Talking to people who are going through the same thing as you can help you feel less alone, and your friends can also give you tips on how to handle the new year.

Khan Academy and YouTube have free videos that explain basic math, social studies, and science concepts. Many teachers won’t be upset with you if you need to review some concepts from last year. Pandemics bring tough times for everyone, teachers included.

Or, you can set aside a small part of the day when you look at the news, then take a break from it for the rest of the day.

Try bringing a water bottle to school with you so you have it when you need it.

Going back to school can help you get back into a healthy sleep schedule.

Unfortunately, some of your extracurricular activities may be canceled due to the pandemic. If that’s the case, try to do these activities on your own, if you can. For example, if you played a sport at school, brush up on your skills in your yard or at home. Or, if you were in the drama club, practice performing monologues and sending a recording of yourself to your friends.

You can talk to your parents, your guardian, a teacher, or even a guidance counselor.

What safety precautions is the school taking to keep students safe? Will there be mental health facilities available to students this year? How will you enforce the safety measures in place during school?

Some schools aren’t requiring face masks, but it’s best and safest to wear one anyway. Try to wash your mask in hot water after each use to avoid contamination.

It can be tough not to be able to hug your friends, let alone stand near them. Feeling sad about this is perfectly normal. Just remember that you’re following safety guidelines to keep yourself and others healthy, as hard as it is.

You can also carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in your backpack in case you can’t wash your hands. Make sure you wash your hands really well before eating.

You may have to report your symptoms / test results to your school before you can go back. If you do have the symptoms of COVID-19, like shortness of breath, a cough, and a fever, consider getting a diagnostic test from your state or county healthcare provider.

Some schools may be staggering class times, staggering lunch and recess times, getting rid of passing time, or moving classrooms outside.