important to make time for the things that really matter. If you create a schedule, you are able to take all the things you care about and intentionally carve out time for those things
C. You might realize that you need to fix your sleep schedule. As I was scripting this video, I was pulling an all-nighter to attempt to fix my sleep schedule LOL

6. Implement your one improvement idea
1. Also, I think it's important to implement your one improvement for the next semester. For me, I wasn't really happy with how little time I spent on doing creative work. So, this semester, I want to make sure to create space for more creative work.

7. Self care and support system
1. Online semesters can be really hard and isolating. You will need to practice self-care more than ever and have some kind of support system. I have a blog post on self-care ideas and I'll link it below. As for support, you need to figure out which friends you feel comfortable talking about life with. If you don't have any that you feel comfortable with, figure out the support systems that your school offers! Just google "Health and Counselling at [your school name]"

8. RELAX
You're not gonna have so much time off in the next 12 weeks so make your semester breaks count. I love binging TV shows and movies, working on my passion projects, and going out on dates during the semester break. I think it's important to balance work and play and you definitely deserve some time off without thinking about school.

This winter break, I started and finished a korean drama on Netflix with my boyfriend called Start Up! I highly recommend this show if you're looking for a new show!

If you enjoyed this video, make sure to give it a like. If you have any other tips, make sure to help others by commenting and sharing them below.

Have a sunny day,
Shay 🌈

♡ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
0:41 Organize + Reflect
2:06 Upcoming Semester
3:10 Planning System
3:40 Semester Dashboard
4:07 Schedule
4:59 Improvement
5:24 Self Care
6:10 Relax

♡ RELATED RESOURCES

♡ ♡ ♡

♡ FOLLOW ME

♡ ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Shay! I post videos on productivity, health, and wellness. I am a 4th-year student in the faculty of Health Science at Simon Fraser University (SFU). I am based in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

if you have any questions about the topics I talk about, feel free to ask in the comments or DM me on Instagram @shayhayashi!

♡ MY YT SET-UP

♡ DISCLAIMER
This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This description may contain affiliate links (including the Amazon affiliate links) that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

[northalgoma]

this video was so helpful and motivated me to get organized before my next semester starts!!! I love your editing and your whole vibe honestly you deserve so much more recognition 🥺💕

[shawn.builds]

So important to take other creative projects while you’re in school or working if you have time! It keeps you fresh :)

[moriahharris]

No way! When you looked up the Heath and wellness for SFU I was shook! I’m a first year at SFU and struggled w online school a bit last semester. Thanks for the great content! Maybe I’ll see ya around :)

[LauraBella]

ok so this video was reccomend to me and let me just say I SWARE I thought you had at least 100k! You are literally so flipping underated!

[lucygarcia]

I just want to say, I praise you. you are amazing and I am really grateful to you. now to explain my theatrics... I had never heard of zlibrary before and so I thought it was just for textbooks. imagine how I got when I see I can download any book I want! I love to read but im really picky because I get too emotionally invested in the characters and I am very empathetic so I feel the conflict and pain the main characters go through. sometimes ill read the ending to see if everything is good, so I can tell myself throughout reading the book that the ending is a happy ending. now I can also download the book, see if I like it and then purchase the book with full confidence that I am not going to drop the book because I didn't like it. thank you so much. and I think this paragraph is crazy for a YouTube comment section. this is every book lovers fantasy.

[ellemorera]

you’re the real mvp for linking that website! Instantly subscribed! 😭❤️

[reeva_kuvadia]

These tips were so realistic that you can actually implement them.. Thank you so much for these helpful tips!!

[JashleyEstevez]

This video was so cute and helpful! I just made a video myself on prepping for a new semester which is how this video came up on my home page! I just subbed💞💞

[eliskakralikova]

best video, mostly people tend to focus only on 1 thing in these videos, but I love that you covered everything! Definitely will watch more of your videos! ❤️❤️

[mlpzg]

I just stumbled upon your channel &' You create perfect content that I enjoy watching &' definitely need!! you're amazing! 😩🤎

[JessLynne]

Love this video! I also can’t stick to just one planning system. Also love your glasses they’re adorable!!!

[adrienwingfield]

I love your vibe. It’s so chill and your content is great. Also thanks for the recommendation of Start-Up. I have seen it on Netflix for awhile but you helped me start it. It is so good! Keep the YouTube videos coming.

[MegKuang]

youve got me so hyped for the new semester now!! amazing tips, thanks for sharing <3

[nicolebdental]

I'm obsessed with your goodnotes notebook cover!!! Excited to see your filofax :))

[alexandra]

such a good video! can't believe you don't have more subscribers

[amirachaftendorn]

This is such a well made video! - ❤ your new subscriber from Germany 😇

[madilynmiller]

your editing is amazing!! loved this vid so much!

[becpeart]

This video was super helpful for me getting prepped for this coming semester. Your videos are so well filmed and edited <3

[GS-rxtt]

GIRL!! You deserve sooo much more hype !!!💋 you’re amazing . Gained a new subscriber!

[amishamaize]

this is such a great video!!!! sending it to all my friends