Maintaining a routine is the first step toward long-term success, built on a series of repetitive habits. Students start following a routine when they go to school, as that is when their lives begin to take on an order. The activity of going to school, arriving at a specific time, and getting dismissed when it ends, helps you create a systematic structure for each day. Understanding what a school routine is and following a manageable routine are necessary for your academic growth.

What is a school routine?

A school routine can mean two completely different things. Let us understand each of them distinctively and then move to how you can prepare for both:

1. Routine set by the school

Every school provides a routine to students based on their standard and section. It divides a regular school day into specific time slots to determine which subject you will learn at what time. Subject teachers are assigned accordingly so they are present to teach as previously assigned.

A school routine format lists the classes you will attend each day. Accordingly, you pack your bags with the books and notebooks you need for your respective classes.

School diaries include a routine chart that students need to fill out at the start of each new curriculum. Respective class teachers share the list with their students so that they can keep track and prepare for each school day.

2. Routine students set around school

Just as schools set a routine that determines which classes children study throughout the week, students set their lifestyle around their activities. Considering school as the primary activity a student has each week, all other associations revolve around studies.

A school routine, in this case, defines what a student does throughout the day to be active and focused in school. It includes sleeping for adequate hours, having meals on time, being physically active, and studying to revise.

Why is a school routine important?

Here are reasons why following a routine for school helps students excel at their academic goals:

1. Structure

Preparing for a school week helps students to create a structured routine around their indoor and outdoor activities.

For example, according to school timing, students must be present in class Monday to Friday between 9 am and 3 pm. They have ample time in the mornings to wake up, get ready for the day, have breakfast, and leave for school. Once they are back home, they rest, play, and start revising. They can then spend time with family during dinner and go to bed early.

On weekends, when they don’t have school, they have to participate in extracurricular activities and social activities, to make time for recreation. A school routine outlines a week full of activities, following a schedule that covers all areas of interest.

2. Not having to plan every week

Having a school routine helps students create a pattern of activities to follow every week. It eliminates stress and anxiety that comes from the unknown. They have a time to play, a time to rest, and a time for revisions. It also reduces procrastinating about what to do next because the schedule notes everything to follow beforehand.

3. Consistency grows winners

Excellence comes with repetition, whether in life or in academics. The best way to never fall behind in class is to study what was taught that day. The chapters remain fresh in students’ memories, making it easier for them to understand and retain the subject matter. The process makes revision easier before exams because they are familiar with their material.

How to create and follow a school routine?

Here are disciplinary activities that students need to follow to have a successful school routine:

1. Plan ahead of time

Tasks that you can do the night before save time when you’re in a hurry every morning. These include laying out school uniform, packing your bags according to the school routine, and completing homework.

2. Having a healthy sleep routine

Students need to sleep for at least 8-10 hours to give their minds enough rest. Since their brains are expected to be actively absorbing lessons all the time, not sleeping enough disrupts proper learning.

Children who do not follow a proper sleep routine are more likely to perform poorly in school. Lack of sleep leads to tiredness, and that’s how they lose focus in studies.

A good bedtime routine isn’t just about adequate sleep but also about maintaining the same hours every night. It establishes a discipline around your circadian rhythm, acting as a 24-hour body clock for similar activities every day.

3. Adequate nutrition

Children in India are exposed to a lot of junk food because packaged products are readily available at inexpensive prices. Brands like Horlicks, Bournvita, and Lays inevitably become parts of our households. In fact, many times kids want to take Maggi to school because, by breaktime, it clumps up and somehow becomes tastier!

While parents are likely to let kids have occasional treats, it is imperative for you to understand what’s good for your body. Healthy eating requires a mindset shift, and that shift has to develop early in life. Whole grains, fruits, vitamins, minerals, and proteins need to make their way into your meals, along with the right amounts of fats and carbs.

When kids understand why their bodies require a balanced diet, they will be keener to have home-cooked meals. Again, it is essential to follow a routine for having meals throughout the day so your digestive is ready.

4. All work no play is the worst

Exercising regularly promotes blood circulation, regulating blood flow that releases endorphins and serotonin. These are called happy hormones that enhance neural connections that reduce stress, anxiety, and improve concentration.

As you have more and more to study every time you go to a new standard, physical activities take a backseat. This is where hobbies like playing a sport become necessary for growing kids. At least three to four times a week, you need to exercise, play outdoor games, or a sport. These activities will improve neural functioning, enhancing memory retention and the focus needed for studies.

5. Recognizing productive hours

As a student, you need to prioritize hours when your brain functions optimally so you can study for upcoming examinations. For this, you need to create a weekly routine that includes everything you do.

Suppose you have to reach school at 9 am every day from Monday to Friday. For this, you wake up at 7 am, get ready for school, have breakfast, and leave. Your school gets over at 3 pm, and you return home at around 3:30 pm to 4 pm. Between 4 pm and 6 pm, you eat, rest, and relax. Your study time starts at 6 pm, making this your most productive time of the day.

Once you allocate your most productive time for studies, your brain automatically prepares you to gear up for all the knowledge you’re about to attain. A minimum of 2 hours of solid studies can take you closer to academic excellence compared to hours and hours of procrastination during non-productive hours.

6. Paying attention in class

One of the easiest ways to not let studies take up an entire day is by paying attention in class. If you can retain enough information from what you learn in school, you will need less time to repeat the same chapters while revising. Being an attentive student in class will save you time, help you learn faster, and help you clear your doubts as your teacher teaches. It will also help you stay prepared for the following class.

Routine is discipline

Following routines helps you shape a life of discipline that you will require as you grow up. It sows the seed for a healthy lifestyle that is unshakeable even as we go through ups and downs in life. So, a right time to sleep, a right time to eat, and a right time to study will take you one step ahead in academics today and in life tomorrow.