Back-to-school season always feels like a fresh start. New notebooks, a reset routine, and this year for me — a whole lot of balancing. I’m heading into a busy semester of civil engineering classes. At the same time, I’ll be running my blog and creating UGC. I’m also trying to keep my personal life in check. It’s a lot, but I’ve learned that balance doesn’t mean perfection. It means finding a rhythm that works for me.
Here’s how I’m resetting this fall and the habits I’m leaning on to make it all feel doable.
✨ Resetting My Routine
Fall feels like the perfect time to press reset. For me, that looks like:
- Morning rituals: coffee (always first), journaling or checking my planner, and setting three priorities for the day.
- Block scheduling: school in the morning/afternoon, content creation in the evenings or weekends.
- Weekly reset days: Sundays are for groceries, laundry, and planning out my assignments and shoots.
💡 Personal note: Last year, I skipped setting a Sunday reset and ended up starting every week behind. Now, planning on Sundays gives me breathing room.
👉 What’s your favorite way to reset before a busy week?
📚 Study Habits That Keep Me Sane
Engineering classes aren’t exactly “light” (hello, calculus and physics). Here’s how I keep up:
- I rotate between coffee shops, my apartment community spaces, and outdoor tables — honestly anywhere free. Even a small change of environment helps me reset and focus.
- I use Notion and Google Drive + a paper planner — digital for assignments, paper for daily to-dos. I’m currently obsessed with this one from Amazon.
- I break up long study sessions with quick walks or snacks so I don’t hit a wall.
- I time-block 50 minutes of study, then 10 minutes of movement or rest.
💡 Personal note: One of my best study sessions happened in my apartment lounge. I had my headphones in and an oat milk latte by my side. The change of scenery made it feel fresh again.
👉 Where’s your favorite spot to study when you need focus?
👩🏼💻 Balancing School + Side Hustles
Balancing engineering school with blogging and UGC is honestly the trickiest part. I’ve learned to:
- Put school first during the day (non-negotiable).
- Batch content: I film Reels or take photos in one afternoon instead of stressing every day.
- Give myself grace — if I can’t post for a day, it’s not the end of the world.
💡 Example: Last semester I tried editing a Reel at midnight after studying all day. It flopped and I was exhausted. Now I schedule content blocks during weekends and my work actually performs better.
👉 If you’re juggling multiple things, do you batch or spread them out daily?
🍂 Fall Style + Wellness
Back to school = back to my favorite comfy-but-cute outfits. My fall “uniform” includes:
- Oversized blazers
- Neutral knits
- Simple jeans
- Sneakers I can walk across campus in
Wellness-wise, I’m reminding myself that little habits add up:
- Packing water + snacks (no more skipping meals).
- Taking walks between classes.
- Saying yes to rest days at the gym.
💡 Personal note: I’ve learned to pack almonds, ProBars or trail mix in my bag. Otherwise, I’ll skip meals when I’m rushing between class and work.
👉 What’s your fall campus “uniform”?
❓ FAQ: Balancing School + Content Creation
Q: How do you find time for blogging?
A: I plan content in blocks — one afternoon = multiple posts.
Q: What if I fall behind?
A: Grace > guilt. Missing a post doesn’t mean failure.
Q: Do you monetize while in school?
A: Yes! Through UGC + blog ads/affiliates — it’s doable, just slow and steady.
🛒 Back-to-School Essentials
Here are a few things making my semester smoother:
- My favorite Amazon planner — simple, affordable, and perfect for tracking assignments + life.
- I also incorporate my weekly planner!
- Neutral knits + blazers — comfy but put-together for class.
- A reliable coffee tumbler (study sessions = caffeine).
- Snacks that actually keep me going (protein bars, trail mix).
💭 Final Thoughts
This semester isn’t about being perfect — it’s about balance. I’m reminding myself daily that I can be a student and a creator and a human who needs downtime.
If you’re going back to school (or just resetting this fall), I hope you find your rhythm too. 🌿
👉 Share your own study habits or routines in the comments. I’d love to hear how you’re managing this semester!
