This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Burt’s Bees. All opinions are 100% mine.
I can’t believe it’s already back-to-school season! This summer definitely flew by but you guys know how much I love back-to-school shopping and getting ready for classes so I’m not complaining TOO much. There are a bunch of things I like to make sure I do before the school year starts and I figured share what they are with you in a blog post!
Solidify a skincare routine.
One of the first things I make sure I do is solidify a morning/evening routine. It makes waking up early for class that much easier and more enjoyable. As I’m sure you’ve heard me say lately, I’ve been trying to incorporate more natural products into my skincare routine and lately I’ve found myself reaching for a lot of Burt’s Bees® products at Walmart!
I have a lot of redness and, although I haven’t been formally diagnosed, I believe I do have rosacea as well. The Burt’s Bees Face Cleanser for Sensitive Skin has been a game-changer for me lately! It’s a soap free cream cleanser that uses 98.9% natural ingredients including: cotton extract to soften the skin and rice extract and aloe to moisturize and soothe. It doesn’t leave my skin red, irritated, OR tight like most cleansers do and it actually makes my skin feel refreshed and clean! I have been reaching for it often this summer and I know it’ll continue throughout the school year.
You guys know I love face masks! Burt’s Bees has so many different options but I love this Detoxifying Charcoal Sheet Mask the most! This mask is 99% natural and is formulated for all skin types including sensitive skin! Embedded with charcoal and honey, this soap free formula provides a gentle cleanse to soothe and detoxify skin. It’ll be perfect to use when I need to relax and (literally) detox from a stressful week!
My acne has definitely been better lately (especially since I’ve been more conscious about what I’m putting on my skin!) but I love having this new product to help with any blemishes that pop up! The Burt’s Bees Herbal Complexion Stick is great for on-the-go, on-the-spot skin corrections. It uses Tea Tree Oil to soothe skin and Willow Back Extract to exfoliate and unclog pores. I’ve loved using this a few times a week as part of my daily routine!
I’m sure most of you know Burt’s Bees from their amazing lip balm. I’ve been reaching for their 100% Natural Tinted Lip Balm in the Hibiscus shade all summer! It’s a perfect way to moisturize your lips while also giving yourself a little pop of color that’s pretty but subtle. 9 times out of 10, I’m not wearing a full face of makeup to class. But having this little guy with me keeps my lips and skin feeling good! Enriched with 100% natural ingredients, this Burt’s Bees lip balm is formulated with no parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or SLS.
As you can tell, my #1 goal with my skincare routine is to keep it both natural and PRACTICAL. I can’t keep up with needing to use a ton of different serums, toners, moisturizers, etc. Keeping it simple is how I make sure I stick to the routine and Burt’s Bees makes it so easy! Another amazing thing is that all of these products are available at Walmart! You can find them all quickly and easily no matter where you are: either in a Walmart store or online! Shop Burt’s Bees
Make any necessary appointments.
Need a haircut? Need to see the doctor or dentist? Try to get those things out of the way BEFORE school starts so you don’t have to worry about it!
Getting a new planner.
I’m sure if you’re reading this, you know how obsessed I am with planners. If you need help picking one out, check out my 2018 planner post for some ideas! Pick out your planner, get it set up how you like it and put in any important dates you can before the semester starts! When you get your syllabus, make sure you add due dates/exams in ASAP. I love doing this early so I know when my “busy weeks” will be (you know, the ones filled with papers/exams/projects all due at the same time!)
Develop a monthly budget.
Something to think about before school starts & life gets stressful: how much do you want to spend per month? I know in college I was guilty of eating out way more than I wanted to. Maybe set a limit for yourself like, only eating out 2x per week? Or budgeting the amount you want to spend on groceries, going out, etc. Sky’s the limit! Get yourself in the right mindset.
Organize classes.
I changed up my system almost every year, but figure out how you’d like to take notes (separate notebooks for every class? one big one? taking notes on your laptop?). There are lots of options but it’s always good to have that part of the process figured out nice and early. If you’re taking notes on your computer, now’s a good time to purge any old files you don’t need and organize your folders for a new semester!
Organize your room.
Whether you’ve just moved into a dorm, a new apartment, re-moving into an old apartment, or commuting from home… it’s always good to make sure your personal space is organized how you want it. I always feel better when my desk is cleared off, my room is clean, and my closet is organized.
Meal planning.
Speaking of grocery shopping, figuring out a meal plan for during the week can be SO helpful! When I had crazy weeks of class and meetings for various student orgs, it was so nice to have a meal prepped so I didn’t have to cook when I got home. This can also prevent you from frivolous spending at food trucks on campus 😉
School supply shopping/buying and renting textbooks.
Besides buying planners, I always love school supply shopping! Getting notebooks, folders, binders, new pens and pencils… ya know, the works. Getting this out of the way ASAP always makes me 100x more excited to get back in class. Buy or rent your textbooks as soon as you can before they go out of stock and maybe skim through them? Can’t hurt to look over some of that information before you see it in class!
Back to school clothes shopping.
Get yourself a first day of class outfit, girl! I always feel so much more confident when I’m rocking something new. I nearly always get a dress because it’s so easy and fun to dress up or down with a jean jacket or jewelry. It’s nice to make a good first impression before you pull out the leggings, large tees, and hoodies for the remainder of the semester 😉
Goal setting for the year.
Now that you’re feeling ready to go, set some goals for yourself! Where do you see yourself at the end of the semester? The end of the year? What do you want your grades to look like? Where do you see yourself socially and academically? What orgs do you hope to join? What positions do you want to hold? Think about all of these and write em down! College is the PERFECT time to grow and try new things. You’ve got this!
What other things do you do to prepare for a new semester? Let me know below!
