Navigating the Back-to-School Transition: Tips from #GoodforMEdia Youth Leaders
August 14, 2025 | By #GoodforMEdia Youth Leaders
Whether you’re heading back to a familiar campus, starting a new grade, or adjusting to a new school or city, back-to-school season can stir up a range of emotions. Scrolling through your feed and seeing friends post about their move-ins or plans can make it seem like everyone else has it all figured out. It’s important to remind yourself that regardless of what you see online, beneath the surface many of us are carrying mixed feelings. So if you’re feeling insecure, anxious, excited, behind, or a mix of it all, you are not alone!
Why Transitions Can Be Hard
Going back to school is more than just showing up for the first day. Whether your summer was packed with plans or a bit more relaxed, easing into a new routine can take time. And with social media showing where everyone’s going or what they’ve achieved the past couple of weeks, it may be easy to fall into comparison mode, especially if your own plans still feel a bit uncertain.
Add to that the reality of being away from close friends or family, the pressure of a packed class schedule, and the looming stress of the year ahead, it can be a lot to hold all at once. Even if you are looking forward to the year ahead, it’s normal to feel the weight of change at the same time.
To help you navigate these transitions, check out these tips from our #GoodforMEdia Youth Leaders who are feeling many of the same things.
Tips to Make the Transition Smoother
Acknowledge what you are feeling 🫀
Take a moment to check in with yourself and notice how you are feeling. Change can be scary and it is okay to admit that. Others are undoubtedly feeling it too. Naming your emotions helps you manage them. When you acknowledge what’s coming up, you're in a better place to care for yourself.
Try journaling 📓
Journaling can help you process emotions, celebrate wins, and track your progress. If jotting down your feelings is not your jam, try writing three things you are grateful for, noting an accomplishment, or tracking habits like sleep or screen time. Do what works for you.
Focus on what you are excited for 🤩
Whether it’s moving into a new dorm or apartment, taking classes that interest you, or experiencing a new city, lean into the parts you are excited about.
Set a good routine ⏰
Adjusting to a new schedule full of classes and extracurriculars can be tough. Establish a routine that feels good to you and try to prioritize getting good sleep, so you feel ready to take on each day.
Set realistic goals 🎯
What do you want to achieve this school year, both academically and personally? Is it improving your time management skills, joining a club, or taking a class outside your major? Identify these goals and break them down into smaller, manageable steps to reduce feelings of overwhelm and keep you motivated.
Stay flexible and adaptable 🤸
Recognize that despite how much you may plan ahead, things may not always go as you intended. Give yourself grace and know that you can always start again. Part of adjusting is accepting that things will continue to change as you settle in.
Be mindful of screen use 📱
Aim to set boundaries around when you will use your phone and scroll through your social media feed. Try reserving scrolling for after you have completed your classes and schoolwork. This can help lower distractions and boost productivity during your day.
Stay connected with friends 🫂
One positive of having a phone is being able to stay in touch with friends back home or at different schools. Doing so can help ease feelings of loneliness. Whether it's scheduling time for a Facetime call or sending a quick check-in text between classes, rely on those support systems you already have.
As you navigate this next chapter in your life, we hope these tips will help you feel more grounded. Try incorporating one into your daily routine, and if it doesn’t work for you, try another. Most importantly, be proud of where you are at this phase of your life. Because of all of your hard work, you have successfully gotten to this point and that's a big accomplishment in itself! Be kind to yourself and don’t forget to have some fun along the way.
Additional Tools and Insights 📚
How My First Year of College Has Changed My Relationship with Social Media: #GoodforMEdia Youth Leader, Edward, reflects on his first year of college and how it shifted his digital habits. Learn how he finds balance between staying connected and protecting his mental well-being.
#GoodforMEdia Guides and Tools: Explore a list of resources created by youth to help their peers and adult allies navigate the positive and negative aspects of social media.
Share Your Perspective 💬
Have tips, stories, or strategies for healthy social media use? Submit a testimonial to share your perspective and help others navigate online spaces. Learn more and share.