Here are 12 fun ways to romanticize school and studying, and actually enjoy this stage of life instead of just going through it.
It’s been a few years since I stepped out of school and college.
The present me is super obsessed with pampering myself and making sure I am well rested, but when I was a student, my life was very hectic.
All I did was wake up, make sure I looked decent, go to classes, and come back home to study on my stiff chair and plain beige desk.
Pretty is not the word I’d use to describe those days.
I did have some cherished rituals that helped me hold on to my sanity and joy (which I will be sharing in this post today), but I had no idea about the practice of romanticizing.
I always find that jarring, because romanticizing is all I know now. It’s made my life so beautiful and magical.
And had I known about it in school, it would have changed everything for me.
What does romanticizing mean?
If you don’t know, romanticizing means making ordinary moments feel special, exciting, and fun.
In recent years, it’s become an important part of wellness and self-care, and for good reason.
When you are romanticizing, you are essentially putting yourself in your main character energy. You stop feeling like you’re on the sidelines and start feeling like the star of a cozy movie.
Since school life can be so repetitive and stressful, romanticizing can be an amazing way to breathe magic and happiness into your days.
In this post, I am going to share 11 wonderful tips to romanticize school and make studying and attending classes feel good.
Some of these are things I used to do as a student myself, and some are tips I wish I’d known about back then.
If you’re done feeling tired all the time and are ready to make your school life pretty, then read on!
11 Ways To Romanticize School
1. Build a cozy desk setup you actually want to sit at
When I was in school, my study setup was sad. I had an uncomfortable chair, a plain desk, unpleasant lighting, and random papers everywhere.
I didn’t realize it back then, but that was seriously like a punishment for my mind and body.
When you are a student, you spend so much time sitting at your desk. You deserve to feel nice.
If your desk environment at home is boring, studying will feel ten times worse.
One of the easiest ways to romanticize school is to create a study space that feels cozy and comforting.
No, I am not saying you need a Pinterest-worthy desk with expensive organizers and fancy lamps. You just need a space that feels like you and is pleasing to your eyes.
You can get a tiny lamp with warm lighting instead of harsh white lights. It will also help you focus better.
Instead of a bare desk, you can keep a cute calendar, a framed quote, a scented candle, and a tiny plant.
Make sure to keep your desk decluttered, organized, and clean at all times.
It will take 5 minutes every day, but it can be a good closing ritual when you’re done studying.
2. Create an after-school reset routine
Back when I was studying, I would come home exhausted and sit down to study again immediately.
There was no transition, rest, or mental reset. It made me feel miserable.
So, I wish someone had told me to create an after-school routine that didn’t involve studying. I didn’t even give myself that option, but I really think you should.
School can be overstimulating. There are all these people, noise, deadlines, teachers, assignments, and social drama,
Your brain needs a moment to breathe after all of that.
Instead of jumping straight into work, create a tiny reset routine to follow after school.
Take a shower, wash your face, put on a moisturizer, and change into comfy clothes.
Light a candle, eat something warm while watching something comfy, and do a five-minute meditation.
You can also just lie in bed and stare at the ceiling while listening to one or two slow songs.
Before being a student, you are a human being, and humans thrive on rest. Rest makes everything better, even studying.
When you finally sit down to work after taking care of yourself, it will be less tiring and more refreshing.
3. Pack snacks and lunches that make you excited for break time
One underrated way to romanticize school is to make your lunch breaks feel exciting.
And the way to do that is to pack a good lunch every day.
Instead of throwing random food into your bag at the last minute, put a little thought into it.
Pack fruits you enjoy eating, bring iced coffee if it’s allowed, make cute sandwiches, and prepare snacks at home on the weekend.
You can pack some tiny chocolates for stressful days, a comforting drink in a thermos in autumn, and fruit bowls when you’re in your healthy mode.
Spend a few minutes putting everything together nicely and use cute tiffins and bottles. I cannot explain this scientifically, but pretty snacks taste better. They just do!
4. Make playlists for every version of your student life
You probably already listen to plenty of songs every day, but if you don’t have playlists for specific moods, then you’re sleeping on something magical.
Here are some playlist ideas:
- ‘Walking to school’ playlist
- ‘Main character study session’ playlist
- ‘Life feels overwhelming’ playlist
- ‘Rainy school day’ playlist
- ‘I need motivation immediately’ playlist
Those are just a few ideas.
You can make playlists for your morning routine before school, chilly-day study sessions, and even boring homework.
They’ll make you feel like you’re the star in a coming-of-age movie.
Years later, those songs will bring back memories you completely forgot about — the good ones, the hard ones, and the beautifully ordinary ones.
5. Have a pampering skincare routine
Skincare feels different when you are a student. Because you are running on less time, it’s easy to be quick with your skincare routine or even not have one at all.
When I was in school, all I did was wash my face, and I didn’t even use a moisturizer! I know that sounds insane, but that’s how it was.
Your skin is very much a part of your whole system. A skincare Routine can be a great way to pamper your body and relax your mind.
I am not asking you to build a 15-step routine that will cost your entire allowance. Keep it simple but nice.
In the morning, use a gentle cleanser, then use an ice cube wrapped in a tissue to depuff your face. Moisturize and then wear SPF.
In the evening, cleanse your face slowly, massage your moisturizer into your face, and put on a hydrating lip mask. It should feel like therapy.
Use an affordable body lotion after every shower. And once a week, you can do a sheet mask and relax with cucumbers on your eyes.
Your skincare rituals will remind you that there are beautiful moments inside ordinary days too, and that self-care is also a priority.
6. Get pretty school supplies
Investing in lovely school supplies is one of the easiest ways to romanticize your school life.
Get a backpack that feels you, a water bottle you love carrying around, pens that write smoothly, pretty notebooks you want to open, and highlighters in colors that make revision fun.
I genuinely believe pretty stationery tricks your brain into becoming at least five percent more motivated.
Because the truth is, when you like your things, you naturally want to use them more.
The best part is that this is mostly a one-time investment. Once you find supplies you love, they can stay with you almost the entire year.
And if you can save up a little money, you can eventually buy two versions of your school essentials.
Student life gets repetitive fast, but switching your supplies based on the season or your mood can help you switch your vibe as well.
Tiny joys! That is literally what romanticizing is made of.
7. Go on long walks
When I was in school, my long walks were the reason I was able to stay sane most days.
As a student, it is very easy to feel like your whole existence revolves around academics.
But life is bigger than school. You are a whole person, not just a report card.
And going on long walks is the best way to remind yourself of that.
When you are out walking, you can easily let go of the stress and tune into yourself.
You can walk while listening to music or a podcast, or just listen to the sounds around you.
Being outdoors in nature has a way of healing your thoughts.
The trees, birds, fallen leaves, and flowers give you the kind of selfless company nobody else in the world can.
So, whenever you have time after or before school, go for a long walk.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your grades is stop thinking about school for one hour and just soak in the fresh air and sunlight while moving your body.
8. Read fictional books (channel your inner Rory Gilmore)
I didn’t have many hobbies in school, but I did read a lot. Whenever I had time on my hands in school or at home, I’d pick a book and get lost in whatever world the author had built for me.
I know that when you already have to read so many textbooks at school, the idea of picking more books on the side might not be appealing.
But reading gives your life a softness that social media just cannot. There has never been a more fun and cozy hobby, and there never will be.
Reading is also a great way to improve your vocabulary and increase your reading speed, which can help with your academics.
So, channel your inner Rory Gilmore and read books in your free time (during lunch breaks, before bed, after finishing your daily assignments, and on the weekends).
Romance books, coming-of-age stories, cozy fiction, mysteries, fantasy — read whatever genres call out to you.
Being ‘the girl who always has a book with her’ is one of the coolest energies ever. I hope you’ll consider channeling it.
9. Build a comfy capsule wardrobe on a budget
We had uniforms at my school, but I took tuition classes in the evening, and for that, I built a capsule wardrobe.
It wasn’t effortless in the beginning, but I slowly got the hang of it and soon had pieces in my wardrobe that I could easily mix and match.
When I entered college, those skills really came in handy, because I did not have the money to shop for a dozen new outfits.
As students, budgets can be tight, and fashion might not be your biggest priority.
But you still want to look pretty in your clothes, because clothes have the power to enhance your energy and confidence.
Build a capsule wardrobe that has comfy and pretty clothes that you can walk around in all day.
Get some comfy trousers, flowy pants, oversized sweaters, soft basics, and simple tops that work with everything. Have two pairs of shoes you can actually walk in and that go with every color.
Picking a color palette helps!
Usually, women go for black, beige, white, and blue colors as they are classics and can be easily put together. I actually went for pastel shades like lilac, peach, and mint green.
Not the best choice, but I really loved those colors back then (still do), so I was fine having fewer outfits as long as I could look like a walking bakery, lol.
10. Carry a notebook that is only for your thoughts
Get yourself a tiny notebook or a journal and carry it with you everywhere.
Don’t write anything related to studies in it. No notes, formulas, assignments, or deadlines. It should just be a place for your thoughts and ideas.
When your life feels too much in the middle of a class, you can write a positive line to comfort yourself.
When school feels stressful, you can write about that. When something exciting happens (like a crush!), you can write that too.
And when you have an idea pop into your head at a random hour, you can quickly write it down before it disappears.
Being a student can be mentally noisy. There is always something happening, and your mind should have a resting space.
You can journal properly if you want, or keep it messy.
Make random lists, tiny observations, plans for your dream life, and late-night thoughts.
Write about things you are excited about, things you are scared of, quotes you love, songs you are obsessed with, and literally anything.
This is hands-down my favorite tip from this post, and I am glad I did this when I was a student myself.
11. Watch Teen TV shows
Teen TV shows might not be realistic, but are they magical? For sure!
There is something so comforting about watching shows set in schools, small towns, campuses, and dramatic teenage worlds while you are a student yourself.
These stories teach you about friendships and heartbreaks, and best of all, they get you in your main character energy.
I am not saying you need to become obsessed with fictional lives. I am simply saying that it’s fun to lean into that vibe.
You can watch half an episode while eating dinner, and do a two-episode binge on the weekends.
You can also let your comfort show run in the background while doing chores, school prep, and projects that don’t require much focus.
I used to love watching shows as a reward after a study session. It used to motivate me to study well every day and week.
Avoid watching shows during the exams, of course, so you don’t end up binging. But throughout the semester, feel free to add them to your me-time.
Here are some classics that you can watch (or rewatch):
- Gossip Girl (for the fashion and drama)
- The Vampire Diaries (for heartstopping teenage fantasy romance)
- Gilmore Girls (for peak cozy autumn energy)
- That 70s Show (fun sitcom)
- Teen Wolf (the name speaks for itself)
- Stranger Things (it’s been one of my favs in the past)
Some days, romanticizing school is as simple as making hot chocolate, finishing your homework, and ending the night with a comfort show that makes your life soft and sweet.
12. Take your books, assignments, and homework outdoors sometimes
The last tip I am gonna give you in this post is to study outside whenever you can.
Your desk and classroom can make studying too serious and boring. But in the company of nature, everything is beautiful, including studying.
It also helps you associate studying with something positive, good, and nurturing.
Plus, changing the scene is always a good way to make something interesting again.
So, whenever the weather is nice, grab your books and step outside for a study session.
You can sit under a tree, on a park bench, or on the grass under the sunlight.
Let the sound of nature be your music as you revise your lessons, do your assignment, or learn something new.
Your mind and soul will love you for doing this.
Ready To Make School Life Fun?
School does not have to feel miserable all the time.
Yes, there are plenty of stressful days, but there are also plenty of ways to create beauty and magic in those days.
Cute lunches, making playlists, taking long walks, creating cozy evenings, reading books, journaling, watching comfort shows, meeting new people — all these are great ways to romanticize your life as a student.
But the intention behind each of these ideas is to find softness inside the chaos.
While you are building your future, you are living a life right now. So, do what you can to make your days pretty.
Pick just one thing from this list, and start doing it right now. Trust me, it will change everything.
Read next: How to Make a Life Plan (9 Helpful Steps)
Before leaving, let me know what classes you’re taking this year in the comment box below! I’d genuinely love to know more. Also, feel free to share anything from your school life or ask any questions. Thank you, and take care!
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