It's almost that time again: when time stands still and sleep is never enough! When there is no time outside of the classroom and too much in them. When tests loom over your life and homework piles up by the load. When friends reconnect and drama stirs. Ladies and gentlemen, winter is coming with hell right on its heels. It's back to school.

With the school seasons comes one thing nearly every student and parent must face: supplies. How it happens is unknown, but seemingly in the blink of an eye, your supplies are either lost, broken, or finished before the beginning of November. That 50 pack of pencils? Gone. The two 300 packs of loose leaf? Done. Those two packs of 20 blue or black pens? Burst, broken and lost. Those highlighters? Disappeared. The sticky notes you planned to use for notes? You didn't use them for notes. You don't even know where they are.

And let's face it - there is no fool proof way to prevent any of this from happening. Unless, of course, you have incredible organizational skills, are extremely determined and keep near perfect record of all your belongings. If so, kudos. I do not know how you do it. However, to prevent you from having to continuously ask your next door chairmate for a pen/pencil or a piece of paper, here are a few tips to make sure you have some supplies all year long.

1. When buying writing tools; opt for the less expensive packs and double up. Ask your parent or someone more responsible than you to keep them tucked away for when all your other pencils disappear.

Also try to keep a two or three extras in your locker/car, just in case. Same thing applies for loose leaf.

2. Buy a large binder.

Find a cheap one at the dollar store. Use it to store extra loose leaf, folders and index cards in your locker/trunk of your car. Knowing you have extra paper in reach lessens stress.

3. Invest in two pencil cases.

Remember the boxy ones you used to have to buy in elementary school? They are great for storing extra pencils, glues, art supplies, receipts*, and extra index cards and I.D. cards*.

4. Get more than one agenda.

Even if you are just going to end up using your phone, having an agenda at hand is a good idea.

5. Go to bed as reasonably as possible and get up on time.

You would be surprised at how many times you lose something just because you forgot it or it fell out of your bag/car because you were in a rush. Also sleep well, eat well and do not procrastinate. Rushing is your worst nightmare when it comes to school and supplies.

A few other good tips when it comes to school include: keep at least $5 dollars on you at all times, mint or gum, a band-aid and a phone charging wire, make a loose schedule and be nice and respectful to your teachers. Brownie points mean everything.

Good luck fellow students as you embark into the spiraling emotional disaster that is school. May the curve be ever in your favor.

*Life Hacks*