While everyone knows that getting ready for “Back to School” season means buying new clothes and notebooks, there are other minor but important things that teens can do to make the transition from summer fun to school move more smoothly.

First, start transitioning from the “vampire” sleep schedule. If over the summer your days slowly slid into long long nights and the term “rise and shine” sounded more like fingernails scratching down a chalkboard even though it was far past eleven am, don’t fret. This just means two things. You are a very normal teenager and it can be fixed without the painful and consciousness altering cold turkey tactic many teens use: waiting until the first day of school. Instead, start slowly slipping your nights back into place by going to bed and waking up a half hour earlier each day. That way, in two weeks even the most twisted sleep schedule will be much closer to normal and school ready.

Second, put breakfast back into place somewhere and lunch and dinner. As your sleep schedule slides into oblivion so do meals more often than not during the loosey goose days of summer. In their places come cheesy puffs, kool aid, and fast food hamburgers. So, instead of shocking your digestive system, start putting meals and at least a bit of healthy food back into your fare. Like sleep, do this slowly. That way, on your first day of school you will not only not feel sleep deprived but you may also avoid chocolate chip cookie cravings at nine am. And having nutrition may also improve your concentration during class.

Third, make sure to save some of the fun. Just because summer is over doesn’t mean that fun has to end. In fact, it shouldn’t. If you dread your entire schedule, things will start looking pretty bleak pretty fast. Grades will slip. Lectures will be made. Moods will sink and life will stink. Instead, make sure to save room in your schedule for at least a few activities you really enjoy. They can be formal extra-curricular activities such as sports or dance or they can just be hobbies that you personally like. Also make sure you have some true down time when you aren’t expected to do anything at all. Human beings really need this time and summer shouldn’t be the only time we get to relax and have fun so make sure to work it into your coming school year.

Also, don't forget totake the Back to school quiz in the Teen Forum.