A+ Essentials for Back-to-School and Fall

Back-to-school season is here, and lifestyle editor Joann Butler is sharing must-haves and must-knows to start the year right. Everyone's most beloved ubiquitous back-to-school staple is the iconic BIC pen . The right pen makes everything better--especially schoolwork so we love the classic BIC 4-Color Pen which lets you easily switch between black, blue, red, and green ink, great for color-coding, highlighting and organizing. It also comes in shiny and pastel with matching inks. My fave is the BIC Gel-ocity Quick Dry pens which writes super smooth and have quick dry ink. They glide like a dream, dry in a flash and come in a rainbow of colors. Honestly, they're giving gel manicure vibes--smooth, colorful, and totally satisfying. They make great mechanical pencils too that won't break. You can find them everywhere online and in-store. Now that your school supplies are on point, let's talk wellness. Of course, fitness is super important, and Planet Fitness is known for their affordable, high-value fitness experience. They're doing something really cool for their members by letting them save money not only on fitness, but on really great brands during back-to-school season. The call it PerksFest, a limited-time event running through August 29th, giving members access to exclusive deals from some seriously amazing brands such as Hello Fresh and Factor which are great meal delivery services. Some other brands include Headspace which is perfect for helping you (and your kids) find a little calm with meditation and better sleep. Then there is stylish, durable fitness gear to power your workouts from No Bull. Planet Fitness members get year-round perks through the PF App--which has already saved members over $6 million this year alone. With 2,700+ locations, it's easy to join and even easier to stay on track. Head to planetfitness.com to sign up. Okay, we've got the supplies. We've got the self-care. Now let's talk logistics. Here are a few tried-and-true ways to make school mornings easy. Start adjusting sleep now by shifting bedtime earlier by 15 minutes each night until you're back on schedule. Lay out outfits the night before or go full pro-level like my son, who showers before bed and literally sleeps in his school outfit so he's ready to go in the AM. Mornings are chaotic enough so pack lunch the night before, so you have one less thing to stress over. Label everything from notebooks, water bottles, folders--if it goes to school, put a name on it. When you're physically organized, your mentally organized as well and that helps you stay positive and focused.