Slow Morning at Home + What’s in My College Bag as a College Student in My 30s
There is something so special about a slow morning at home.
After finishing my first college semester, I decided to take the summer to be home before going back to school in the fall. Honestly, I am really looking forward to having this time to slow down, tend to my home, spend time with my family, and just enjoy the simple everyday moments again.
This season feels like a little reset for me. After balancing school, work, home, family, and everything in between, I am excited to have a slower summer and start sharing more cozy home, lifestyle, and real-life content again.
So grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let’s spend the morning together.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you shop through my links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life by Jessica Lynn!
Watch the Full Video
Prefer to watch instead? Here’s the full slow morning video where I share my cozy morning at home, a little college life update, and everything I carried in my college bag this semester.
Starting the Morning by Making the Bed
One of the first things I like to do in the morning is make the bed. Even if the rest of the day gets busy, having the bed made instantly makes the room feel calmer and more put together.
It is such a simple thing, but it really does make a difference in how the room feels.
While making the bed, I wanted to share a little about our bedding because I have genuinely been loving it. This is not sponsored by Brooklinen. I bought everything myself, but I wanted to share it because bedding is one of those things that can completely change the way your bedroom feels.
Over the years, I have tried several different kinds of sheets, and I finally got to a point where I was ready to invest in something that felt like really good quality and would actually last. I wanted something comfortable, but also durable and easy to wash because we have both of our boys — our dogs — and they are very much a part of our everyday life.
I ended up getting a mix of pieces from Brooklinen, including Luxe Sateen sheets, a washed linen duvet cover and pillowcases, a Dreamweave waffle blanket, down alternative pillows, and an all-season down alternative comforter.
What I love is that everything has its own texture, but it still layers together so beautifully. The Luxe Sateen sheets feel smooth and soft, the washed linen has that relaxed, lived-in look, and the waffle blanket adds so much cozy texture to the bed.
It gives the room that comfortable, effortless, hotel-at-home feeling without being too perfect or fussy. And honestly, that is exactly what I wanted.
I wanted our bed to feel cozy and elevated, but still realistic for our home. Something that looks beautiful, feels comfortable, and can handle real life, dog hair, laundry, and everyday use.
Making the bed in the morning is such a simple little routine, but having bedding that I actually love makes it feel even better.
Shop the Bedding
Here are the cozy bedding pieces I mentioned in this post:
- Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Sheets
- Brooklinen Washed Linen Duvet Cover
- Brooklinen Washed Linen Pillowcases
- Brooklinen Dreamweave Waffle Blanket
- Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillows
- Brooklinen All-Season Down Alternative Comforter
- Pillow Protectors
You can shop my cozy bedroom favorites here:
A Little Life Update: My First College Semester Is Over
If you watched my last YouTube video, I mentioned that I was going back to school. That was about three months ago, and once school started, I quickly realized I did not have a lot of extra time for YouTube.
So I made the decision to put YouTube aside for a little while and focus on school.
With that being said, my first semester of college is officially over — and your girl passed with all A’s and one B!
I am so excited and honestly really proud of myself.
For those who do not know, I have been a CNA for 12 years, and I am now in college to get my bachelor’s degree in nursing. The last time I was in college was in 2015. I tried to go to nursing school back then, but life happened. My daughter was one year old, I was a single mom, I was working full-time, and I was trying to go to school all at the same time.
I felt pressured, overwhelmed, and eventually burned out.
Then I met my husband, became a wife, continued being a mom, and just started living life with my family. Time went on, and now I finally feel like I am at a better place in life to go back and pursue nursing school.
So this season means a lot to me.
What’s in My College Bag
Since I just finished my first semester back in college, I thought it would be fun to share what I actually carried in my college bag as a girl in her 30s going back to school.
I bought my college tote bag from Amazon, and I absolutely love it. It has a neutral brown color, which I have been really into lately because it goes with everything. I also bought the matching backpack because I was not sure if I was going to be a backpack girl or a tote bag girl.
After trying both, I found that I really loved carrying the tote. I like being able to throw it on my shoulder and go wherever I need to go. It looks cute, it holds everything, and it ended up being what worked best for me.
What I Keep in the Front Pockets
In the front pocket, I usually keep my wallet and keys. I also like to keep Liquid I.V. packets with me because I drink one almost every day.
Inside one of the zipper compartments, I keep smaller everyday items like lotion, chapstick, lip gloss, and my AirPods. One thing I really love about this tote is that it has so many compartments and little pockets, which makes it easy to keep everything organized.
School Supplies I Actually Used
One thing that is so different about going to school now compared to 10 years ago is that everything is digital.
I remember going to school with notebooks, pens, pencils, and paper. Now, so much is done on the computer. Honestly, I kind of like it because I have become a digital person all the way around. My family calendar is digital, my school notes are digital, and a lot of my planning is digital too.
I still kept a small school supply case in my bag just in case. Inside, I had a calculator, index cards, pencils, a pencil sharpener, pens, Sharpies, highlighters, sticky notes, and a small notebook.
To be honest, I did not use the paper supplies a ton, but I liked having them as a backup.
Going back to college this semester, I really had to learn how to study. I did not love studying in high school, so I had to figure out what worked best for me now. I found that writing things down on index cards helped me soak in the information better.
The index card method became one of my favorite ways to study, and it really did help me.
My File Folder for Class Papers
Another thing I kept in my bag all semester was a file folder.
Even though most things are digital now, some classes still hand out papers. I used a folder with dividers labeled for each class so that if I received any papers, they had a place to go.
Next semester, I will switch out the labels and update it with my new classes, but I definitely plan to keep using this system.
My MacBook Pro
My ride-or-die for school is my MacBook Pro.
This is what I used for almost all of my classes. My whole life is basically on my laptop, and I love having a reliable computer for school.
Of course, any laptop can work, but if you are going back to college, I definitely recommend having a good laptop that will last. So much of school is online now, and having something dependable makes a big difference.
My iPad and GoodNotes
Another thing I absolutely loved having this semester was my iPad.
I use the 13-inch iPad, and it has been so helpful for school. I use GoodNotes to take notes for all of my classes, and it has honestly become my notebook for everything.
All of my class notebooks are inside GoodNotes, and this is where I took most of my notes throughout the semester.
My iPad also has my planner, and I use Google Calendar religiously. My whole life is on Google Calendar. I use the task section to assign homework, keep up with deadlines, and organize everything I need to do.
That system was so helpful for me this semester.
My Water Bottle and Everyday Essentials
The last thing I carried with me every day was my water bottle. I use a Simple Modern water bottle, and it fits right inside my tote. It does not always zip all the way because of the straw, but it works.
I would also keep my phone in the front pocket, and sometimes I would carry an umbrella if it looked like it might rain.
And honestly, that was it.
My tote, laptop, iPad, file folder, small school supply case, water bottle, and a few everyday essentials were really all I needed for my first semester back in college.
Shop My College Bag Essentials
I linked my college tote bag, matching backpack, school supplies, planner favorites, tech essentials, water bottle, and other everyday items I used during my first semester back in college.
Shop my college essentials here:
Final Thoughts
Going back to college in my 30s has been such a different experience than when I was younger. I feel like I have more life experience now, and I am in a season where I am more ready to take it seriously and figure out what works for me.
This first semester taught me a lot about time management, studying, balance, and giving myself grace. I am proud of myself for finishing strong, and I am really looking forward to using this summer to slow down, be home with my family, and prepare for the next semester.
If you are going back to college later in life, starting over, or stepping into a new season, I hope this encourages you. It is never too late to start again, and sometimes the timing makes so much more sense when you are finally ready.
You can also read more about my experience here:
READ NEXT “WHAT IT’S LIKE GOING TO COLLEGE IN MY 30s”
Thank you so much for being here and following along with this season of life. I am excited to share more cozy home, lifestyle, college, and real-life moments with you this summer.
