How to Reset for a New School Year (Even If Last Year Was a Mess)

Everything you need for the semester you want!

This bundle includes:

• The Syllabus Study Planner

• The Pomodoro Planner

• A Confidence Tracker

• A Q&A planner

• The “Get Organized Checklist”

• and more!

This workbook is full of super useful resources that can be applied to every aspect of your day.

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I’ll be honest, right now, my middle name is Chaos. Yes, with a capital C.

My spring cleaning efforts are still that… efforts. Even halfway through July. Daycare seems like a hope, and finding time to actually study is still a prayer. But somehow I know that I will figure out a way to do it.

I didn’t have a plan for any of this when I applied to Grad School. I just knew that it was time for a change. Something had to change. I was stalled. Stagnant. I needed to feel like me again.

I wanted to feel excited about the new school year. I had goals. I had planners. I had ten different highlighters that were supposed to “change my life.” I was finally going to do something about feeling lost at sea.

But somewhere between burnout, life responsibilities, and trying to juggle way too much, I am starting the year already feeling behind.

So, I’m getting honest and actually doing something about it.

I’m starting grad school in a few weeks. I am finally officially on my MBA journey, and I’m choosing to approach this new chapter with more intention, less chaos, and a lot more grace.

If you’re heading into a new semester feeling overwhelmed, scattered, or not at all ready... You are not alone.

Starting university for the first time is just as terrifying as embarking on that Master’s Journey. And let me tell you, the impostor syndrome is just as strong.

In this post, we’re going to talk about how to reset for a new school year, even if you don’t feel “ready.” I’ll walk you through how I’m organizing myself for grad school, how to build better study habits, and how to make a fresh start. Even if your last semester nearly broke you.

Let’s reset. Together.

Let Go of the Guilt (You’re Allowed to Start Over)

Before I started prepping for grad school, I had to have a very real talk with myself.

Because truthfully? I was carrying a lot of shame.

I had taken some time off from my studies to have a family and start a business. My plate was already SO full. I felt guilty for wanting more for myself. I felt greedy for considering my aspirations over the expectations of me. And, I felt selfish for not being content with being a full-time stay-at-home mom. For wanting something to define my life outside of service to my family.

But I was already over-extended. There were weeks I completely fell behind. Chores, laundry and dishes stacked up. I struggled to find time to study for the GMAT and when I did, I didn’t give it my best effort.

Routines that I swore I’d stick to, I’d abandon after one sleepless night with my baby. There was a whole lot of I’ll get back on track next week that never quite happened.

So, before I even opened a planner or made a schedule, I knew I had to reset emotionally. That meant forgiving myself for the messy parts of my life and accepting that it didn’t define my potential. I also had to come to terms with the profound guilt I felt with putting my sons in child care.

If you’re heading into this school year with that same heavy feelings, like you’re already behind before it even starts, I want you to know this:

You’re allowed to reset. You’re allowed to want more for yourself. You’re allowed to ask for help when you feel like you are drowning. You deserve not to be overwhelmed, stressed, gaslighted, or shamed for having and pursuing your dreams.

Not because you earned it. Not because you proved yourself.  But because you’re human. And humans need rest, reflection, second chances, and purpose.

Resetting isn’t about pretending last semester didn’t happen. It’s about choosing to move forward anyway with a little more wisdom and a lot more self-compassion.

So, if that’s the energy you want to bring into the new school year, the first step isn’t a perfect routine. It’s permission to begin again. It’s not about doing more. It’s about starting from where you are.

Get Your Space, and Head, Back in Order

After I gave myself permission to start fresh, the next thing I tackled was the physical chaos.

When my desk is cluttered, my brain is too. So, I started small. I cleared off my workspace. I sorted through old notebooks, ditched dried-out pens, and finally emptied that mysterious folder full of last semester’s forgotten to-dos.

And you know what? It helped.

Getting organized for back to school doesn’t have to mean buying a million new supplies or colour-coding your entire life. Sometimes it’s just:

• Cleaning off your desk

• Reorganizing your school bag

• Creating a dedicated space where you can focus

• Or printing out a fresh planner that makes you feel like you’ve got this

One of the biggest things that helped me was printing out my Study Planner & Activity Tracker and putting it front and center. I used the monthly overview to write down my grad school orientation dates, then used the weekly planner to time-block when I’d review course materials or prep my fall schedule.

If you're wondering how to get organized for back to school in a way that actually feels doable, this is it. Start with your space. Then pick one small tool to anchor your brain, and take it one step at a time.

Bonus tip: If you're feeling overwhelmed and you truly don’t know where to start, try the “one bag a day” trick.  It’s simple. Take a small grocery bag and declutter. This can be filling it with items to go in the trash, clothes to donate, papers to recycle, etc. Once you fill this bag, toss it, and you are done for the day.

I use this trick all the time when I am feeling overwhelmed and unproductive. It is often enough to make me feel like I have accomplished something and can help relieve some anxiety.

Study Habits That Won’t Burn You Out This Time

I’ve had semesters where I tried to do everything.

Perfect notes. Colour-coded binders. Study marathons that initially looked great on paper, but left me totally drained by week three.

This year, as I start my MBA, I’m doing things differently.

The truth is, most of us don’t struggle because we’re lazy. We struggle because we’re overwhelmed. And a lot of the study habits we’re told to adopt aren’t built for real life. They’re built for students with unlimited time, energy, and focus. (So, basically... no one I know.)

So if you're looking to build better study habits for a new semester, here’s what I’m focusing on this time:

• Time-blocking with breathing room. I’m scheduling my study sessions with buffers built in. So, when life happens, I don’t spiral.

• Spaced repetition. Instead of cramming, I’m breaking content into chunks and reviewing a little at a time across the week.

• One-hour planning sessions on Sundays. Not for aesthetics, for sanity. I sit down with my planner, map out assignments, and adjust based on what’s actually realistic.

• Built-in rest. If I don’t plan to rest, I’ll end up burned out and binge-watching Netflix on the floor anyway. So, I make it part of my routine.

These aren’t flashy. But they work. And more importantly, they’re sustainable.

Notice all of these are subtle shifts. I have no plans to overhaul my entire life. That’s because sustainable change is rooted in the structures that best fit your life. Don’t totally change everything about your routine overnight; add small tweaks to improve how you manage your time.

You Don’t Need to Be Perfect, Just Prepared

Every August, I used to get this rush of motivation. I’d write the perfect study schedule, stock up on new stationery, and tell myself this is the year I stay on top of everything.

And by week two? I was already exhausted.

What I’ve learned, especially now that I’m prepping for grad school, is that back-to-school doesn’t need to feel like a sprint. In fact, the best back-to-school tip I can give you is this:

Start soft.

Instead of trying to launch into a full routine, I’m easing in with small, low-pressure habits:

• Doing 15-minute planning sessions with my coffee in the morning

• Lightly skimming orientation materials instead of trying to “get ahead”

• Time-blocking my study and work time so I can be more present with my family.

• Blocking off time in the evenings for rest on purpose

• Using my planner as a check-in tool, not just a to-do list

This is what a reset actually looks like, especially if last semester left you burned out or unsure where to begin. You don’t have to hit the ground running. You just have to start. Even if it’s wobbly. Even if it’s scary. Just start.

P.S. I’ve also got something exciting coming this fall…

If you want a full 30-day reset with support, structure, and a printable system, keep an eye out. My Perfect Study Plan Challenge kicks off in September!

Your Reset Starts Now

If you’re starting this school year with mixed feelings, hopeful but anxious, excited but overwhelmed, I get it. I’m right there with you.

I don’t have it all figured out. This is all of our first time here. None of us have ALL the answers. But what I have learned is that a good reset isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating space for growth, for calm, for clarity.

This year, I’m stepping into grad school with a planner in one hand and grace in the other. And you can too. You don’t have to wait for a “perfect moment” to start over. You can begin right now, with the next small step.

Download the free Study Planner & Activity Tracker to get organized, stay focused, and build a routine that works for you.

And if you’re craving more structure this fall… I’ve got you. The Perfect Study Plan Challenge is coming this September, and it’s going to be your full guided reset, complete with weekly support, printables, and gentle accountability.

But for now, start here. Start soft.

You’ve got this.

I would like to be transparent so that there are no misunderstandings. As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission from any products linked in this post. This is not a sponsored post, and I was not asked to recommend these products. These are products that I genuinely love and want to share with my audience.

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