Embrace Back-to-School Energy for Personal Growth

Even if you’re not returning to the classroom, the back-to-school season offers a chance to refresh and create new routines. Drawing inspiration from past school activities can lead to positive changes as autumn approaches.

Meal-Prepping as Adult Lunches

Remember packing school lunches? Try meal-prepping. Kevin Curry, founder of FitMenCook, suggests spending 45 minutes two nights weekly to prepare five dishes. Examples include chickpeas, chicken, jasmine rice, roasted vegetables, and a medley of spinach, chard, and kale. He creates about ten meal combinations from these ingredients. Adding condiments like tahini or barbecue sauce can enhance flavors.

Update Your Wardrobe

If you miss back-to-school shopping, focus on your style with a closet purge. Asia Jackson, actor, and YouTuber, recommends trying on every piece of clothing and asking, “Do you feel good in this item? Do you look good in it?” If not, consider donating it. Build your new style around the pieces you love.

Expand Your Knowledge with Books

If you’re eager to read more, consider doing it in the morning. Former NPR culture correspondent Lynn Neary advises that mornings, especially weekends, are ideal. You’re unlikely to fall asleep, making it a pleasant start to the day.

Improve Your To-Do List

To tackle tasks effectively, use the two-minute rule. Angel Trinidad, founder of Passion Planner, suggests executing tasks that take less than two minutes immediately. Larger tasks should be broken into smaller, clear steps. Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks, notes that vague lists lead to incomplete tasks.

Infuse Play into Your Life

To introduce more play, reflect on childhood pastimes. Stuart Brown from the National Institute for Play suggests simple activities like appreciating nature or enjoying hobbies such as painting or board games. Consider what you loved as a child and find ways to incorporate it into your current life.

Making New Friends

If making friends is your goal, begin by assuming others also seek friendship. Heather Havrilesky, columnist for Ask Polly, challenges the idea that everyone has friends. Take the first step, despite any awkwardness. Vulnerability lays the foundation for friendship.

This digital story by Clare Marie Schneider was edited by Malaka Gharib. Visuals by Rebecca Harlan. Reach out to us at [email protected].

Listen to Life Kit on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or subscribe to our newsletter.

Note: This story was initially published on Aug. 6, 2024, and revised on Sept. 2, 2026.