“Yogurt” asked the Saber Slate for advice on lightening a backpack load. Your backpack shouldn’t weigh more than 10 to 15% of your body weight. Here are some suggestions to lighten the load!
- At the beginning of the year, purchase two multiple-subject notebooks (different colors of course for organization). One is for A day classes and the other for B days. Then only carry that day’s notebook. (Be careful, if you’re seeing a teacher that you don’t normally see that day, make sure you bring your other notebook.) This will lighten the weight of notebooks.
- Switch to a smaller backpack or investing in a high quality one. The more space there is in your backpack, the more room there is to put unnecessary materials such as extra wrappers, papers, books, and water bottles. Additionally, if your backpack has small straps or no padding, it could cause pain on your shoulders.
- Distribute the weight evenly. Make sure your bag has two straps and use both when you carry it.
- Put heavier items closer to your back. This will help control the centrifugal (or center) force of the backpack.
- Clean out your folders weekly. Take out or get rid of papers from previous units and classes that you don’t need to carry with you. You don’t have to throw them away, just don’t store them in your backpack.
- If you have big textbooks, carry them. Only bring your textbooks to school on the days you need it and try and carry them. This can help balance the weight you have to carry.
- Use your locker. Everyone at FHS gets the same locker for the four years at high school. If you don’t know where your locker is or the combination, ask the main office or Student Services. You can also request a locker change if your locker is in an inconvenient spot.
- If all else fails, communicate with your teachers to see if there are digital assignments or online textbooks you can utilize. They are here to help you succeed during your four, very short years of high school.
Hopefully, you can use some of these helpful hacks once we get back to school!