Your Summer 2025 Academic Glow-Up
Haircuts, new school supplies, new clothes– we all know about the intense preparation before the first day of school. However, no one talks about the mental preparation that must work together with the physical preparation. So, what is an “academic glow-up?” Each person’s definition of a glow-up is different, but for me, it includes the mindset changes, healthy habits, and physical preparation before each school year. Luckily, this blog will walk you through each step of Your Summer 2025 Academic Glow-Up. Before we begin, I encourage you to check out the new Free Study Strong Starter Kit to help you prepare for this upcoming school year! Check it out here: https://forms.gle/i7oRF5TLnemS9TWK9
Quote: “The glow-up is not just about how you look – it is about how you show up for your goals.” - Unknown.
Song: “Feeling Good” - Michael Bublé
1. The Before:
Before I decided to focus on my self-growth journey and begin working on a business, I felt terrible. I never ate well, binging to cope with the stress of balancing school, extracurriculars, and a social life, rotted in my bed for hours on end, drank less than a bottle of water a day, and never exercised. On top of that, I would either go to sleep at 8:00 pm and wake up at 3:00 am to finish my homework or stay up until 1:00 am, stressing over assignments. Things that I once felt passionate about felt boring and straining. Not only was I not on the right path for myself, but I was also disappointed in myself for it. However, I genuinely believe that if I had not reached this point, I would not have been motivated enough to fix it. If these things sound similar to how you have felt, do not worry. We can work through this together.
2. The Game Plan:
Mindset and Motivation:
Before I could focus on an academic or physical glow-up, I had to fix my mindset. This is how I fell in love with journaling. I began with the “Five Minute Journal,” something easy to work into my busy schedule that would get me used to writing my thoughts onto paper. After half a year of using it, I can confidently say that it has changed my life significantly. Through its gratitude and affirmation prompts, I have gained so much perspective on my situation and how I can improve it. After a few months using this journal, I added another to my routine: the “ Self-Obsessed Journal” by Tam Kaur. I cannot promote this journal enough! It is a bit more advanced and time-consuming than the previous journal, but it is so rich with content on how to become your best and most obsessed self.
Health and Habits:
After mastering my mindset, I moved on to my physical health. I began by using AI to structure a workout routine that fit my skill level, schedule, and physical goals. I did these workouts 3 times a week and walked for about 15 minutes every day. Then, I incorporated a few healthy habits into my daily routine. Journaling, doing Bible studies, making my bed, meditating, and other self-care habits are just a few. Through all of this, I gained so much discipline and motivation to work harder in other categories of my life. I say all of this to encourage you to add exercise, no matter how small, and healthy habits into your life. There is so much to be gained from it, not only physically, but mentally as well.
Study Stronger, Not Harder:
Lastly, I tackled my schedule and my studying tactics. This is where Study Strong came in. Through my hand-made study schedules, checklists, and goal sheets, I was able to clear the stress in my mind and gather it into one place. I did an extreme amount of research about different studying techniques, and implemented them into my life. A few that I tried out (and that you should try too!) are the Pomodoro technique, active recall, and simple flashcards. The Pomodoro technique is where you set a timer to complete as much work as possible, take a short break, and repeat. I would do 25-30 minute work blocks and 5-10 minute breaks. This technique gives you enough time to complete a chunk of work without losing focus. Secondly, active recall is where you learn or read about a topic, then “teach” it. The goal of this exercise is to be able to actively remember what you just learned. Lastly, I used plain and simple flashcards. I would copy down my notes onto regular-sized flashcards and quiz myself on all of the topics until I knew them word-for-word. Out of all 3 techniques, I believe that flashcards were the least beneficial when not used correctly. Sometimes I found myself reciting information instead of absorbing it, which was not helpful in the least bit.
3. The Results:
So, what changed? To put it simply, I grew in confidence and discipline, achieved better focus, set clearer goals, felt less stress, and actually had a sense of excitement for school every day. I scored higher on my tests with less studying and deeper learning. But most of all, I learned so much about myself both academically and emotionally. But this is not about me, it is about you. What will you do to level up before this school year starts? What steps will you take to become the best version of yourself? Make your plan, take the steps, and see what your new life can bring you.
To start your academic and leadership journey, check out the Free Study Strong Starter Kit that I have linked above! Also, don’t forget to keep me updated on your progress! I want to hear from YOU! DM me on Instagram or message me through the “Contact” section of the Study Strong website! I can’t wait to hear all about your progress!
RISE. LEAD. SUCCEED.
Love,
Juliet & Study Strong