how to reduce back-to-school stress (1)
School is back in after the long holiday break. To be honest, this year, things have been a lot easier. Maybe because the kids are older and need less hustling to get things ready for school. Maybe I’m more seasoned in the ‘back to school’ routine.
I used to rush to the bookstore and buy their books the first chance I got in early December. I wanted to be sure I got all their books before school started. But over the years, I’ve learnt that no matter how early I go to the bookstore, I could never get all of their books in one trip.
There’d always be one book or another that’s out of stock and I’d have to make a second or third, sometimes even a fourth or fifth trip to the bookstore. A big waste of time. A big test on my patience (especially having to look for a parking spot outside the bookstore!). A big stress on me.
Last December, I took things easy and strolled into the bookstore only in late December. Surprisingly, the place was empty because it was the festive weekend. In fact, I was the only customer in the store (compared to when I had to jostle with other parents in early December). So I took my time to chat with the clerk and check the books.
There were a few books that were out of stock, of course. But the atmosphere in the bookstore was not busy and rushed like it usually is, so I was a lot less stressed about having to make another trip back there.
When I did make a second trip back there, I was on my way back from the city. So it wasn’t like I was making a separate trip just to get those books.
What I’ve learnt:
- Go to the bookstore in the early morning or towards closing time or around festive weekends when it’s less busy.
- If you have to make additional trips, don’t make it a special trip. Plan the trip to fit into your other scheduled trips.
- 5 ways to reduce festive stress
- how to save time and gasoline
- re-reading old books
- how to reduce back-to-school stress (2)
- how to deal with rising costs by using smart shopping techniques