As the summer is coming to a close, I can't help but think back on the last few months and look forward to what's next. This summer flew by so fast, and now I'm back at school, preparing for a new year of adventures and challenges.

I've come to recognize the fact that this year is going to be difficult yet amazing. And as I ponder all that the year holds, I've found myself repeating a few reminders to myself that I thought I'd share here.

1. Prioritize

Sure, I might have 94 things to accomplish in the next 2 hours, but what is most important? Rather than getting too overwhelmed to do anything at all, I try to pick one thing that needs to get done, and just start working.

2. Don't Waste Time

As I mentioned, I find it very easy to get bogged down by the volume of things that need to get done and end up ignoring everything in favor of wasting my time on something unimportant. Ultimately this habit just stresses me out more, so I've been reminding myself lately to stay focused and not waste time.

3. Take Care of Yourself

On the flipside however, it is also very important to take time away from your to-do list so that you can take care of yourself. This is not wasted time, but rather necessary components of a busy day that allow you to stay focused and energized for what needs to get done.

4. Stop Pretending You Can do it On Your Own

Sometimes I'm really bad at reaching out and asking for help. It's been important for me to recognize that I have and will have fantastic people surrounding me who want to help me and walk with me through my year.

5. TRUST and lean on the Lord

So often life becomes overwhelming and God is the first thing to be put on the back-burner. This has been my greatest mistake latey. It is so crucial to spend that daily time with the Lord and follow that up by trusting in Him and leaning into His strength the rest of the day. No matter how many things are going on, time with the Lord is never, ever wasted. In fact, it is crucial to finding any kind of success at all.

There are many tips that can help myself and others who are beginning a new school year, and these are a few that have been coming to mind for me lately. And ultimately, people are right when they say that time flies by; it's important to remember to have fun during this new season, no matter how busy it may become.