10 Ways to Experience Back to School Nostalgia
Regardless of how long it’s been since we were in school, September always invokes a deeply ingrained sense of excitement. Supply lists, homeroom teacher assignments, class schedules. They seem to signal a comforting order and structure.
Each new year also brings new beginnings, new experiences for an older and wiser us- more freedom and more potential. And of course, it represents a familiar return to long-held traditions and ritual. Pick one or several activities here and relive the excitement each fall.
Revisit a tradition
Organize your First Day Outfit
Supplies List
Keep On Learning
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1 | Attend a Local High School Football Game
Americana
Nothing will bring you back to your own high school years like being amid the excitement of kids enjoying the experience for their first time. No matter your age or family situation, it’s as wholesome a piece of Americana as it gets.
Homecoming
For bonus nostalgia, pick a Homecoming game and watch the senior royalty in their dresses and excitement. Tip: the opposing team’s bleachers will far emptier and a great place to take in the action without struggling for a seat.
Concessions
Support the school and indulge in the concession stand for a hotdog and chips in the warm early season or get cozy with hot chocolate for those late October games.
2 | Watch a Back-to-School Classic Movie
Here’s a curated list of favorites from the back-to-school genre. It’s not comprehensive, but rather aims to capture what I think is the best nostalgia and the return-to-campus thrill.
Dead Poet’s Society (1989)
21 Jump Street (2012)
Grease (1978)
Back to the Future (I) (1985)
Easy A (2010)
Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Legally Blonde (2001)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Mean Girls (2004)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Pitch Perfect (2012)
Friday Night Lights (2004)
Twilight (2008)
Supplies List
Oh the thrill of finding out your homeroom teacher.
Relive the joy of shopping for wide-ruled notebooks and splurging on the Crayola 64-count.
Shop the lunchbox:
Travel solutions for happy salads - The S’well Stainless Steel Salad Bowl Kit
3 | Make packing a lunch fun
Having a cold lunch you could look forward has always been important. As adults through, we’ve forgotten the joy of a well-packed lunchbox. Consider investing in a system that works better for you and makes work-day lunches a little less depressing.
Upgrades to consider:
Bento boxing
Salad-centric systems (to keep fresh things fresh, dry things dry, and separate containers for dressing)
PFAS-free containers (glass, silicone for healthy storage and reheating)
Environmentally-friendly upgrades
4 | Organize Your Desk
Yes, cleaning and purging can be tedious. But the outcome is such a welcome sense of calm- a clean slate, just like each new school year.
Whatever your ‘work’ area is-a dedicated desk or office, a kitchen counter, or one end of a dining table- set aside an hour and tackle it.
Suggestions of where to start:
The ole’ paper trail
Pull out the papers and decide if you really need to keep that utility bill from last year.
Make a list of which communications and bills you can change to e-delivery and avoid future piles.
Create a system for immediate ‘to-do’s that doesn’t weigh you down emotionally. Ex: pin things that need to be actioned on within the week on a corkboard, or on a frig, etc. where you won’t forget about them.
For anything else, like receipts or documentation you need to keep- create an out-of-sight folder that you can quickly stash to as they arrive. You will know where to find things when you need them, and it prevents the unintended weight as the pile accumulates. Go through the folder once or twice a year and purge.
Go through pens, markers, pencils. Toss anything that doesn’t work, or even that’s not enjoyable to use. Life’s too short to write with crappy freebie pens.
Micro joys
If you are old-school like me, and do enjoy sending the occasional check or envelop, make the process fun.
Customized stamps with your address make sending mail far less tedious.
Keeping a supply of postal stamps with your own personal aesthetic are easy ways to bring small smiles into your ‘to-do’ list routine.
Digital Upgrades
Assess your digital situation. Is your keyboard or mouse setting you up for carpal tunnel down the road? Consider investing in ergonomic friendly versions.
If you work from home, is your webcam up to snuff for a quality video? Does your backdrop look professional?
Does your laptop or ipad have privacy protection screen built-in? If not, it may be worth considering adding privacy film.
Concerned about blue light rays? Consider blue light filtering glasses that double as fashion statements.
Shop for a upgraded system:
Customized stamps and colored ink pads for mailing fun
A highly comfortable ergonomic mouse
5 | Go Back to School Shopping for a good cause
Enjoy the satisfaction of back to school shopping and helping your community at the same time.
Many local philanthropies host back-to-school campaigns in August of each year where you purchase items of your choice and donate, where they’ll disperse to children in need.
You can usually also volunteer to pack back packs together with other volunteers for a shift. United Way is one such organization, but Google for organizations near you that host such campaigns. It’s guaranteed to lift your spirits and know you’re helping where it matters most.
Organize your First Day Outfit
Wardrobe upgrades to feel stylish all semester long
Nothing feels quite like an East coast prep school than elbow pads. This easy craft will have you feeling Ivy-League ready in minutes.
6 | Patch Yourself a Blazer
Patches shown have been placed upon each article of clothing to illustrate the look on various materials and styles.Instructions:
Pick a sweater, blazer, or flannel shirt that would be a good upgrade candidate. Bonus points if it’s actually wearing thin in the elbows.
Opt for iron-on pre-made patches for the quickest win. They are available in a variety of colors and usually come in a variety pack.
If you sew, you can also create cut and create your own patches cut from pretty much any heavy fabric or leather. Be sure to use a heavy-duty leather needle is using a machine, or a leather stitching needle. Genuine leather patches are available with pre-made indents to help for easier punching.
For the iron-on variety- remove the adhesive sheet and follow the directions on the package for specific time and heat settings. If not mentioned in the instructions, it is recommended to place a dish towel or other fabric between the patch and the iron, to avoid damaging the material with too direct of heat.
Supplies: (Iron-On Version)
Iron
Ironing Board
Thin dish towel or cotton fabric (as ironing buffer)
If wanting to create custom designs: (Optional)
Cardstock
Pen
Sharp scissors
Supplies: (Sew Version)
Leather Machine Needle (if using a sewing machine)
Leather Stitching Needle (if sewing by hand)
Making Custom Designs:
It’s easy to create your own shapes instead the traditional oval using either the iron-on or sew-on variety.
Draw (or print out) your desired design on cardstock.
Stick with easy to cut shapes that are not too intricate or involve holes within the body of the design.
Trace the shape onto one of the patches in pen. Cut out.
If your shape is not symmetrical, be sure to turn the mold upside down when tracing the other patch, to create mirror-imaged shapes.
Follow the same directions above to iron or sew.
7 | Style Your Hat for Autumn
Bring back the retro style of winning football coaches and newspaper reporters alike. This fall, up your hat game with the simplest of additions. Feathers.
Supplies:
Your own hat (fedora, rancher, cowboy, or really anything wide-brimmed)
Natural feathers (2-4” works best)
(Optional) Super glue gel
Directions:
Select a feather or combination of feathers that go well with your hat. Think of color contrast, hue, and shape.
If the hat has a band or string, you have a natural crevice to tuck the feathers into. If snug, they will last in this position a long time and you’re done!
If there is a band/ribbon, but the fit is loose, you can use super glue gel for extra adhesion. Use a small amount, applied directly to the feather stem itself, and carefully press and hold against the hat. Carefully keep the band/ribbon pulled outward to avoid getting glue on or outside the ribbon.
8 | Gain a new perspective by organizing your wardrobe
It’s a wonder what a fresh perspective can give. Organizing your closet in a new way can help you think about combinations more creatively and feel like a fresh beginning, without spending anything.
Organization methods to consider:
By season (bring those plaids, ginghams and sweaters to the front!)
By color
By article type
By occasion
Try hanging things that you usually fold and vice versa.
Declutter things you haven’t worn in a year and use the space to showcase accessories like you would see in a store (it’s all about presentation!)
For inspiration in organizing and purging: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (Book) by Margareta Magnusson
9 | Pick a Favorite Subject
Learning is fun. Or at least is should be. It can be easy if you’re passionate about something. Being curious and leaning into lifelong learning is important for our mental health, our happiness, and the long-term health of our brains.
It can also be easy to put aside, amid the business of careers, families, and the never ending work of adulting.
Where to Start?
Pick a Subject You’re interested in.
Or something you’ve always wanted to know more about.
Or even a question you’ve always had, no matter how small. It likely points to a larger, untapped curiosity or field of interest you’ve never really considered.
Make it entertaining.
There are so many free resources, videos, webinars, etc. of there these days. And AI of course. Just know that quality is not guaranteed (or accuracy, or bias-free, or known intent), so proceed with that in mind.
There are options for paid, quality educational sources also. I have been a member of Master Class for a couple years now off and on. I do not get paid in any way nor have any relationship it- just highly recommend the format for anyone like me who wants to learn, or wants to want to learn, but struggles to sit still and read for hours at a time.
Go to the library.
If you haven’t had a library card in decades, I promise you- nothing will make you feel more in the back-to-school mood or academic than walking into a library with the unmistakable smell of books and knowledge.
Use the catalog to search for books or resources on your chosen topic. Have fun with the laser gun to check yourself out. Experience the proud joy of a pile of free books under your arm, wrapped in glossy, plastic wrapped goodness.
Getting a library card is very quick and easy- just go your local library with an ID and find a librarian- the process will be less than a few minutes.
Use your time wisely.
Audio formats are a great way to take advantage of ‘dead time’ you are already committed to, through the power of multi-tasking. Commuting, washing the dishes, folding laundry- anything boring and monotonous that doesn’t require critical thinking can be made entertaining and productive. Look up any of these formats to see if there are channels, shows, or books on your interests:
Podcasts
Audio Books or Audio Streaming Services
10 | Trapper Keeper Your Goals
Part of the allure of the back-to-school season is the order of it all- the pre-arranged scheduled, the guided path of self improvement.
Without that scheduling, or learning objectives set out for us, just like learning, it can be easy to lose track of our goals or even start. This is an exercise in intentional living and self improvement. No matter what goal you may have, or whatever aspiration, having a plan is crucial.
Step 1) Write it Down.
Write down your hopes and goals for the next year.
Explain (in writing) why it’s important to you.
Visualize what it will look and feel like once you have accomplished the goal and write down words and phrases that describe that feeling.
Step 2) Create a schedule.
Unlike high school or college, here’s your chance to create your ideal schedule that works for you.
Plot out how much time each step or phase will take. Break it into approachable mini-goals each month, each week. How many hours can you dedicate to it?
Make it realistic. Start small, and start with tangible steps you can start now.
Step 3) Track it.
Hold yourself accountable and track each week, each month what you accomplished.
Where did you fall short? And Why? What setbacks did you face?
What wins did you have? What are you proud of to date? Positive reinforcement matters.
Self improvement can be hard, with thousands of authors and books out there claiming to have the answers. There are a few classics that are best sellers for a reason. If looking for inspiration or guidance- a few of my personal favorites:
Atomic Habits by James Clear (Book) or Audiobook
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (Book) or Audiobook
And guess what? As a proof point from the previous section, I “read” both as audiobooks.