Problem: Article: If you've gone through your bag and removed all of the clutter, you'll likely have gotten rid of books or items you don't need. To tell if an item is unnecessary, think about whether you use it frequently or at all. If you use it daily, keep it in the bag. If you haven't seen it in weeks, take it out. Make decluttering a habit! If you know you won't need something, leave it out of your bag. Go through your bag weekly to make sure you haven't piled up more of the same old things. If there are certain things that you know you won't need at home, leave them in your locker. This includes extra notebooks, textbooks for classes without homework that night, sports supplies, etc. Go through your class schedule and see exactly what you will need to take with you for the next day. This will ensure that you're not carrying unnecessary books, notebooks or supplies. Here, unnecessary supplies are ones that you won't specifically need tomorrow. If you have Algebra, History and Spanish, leave out your English and Biology notebooks and texts. While big binders and multiple-subject notebooks are great for organization, they also add a lot of weight, especially when they contain notes for classes you don't need every day. Invest in supplies that will help you separate your carry load and lighten your pack.  Get separate notebooks for each class. If you have one small notebook for each subject or project, you'll be able to carry only what you need for each day, leaving behind the notebooks you definitely won't need. Get notebooks in different colors if you have a hard time keeping them all straight. Invest in compact notebooks. A4 is the standard paper size for most notebooks, but it includes a lot of margin room. All of that extra space on the paper adds up in weight, and you may not even get to the end of the notebook! Look at smaller A5 or even A6 notepads to cut down on the size and weight of your notebooks.  Carry travel sized items. If you frequently carry hairspray, lotion or other grooming products for use after gym, buy smaller sizes. Liquids weigh a lot and that weight adds up. If your favorite products don't come in travel sizes, buy small plastic bottles and transfer your products into them. Try sites like Amazon or The Container Store for small bottles. The less papers and books you have to carry, the lighter your backpack will be. Some textbooks come in electronic format, and you may be able to scan your homework and turn it in online. Also, consider scanning your book chapters and keeping them in digital form if an eBook is not available with the bound edition.This way, you'll only have to carry a laptop or tablet instead of books and papers. While it may be hard to remember to do this, giving your parents any notes or letters means less weight in your backpack. Letters and notices tend to pile up especially if you're forgetful about them. The sooner you do homework, the less likely it is to get lost or be forgotten in your bag, turning into dead weight. Also, when you finish the homework, you'll no longer have to carry the corresponding textbook to and from school, saving your bag 20 or 30 pounds. Going through your bag weekly will help cut down on the clutter and the weight of the bag. It will also give you a good time to re-organize things back into the pockets they belong in, keeping the distribution of weight correct.
Summary: Don't keep unnecessary things in your bag. Store items in your locker. Plan your day the night before. Buy smaller versions of what you have. Go electronic if your school will let you. Give parents notes and packets as soon as you get them. Don't procrastinate on your homework. Clean your bag out weekly.

Problem: Article: The first step in staying positive is to remember that no one can make you feel bad without your permission. If you choose to remain positive, you can do it. Don't allow yourself to fall into the trap of feeling like a victim of another person's bad attitude.  You might have to remind yourself of this frequently when you're around negative people for any length of time. Take breaks when you need to. Stepping outside for a moment, going to the restroom, or taking a quick walk are all ways you can maintain your positive attitude. If all your attention is on the negative person, you'll be more likely to be sucked into their negativity. By paying attention to what you can do to maintain your positivity, you'll be more likely to create a distance between yourself and the other person. After all, you can't change the other person, but you can change yourself.  Don't worry what the negative person might think of you if your priority is to maintain your own happiness. You won't be able to change their attitude, so don't waste your energy trying. If you're paying attention to your own thoughts, you won't allow a negative person to disregard them. The more you learn to value your own experiences, the less you're likely to worry what others think of you.  Instead, focus on the opinions and ideas of positive people, people who you'd like to emulate in your own life. If you're engaged in the topics that interest you, you're unlikely to have time to pay attention to the negative people around you. Some people practice saying short mantras as a spiritual tool, while others find mantras remind them to calm down under stress. Repeating a mantra to yourself when in the presence of negative people can help you remain positive.  The mantra that's meaningful to each person is highly individual. Some people chant words from sacred traditions, while others prefer simple words or phrases. An example of a mantra might be: “I am enough," or the Buddhist, "Om mani padme hum." Pairing mantra with your breath is a strong counterbalance to incoming negativity. Seek out positive people, and make sure to try to limit your time around negative people whenever you can. When you can't avoid spending time around negative people, try to make sure you're meeting in a group of people rather than just the two of you.  If you're friends on social media, unfriending or unfollowing the posts of the negative person is one way to minimize your contact with the person. If there are events you have to attend with the negative person, go into them with as much positivity as you can. Take breaks as often as you need to. Talking to someone who is able to see the situation with fresh eyes might help you understand the situation better. This can help you learn new ways to stay positive, and may reveal information about the negative person's outlook that could help you.  It's best if the person is impartial - that is, not someone who's a friend of the negative person, or a friend who's too close to you. Some people benefit from talking to a therapist or counselor. If you're someone who finds herself constantly surrounded by negative people, there may be something in your own life that you can address. Being aware of the things that threaten your positivity will help you recognize what's bothering you about a negative person. Notice the things that make you feel instantly bad, angry, or upset. It might be a particular comment about a sensitive topic, or it might be something that reminds you of the way your mother used to criticize you.  Developing more knowledge about yourself will help you avoid falling into negativity traps. You might notice that the more you learn about why you react to these negative comments, the less they'll bother you. One of the many ways that a negative person will attempt to engage you is by talking badly about others. Remember that you wouldn't want another person talking about you that way, and avoid these conversations.  If someone tries to draw you in, simply redirect the conversation. If you can't change the conversation, it's okay to leave it. You can make up an excuse to leave, or you can simply explain that you don't want to talk more about it. Don't take on another person's negative mindset. When you find yourself having to deal with someone else's negativity, increase your attention to the positive.  It's not important whether or not the negative person disagrees with your point of view. It will help your own attitude to not care what the negative person thinks! Remember that positivity is contagious - your own attitude might uplift your negative friend.
Summary:
Remember that you are in charge of your attitude. Focus on yourself. Value your own thoughts and feelings. Use a mantra or phrase. Avoid negative people when possible. Talk to someone about the situation. Track your triggers. Avoid gossiping about others. Tune out negativity.