Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

Achieving Peace Over Nerves

Here's an important question you've probably asked yourself: How do you get over that nervous rush of not knowing what the school year, or any new experience for that matter, will be like? Well, don't try to avoid the nerves. You need to acknowledge your nerves and emotions, too. That's what makes you human.

Here's an important question you've probably asked yourself: How do you get over that nervous rush of not knowing what the school year, or any new experience for that matter, will be like? Well, don't try to avoid the nerves. You need to acknowledge your nerves and emotions, too. That's what makes you human.

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

Set Your Balancing Act

Starting college? With this fresh start comes some newfound freedoms that require a higher level of maturity and responsibility. Unlike high school, you won't have someone checking in to make sure you finished your homework or studied for that big test.

Starting college? With this fresh start comes some newfound freedoms that require a higher level of maturity and responsibility. Unlike high school, you won't have someone checking in to make sure you finished your homework or studied for that big test. Whether you're living on campus or commuting, most likely you are now responsible for everything from laundry to finances to academic success.

Though much of college life is about making new friends and socializing, it's important to define clear boundaries to keep your social life from interfering with your academic success.

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

Saying Goodbye

Making a move? The hardest part may be saying goodbye to friends. In order to make a healthy and positive transition, take an opportunity to spend some quality time with each of your closest friends. Sharing all your apprehension, reservations, excitement and enthusiasm will lighten your load.

Making a move? The hardest part may be saying goodbye to friends. In order to make a healthy and positive transition, take an opportunity to spend some quality time with each of your closest friends -whether it is one last shopping trip, going to a concert or a celebration dinner. Don't avoid talking about the move. Sharing all your apprehension, reservations, excitement and enthusiasm will lighten your load.

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

Go Easy on Yourself

What's one way you can feel less stressed and more hopeful? Don't put demands on yourself that are impossible to achieve. When you're trying to be perfect, you feel stressed. Instead, focus on doing what you can control.

What's one way you can feel less stressed and more hopeful? Don't put demands on yourself that are impossible to achieve. When you're trying to be perfect, you feel stressed. Instead, focus on doing what you can control. Talk to your friends! Chances are they feel just as stressed as you do, and getting their advice will help calm your nerves and make you realize you're not the only one going through hard changes.

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

Try Before You Buy

What if every fresh start you wanted to make had a trial period and an organization where you could go to "try it before you buy it"? That's a great fantasy, but maybe it could be a reality. If you're a senior and starting to think seriously about going to college next year, you can actually try out different jobs.

What if every fresh start you wanted to make had a trial period and an organization where you could go to "try it before you buy it"? That's a great fantasy, but maybe it could be a reality. If you're a senior and starting to think seriously about going to college next year, you can actually try out different jobs by being a Job Shadow to help you decide on a college major or career. Go to your high-school counselor and ask if there are companies that you can visit for a day or a week to see what an average day on the job is like.

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

Talk, Don't Yell

You will be amazed how you can get what you want and improve relationships with family members by just asking yourself one question. When your parents yell at you, do you listen?

You will be amazed how you can get what you want and improve relationships with family members by just asking yourself one question. When your parents yell at you, do you listen?

Think about it. Why do you and your friends understand each other, while you and your parents are never quite on the same page? You and your friends talk about everything, support each other and tease each other -playfully of course. You give and get attention and don't even think about doing it. That's really what's going on and it really counts.

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

Start Spreading the News

If you can make it in kindergarten, you can make it anywhere! Starting a new school may remind you of starting kindergarten, where you didn't know anyone and everywhere you went felt unfamiliar.

If you can make it in kindergarten, you can make it anywhere!

Starting a new school may remind you of starting kindergarten, where you didn't know anyone and everywhere you went felt unfamiliar. And just like kindergarten, the best way to start feeling comfortable at a new school is to make new friends.

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

A Slip Is Clothing, Not What Your Grades Should Do

Making a fresh start at college? You, your parents or some other generous individuals are paying big bucks for you to be where you are right now. You owe it to yourself – and to your future – to make studying a priority.

Making a fresh start at college? You, your parents or some other generous individuals are paying big bucks for you to be where you are right now. You owe it to yourself – and to your future – to make studying a priority. Developing good study habits early on is the key to academic success.

Sherrie Nist-Olejnik, co-author of College Rules!: How to Study, Survive and Succeed in College gives some great advice that works for college and high school:

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

What's It Gonna Be, Boy - Yes or No?

Me? Ask him out? Not a chance. But what's the alternative—to tell a friend to tell his friend you like him? How totally sixth grade. Not that you should walk up and pop the question in front of the whole school. Try something a little less risky.

Me? Ask him out? Not a chance. But what's the alternative—to tell a friend to tell his friend you like him? How totally sixth grade.

Not that you should walk up and pop the question in front of the whole school. Try something a little less risky.

Accidentally run into him at his favorite spot—the library, the baseball game, wherever—and talk to him. Tell him you like his shirt. Talk about the game you're watching. Find out what he likes and talk about that. If you get a bad vibe or change your mind, so be it. You talked. Big deal.

Advice on starting fresh, from the experts at First30Days.com

Facing Up to Breaking Up

Breaking up with someone is never easy, but hey, at least you're not the one being broken up with. Regardless of why you want to end it, have a heart and break the news gently.

Breaking up with someone is never easy, but hey, at least you're not the one being broken up with. Regardless of why you want to end it, have a heart and break the news gently.

Don't text him, send him an email or drop the bomb over the phone. If you thought enough of the guy to date him, you owe him a face-to-face—preferably someplace neutral, as opposed to one of your favorite hangouts. And make sure it's someplace relatively private. How would you like to be dumped in front of all your friends? Or worse, his?