Best Back to School Item List to Help Anxious Students Study

If you’re taking a moment this morning to wonder when do kids go back to school, you’re not the only one! Preparation is key this time of year, and writing a back to school item list (or back to school supplies list) is going to be the best way to keep on track. Especially when there are a few different back to school tips floating around the internet.

This time of year is particularly important for children and teenagers who suffer from anxiety.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has stated that one in 8 children are affected by anxiety, and that:

Anxiety is a normal part of childhood, and every child goes through phases. A phase is temporary and usually harmless. But children who suffer from an anxiety disorder experience fear, nervousness, and shyness, and they start to avoid places and activities.

aada.org

All children deserve to make the most out of their time in school. But especially when parents have been out of the education system for some time, it can be daunting to know how to help. Finding worthwhile back to school tips or advice is also tough, as is creating a back to school item list that helps to alleviate fears.

We’ve put together a short guide to the ultimate back to school supplies list for anxious students. Take note so you don’t miss out anything important, and, most importantly, discuss with your child if they might want any of these to help them. Or, if you’re worried about going back to school yourself, make sure you consider some of these options to ease your worries this school year.

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Back to School Item List to Ease Anxious Students Minds

1. Notebooks

One item that should be on everyone’s back to school supplies list is notebooks. These pose an obvious help in that they are needed for recording (or passing) notes, and keeping track of homework. Notebooks are also totally customizable – you can choose which you like, for whatever suits your personality.

But they’re also important for combatting stress and anxiety.

Firstly, this can be on a practical level. You can create a form of bullet journal, creating wonderful tables and lists to keep track of assignments and schedules. Taking organizational inspo from incredible images like these gets the person writing the schedule to take half an hour out of their day for ‘me time’. In a similar way to using a coloring book, it can help you to focus and calm anxious thoughts.

Secondly, this can be to figure out what is causing the anxiety. Psychology today suggests that you create a table with three headings: Situation; Thoughts/What am I telling myself?; How anxious do I feel (scale of 0-10)? Using this system, the person feeling anxious can begin to understand why they are feeling this way and to gain perspective when little things feel too much.

2. Family photo album

A photo album might not seem an obvious choice for your back to school item list. But this is an important back to school tip, especially for younger children and older students heading off to college. Not only do photo albums help you feel connected to your family, but they can be stored away until needed. This means they’re subtle and can be kept safe. Plus, they’re cheap to put together and a fun family activity to make for all ages!

3. Mindfulness Stones

Whilst this isn’t a popular choice for everyone, mindfulness stones are an increasingly popular way to calm minds. There are plenty of different types available at a range of prices – from individual crystals to beautiful stacking stones in a variety of colors. To stack stones takes patience and a calm hand, which requires a still mind. In this sense, they are said to promote a means of meditating and escaping anxious thoughts.

4. A Calendar

Similarly to having a notebook, an important item to have on your back to school supplies list is a good old fashioned calendar. Not least so you can answer the questions, when do kids go back to school?! Calendars are a necessary visual aid for tracking important dates, and can offer reassurance when planning schedules.

5. Noise Cancelling Headphones

Headphones help you block out the world and focus on what is in front of you, a key aspect of studying.

One of the best parts of advancing technology is how it can help quieten our mind in the modern, fast paced world. An important aspect of this, and our favorite back to school tip, is using the “secret survival tool for modern life” – noise cancelling headphones.

This tech is great because it’s so multifunctional. More than just for gaming and listening to music, turning on the ANC function without any music can aid your focus on your breathing and being mindful. They’re definitely one for your back to school supplies list (or for when you’re asking when do kids go back to school…)

Indeed, as one Facebook reviewer noted, their noise cancelling headphones are perfect for “When I am in school trying to study[…] I just put them on and turn on the ANC function, so that I can concentrate because they [do] an amazing job”.

Learn more about how this tech can help study below!

6. A Comfortable Backpack

This might go without saying, but being comfortable is highly conducive to a good learning environment. Especially if you’re lugging around a lot of books and possibly a few mindfulness stones, having a backpack that sits well across your shoulders and doesn’t damage your back is important. It’s also one less thing to worry about at school, if you can keep everything in one place. That is, most stuff in your back pack and your noise cancelling headphones worn like a necklace!

7. Anti-Anxiety tea

One for the mornings. A good back to school tip and item for your back to school supplies list is a soothing drink. In particular, this includes drinks such as peppermint or chamomile tea. They should have no caffeine, of course, and can help people take a break and refresh, or get ready for the day. Note – hot drinks like these are only suitable for older children and teenagers!

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Back to School Tips: Why Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Are Important

1. Creates A Great Study Environment

As students have realized for decades now, headphones are an important part of studying and a necessity on the back to school item list. They’re more than just a form of self-expression, allowing you to listen to music when you want. Headphones help you block out the world and focus on what is in front of you. A key aspect of studying.

For a variety of reasons, some students find that full concentration can only be achieved by having no outward distractions. Whether its people having a conversation, the traffic outside or the tapping of keyboards, people react differently to the different stimuli around them.

If a student someone who needs quiet to focus, active noise cancelling headphones are perfect. In essence, they cancel out specific distracting noises in order to create a quiet, calm environment for the user. This can be particularly useful at exam time, or when people are feeling anxious.

What’s more, noise cancelling headphones are great for anxious students. You don’t even have to listen to music to take advantage of the noise cancelling features!

Simply turn on the ANC to block out distracting background noise and get a quiet five minutes to yourself. Whether that’s in the library, at home, in a busy student flat, or for young kids who need to calm down after an exciting day at school.

Read our comprehensive guide to how noise cancelling works and how to choose headphones here.

2. Helps You to Keep Exercising

Exercise is key to maintaining focus during busy study periods, and for helping keep minds calm. This is because it helps you:

• Reduce Tension
• Improve Your Sleep
• Give You a Sense of Achievement
• Find a Natural Energy Boost
• Increase Your Appetite

Exercising is a great study break. Not only does it help regulate the students routine to prevent over-exhaustion, it is beneficial to their body and mind. In particular, it stops students being hunched over their computers or a book; they stretch out their spine. Giving weary eyes some rest is also a bonus!.

Moreover, studies suggest that short bursts of exercise – up to 20 minutes at a time – gives your brain an edge. Increased blood flow to the brain is said to improves concentration and memory retention. This is perfect for students who need to get all the studying in that they can.

three groups of students watched a 50-minute online lecture. One group took three five-minute breaks to do some light calisthenic exercises. Another group also took breaks but spent them playing video games. The third group didn’t take breaks.

…results showed that the exercise group had a distinct advantage in both categories: their attention was more focused throughout the lecture and they retained more information, not only immediately afterward but also 48 hours later.

David DiSalvo for Forbes

Your headphones are important for this because listening to music whilst you work out helps kill boredom, keeping you moving for longer. Moreover, music that is synchronized with your workout pushes you harder in a heavy workout. This can be particularly true for people who enjoy spin classes or running, for example!

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Back to School Item List Conclusions

Being a student isn’t easy. But this back to school item list can offer food for thought if you or your child needs help to focus. From calming teas to notebooks, family photo albums and calendars, there are quick and easy methods to try and combat anxious thoughts.

An incredibly important aspect of this is how technology can help. Noise cancelling headphones are a great means of blocking out the background noise; they truly are music on, world off. They are one of the best back to school tips due to their potention benefits for a huge range of students. From kids needing to calm down and focus on their work to college students who can’t sit in the library because of the constant keyboard tapping, they can offer respite and a means of feeling calm.

If you’re looking for a great pair of headphones to place on your back to school item list, we suggest SoundSurge 60‘s. You can learn more about these powerful ANC headphones and check out their distinctive color ways by clicking here.

Disclaimer: All content found on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.