Making the transition from class to class can sometimes be a struggle, especially if you have classes that are back-to-back. Depending on the class, you may have to take your laptop, a notebook or two, textbook(s), writing utensils and more.

But how can we minimize the lower back pain and shoulder pain that comes with hauling all of the essentials to and from class?

As a freshman in college, I really didn’t know what to expect when it came to carrying a backpack full of books. I wasn’t used to the idea of carrying your backpack everywhere you go, taking it to class and having it sit next to you while you are in lecture.

Throughout my entire school career up until this point, I didn’t have to take my bag everywhere with me. Before this year, I would go to school and put all of my required materials in my locker until the next passing period, when I would switch out my books and things for the next class. That certainly is not the case in college.

The “passing periods” in college are ten minutes long, which seems like a good amount of time at first. In those ten minutes, you have to gather all of your things, briskly walk to your next class that is in the building clear across campus, find a seat and unpack everything you own.

You might have enough time to take a restroom break if you’re lucky. Needless to say, in those ten minutes, you couldn’t possibly go to your dorm room, switch out the stuff you need and make it back to class on time.

If you’ve mastered this skill, kudos to you. The rest of us unfortunate souls, are screwed and must carry a backpack that weighs almost as much as I do.

The struggle is real. Not only do we look like turtles with shells on our backs walking to class, but we suffer physical pain from this as well. I don’t know about you, but a long walk with a backpack completely full of textbooks makes my back hurt, not to mention the tension my shoulders experience daily.

After a full day of classes, I can tell you that I’m surprised I don’t come back to my dorm only to find bruises where my shoulder straps would be. Hauling a heavy load like some pack mule every day can’t possibly be good for your posture either.

Like most of you, I don’t want to grow old looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. So, how can I stop this from happening?

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The first thing to do is figure out what materials you use in class and minimize. Less is more. I used to take my textbook with me all the time to one of my lectures until I figured out we never opened the textbook. Without carrying that book around, I already felt so much better. The next thing is to figure out whether or not you really need to take your laptop with you.

If you take notes on it, great; you don’t have to use notebooks and thus can leave those behind.

But, if you prefer to use the traditional pad and pencil for notes, you might want to consider whether or not you need to take your laptop with you.

The third thing you could do is to try and combine some of the materials that you take to class. Instead of taking two different binders, try combining them and take just one.

There are multiple ways of condensing the load that we have to carry to classes. When we minimize the materials we take with us, our backs and shoulders won’t hurt, we won’t grow old with having a crooked back and we won’t look like modern-day ninja turtles going to class. So I challenge you, how much can you lighten up?