Back to School in Cincinnati — Get Started Right!

The back to school season is upon us in Cincinnati. If you’re starting to feel the strain of the big change, try some of these strategies to ease your transition and have a successful start to the school year.

1. Set Up a Smart Schedule

One of the most challenging parts of going back to school is setting up a workable schedule for the weeks and months ahead. Fill out your calendar for the next month or two, including everything from school days and before or after school care to extracurriculars, sports and family gatherings. Working with this schedule, figure out the best time to get up, eat breakfast and get out of the house in the mornings. Figure out when you’ll need to pick up and drop off children, run errands and take care of other obligations.

Working through your schedule ahead of time will give you a chance to make adjustments in advance, so you don’t find yourself struggling to find time for grocery shopping as your cabinets get emptier each day. With proper planning, you can ease the strain of adjusting to a new schedule.

2. Plan Meal Prep Ahead

Think through your meals in advance so you’re ready to provide a nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinner for your family every day, no matter how busy you get. Make a menu for each day of the week, and get in the habit of thinking a day or two ahead. Referring to your menu, you can set out breakfast supplies, pack lunch and thaw dinner meats the night before to ease the flow of each day.

3. Create a Study Space

Set up a dedicated area for homework and study time in your apartment so you’re ready to tackle the challenges of the new school year. Many of the two-bedroom designer layouts in our Springs at West Chester and Springs at Liberty Township apartments include a study nook that’s perfectly placed for an out-of-the-way desk. We also offer Wi-Fi in our clubhouses if older students need to get out of the house for quiet study time. Set up a smart plan and place for homework now so you know where to go from the very first days of the school year.

4. Make Time for Play

Don’t let your schedule become so bogged down in obligations and work that you forget to have some fun during the back-to-school season. The West Chester Concert Series runs through the beginning of September, giving you fun, free entertainment to ease some of your stresses during free evenings. The Liberty Center Farmer’s Market continues through September 26, so you can have a laid-back alternative to the frenzy of big box store shopping.

What are your top tips for having a successful transition into the school year? Share your ideas in the comment section below.