How to Reinvent Yourself for the Coming School Year

Reinventing yourself for the upcoming school year should be an exercise in self-growth and improvement, whether last year didn’t work out for you, or you just want to shine and be a new person this year. Start by taking time to be introspective, finding inspiration in others, and writing lists of goals. Initiate your reinvention by changing your surroundings, getting more exercise, exploring new opportunities, and learning new skills. Finally, shed negative things like self-criticism, toxic friends, and bad habits.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Deciding How You Want To Grow

1
Think about who you want to be. Before any reinvention takes place, you should first take a good look at yourself and your reason for wanting a change. Take quiet time by yourself to reflect, daydream, and visualize your reinvention, and how it will help you in the upcoming school year. Ask yourself questions that will help you decide who you want to be, such as:^{[1]XResearch source}
- ”Is right now a turning point for me?”
- ”What are my academic goals for the year?”
- ”What are my social goals for the year?”
- ”How can I improve myself to better enjoy my school experience this year?”
- Think about what your core values are by searching online for a list core values or virtues. Pick out the ones that resonate for you as being most important—choose no more than 5. Prioritize them in order of importance, and then write clear, simple definitions for each one. What does this value really mean to you, and why is it important?
A key step in determining who you want to be is identifying who you admire most. This sort of inspiration can come from friends, family, teachers, or your famous idols; the aim is to learn from the best, by example. For instance, your English teacher or favorite author might be a huge inspiration for you as an aspiring writer.^{[2]XResearch source}
3
Make a list of goals. The best way to visualize your ideal self is to write down the changes you want to make and things you want to achieve this school year, such as becoming class president, starting an after school band, or getting a certain grade in a certain class. Written goals can often provide enough motivation to turn words into action, and can serve as visual reminders of your aspirations. To keep yourself motivated while gearing up for the new school year, write daily or weekly lists of your short-term and long-term goals.^{[3]XResearch source}
- A good example of a goal is: “I will get an A in both math and science this semester.”
- The best way to stay inspired about your short-term goals is to have a clear vision of what you want in the long term. When your short-term goals are clearly connected to the bigger picture of what you ultimately want in life and who you want to become, it's easy to remember why you're doing what you're doing.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Implementing the Change

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Give yourself a style makeover. Fashion is an excellent place for a new start, and a great way to experiment with new personas. Reinvention is all in the individual elements that you choose to alter - going from long hair to a short pixie cut, for example, is very transformative. Try playing around with some other style details, such as:^{[4]XResearch source}
- The color of your wardrobe (e.g. going from colorful clothing to all black clothing, or vice-versa)
- The cut of your clothing (like moving from baggy, shapeless garments to more tailored, sleek-looking pieces)
- Your signature jewelry (for instance, wearing a bold new necklace instead of a modest charm necklace)
- Footwear (switching from sneakers to tall boots, for example)
2
Find new friends. Finding new people to spend time with at school can greatly improve your mood and perspective on things. To do this, try reaching out to acquaintances that you see irregularly and reconnect, or approach a social group at school to see if you can hang out with them. In both cases, be friendly, upfront, and proactive - ask ice breaker questions like, "Hi, how's your day going?" and let conversation unfurl from there.^{[5]XResearch source}
- To expand your friends circle, try sitting at a new table at lunch and strike up a conversation.
To truly reinvent yourself, you should spruce up the things that you see on a daily basis. Change and positivity are key factors in reinvention, so taking steps to improve your physical surroundings can help your personal development. This could mean redecorating your living space, updating your wardrobe, or anything else that will be a visual aide with brightening your perspective.^{[6]XResearch source}
4
Be more active. Maintaining your mental and physical health is an important part of reinventing yourself, as going through this period of transition will require you to be at your best. Regular exercise can provide you with relaxation, better sleep and mood, and stronger immune function, all positive changes for a better you. Make a point of getting active as much as possible, with easy to schedule exercise like:^{[7]XResearch source}
- walking or jogging
- jumping rope
- working out on a treadmill, elliptical machine, or fitness stepper
Reinventing yourself means venturing into the unknown and trying something new, so make the most of any opportunities that come your way. Travel is a great way to explore, but even simple actions like trying new restaurants, listening to new music, or shopping at new stores can freshen your perspective and open your mind. Make a list of new things you would like to try and hold yourself to crossing at least one thing off your list per week (e.g. “eat at an Afghan restaurant.”)^{[8]XResearch source}
6
Learn new skills. Learning is key to self-growth and personal improvement, and should be a vital part of your reinvention. Learning new skills can prompt the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is directly related to feelings of pleasure; the long term effect of gaining a new skill, on top of the dopamine kick, can provide a lasting sense of fulfillment and self-esteem. Look at your community newspaper, local classified ads, or online listings to see what lessons are available near you (e.g. swimming, guitar playing, swing dancing).^{[9]XResearch source}
- As a bonus, opt for lessons in an activity that you can continue at school once it begins, such as swimming or playing an instrument).
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Letting Go of Negative Things

1
Avoid self-criticism. Building Self-Confidence is a difficult but important part of reinventing yourself, and it requires a commitment to positive thinking. Be conscious of your reaction to things and make an effort to adjust your thinking in key moments. For example: ^{[10]XResearch source}
- stop yourself from making negative generalizations (such as, “I always screw things up.”)
- avoid jumping to negative conclusions (e.g. “No one at the party will like me.”)
- view setbacks as temporary (e.g. “I didn’t do well in school today, but tomorrow will be better” instead of “I’m doing horribly in school.”)
- Your Inner Critic can be a significant form of resistance that you encounter. Learning how to transform your Inner Critic to your Inner Coach is a powerful strategy for deepening your self-acceptance and liberating your creative potential.
2
Cut out bad friends. An important part of reinvention and self-improvement is removing yourself from anyone who make you feel bad or insecure. Your social circle should be a source of happiness and support for you, as friends influence our lives, thoughts, and actions tremendously. To remove toxic friends, be upfront, honest, and unapologetic about your feelings, and state your intention to remove yourself from negative energy; real friends will recognize their fault and be understanding about it.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Approach a bad friend by saying something like, “Your negative comments are affecting me and I deserve better from a friend. If you can’t be a positive influence in my life, I will have to keep my distance from you.”
3
Leave old habits behind. True reinvention means leaving behind bad habits and moving forward. Make a point of being conscious about your vices, flaws, and patterns and dealing with them in a proactive way. Whenever you feel yourself slipping into old habits, gain momentum by doing something, however small, to get yourself out of the spiral.^{[12]XResearch source}
- E.g. If you feel yourself procrastinating or avoiding something you have to do, make an outline of the steps you will have to do to complete your task. Planning it is one small step towards getting things done.
- Remember—challenging experiences and emotions are an important part of life, and there is an important place for sadness, fear, anger, and shame. However, it's easy to get stuck in destructive habits and relationships. You can start working with those by building self-awareness through keeping a trigger log. Once you've become aware of your patterns, you can work by reframing self-limiting beliefs and breaking self-limiting habits.
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Expert Q&A

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How do I find my purpose in life?
Michael Stern
Life Coach
Michael Stern is a life coach and the owner of Integral Alignment, a coaching and training business focused on a holistic approach to optimizing one's health, work, love, play, and spirituality. Michael began his professional training in 2011 as an Integral Spiritual Mentor through One Spirit Learning Alliance, and has been certified as both a hatha yoga instructor and an Emotional Intelligence Coach through GolemanEI. In addition to his private 1:1 and groupwork, he has hosted workshops with thought leaders such as Frederic Laloux, Charles Eisenstein, and Thomas Hübl. Michael holds a BA in Spanish Language from Vanderbilt University and lives in Portland, Maine.
Michael Stern
Life Coach
Expert Answer
Think about Heather Malin's definition of purpose, which is "a future-oriented goal that is personally meaningful and aimed at contributing to something larger than the self." To get a sense of your purpose, think about the intersection of your skills (what you're good at), your passions (what you enjoy), and your causes (what problems you care about solving).
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