August is like a funky mixtape of summer vibes and back-to-school jitters. While we’re squeezing in last-minute beach days, kids are gearing up for math homework and soccer practice. It’s a whirlwind of excitement and chaos! Amidst this whirlwind, parents (hopefully!) are prepping for the school hustle. With schedules shifting and needs evolving, it’s a bit of a “wait and see” game.
Let’s be proactive now to smoothen the back-to-school ride later. Let’s dive into the world of organization and routines to rock the school year! Do back-to-school worries keep you up at night? Time management, organization, school lunches – the whole shebang! Let’s tackle these stress points head-on and whip them into shape.
So, if you’re daydreaming about stress-free mornings or nailing down a school lunch routine, now’s the time to make those dreams a reality. Over the next 4 weeks, we’re diving deep into these topics!
First up: TIME MANAGEMENT!
Time to wrangle those chaotic mornings, after-school rushes, and bedtime shenanigans. Let’s craft solid routines TODAY to sail smoothly through the day.
Pro Tip: set a consistent wake-up time NOW, ease into earlier mornings, establish morning routines (say goodbye to all-day pajamas!), and carve out peaceful afternoons, and bedtime bliss. It’s all about that sweet consistency to keep the household humming like a well-oiled machine. Let’s rock those routines and make the back-to-school transition a breeze!
Examples of morning time management that you can start now:
- Have a consistent wake time. If your child sleeps in much later than usual because it’s summer, slowly wake them up earlier. Every few days, set that alarm 15 minutes earlier until you are at the time that your child will need to wake up for school. And keep it that way!
- I’d like you to develop a consistent morning routine. When your kids wake up, remind them to get dressed, eat breakfast, and brush their teeth so they’re ready for the day – even if they’re not going anywhere yet! This will help keep them in a routine for back-to-school.
Examples of afternoon time management you can start now:
- Hold a consistent block of time in the afternoon that will translate well to “after school” time. This might mean an afternoon snack followed by workbooks, attempting to assimilate homework.
- If kids have afternoon activities, treat the experience as if it’s after school. Ensure they have some downtime before and/or after and are not rushed. This will help keep the same peaceful transitional feeling when school is back in session.
Examples of evening/bedtime time management you can start now:
- As with wake times, if you’ve gotten off your usual bedtime routine, now is the time to return it. A short and sweet bedtime routine is all you need to get back in the groove.
- Start to say “no” to late-night events or plans that will take kids past a usual bedtime. It can be tempting to squeeze a few more in before school starts, but it will be better for their little bodies to adjust in the long run.
In most of these examples, the take-home message is consistency. Consistency is what builds routines. And creating these routines will make for a smoother transition for everyone. HAPPY Back to school season EVERYONE!
What Time Management Tip are you going to implement first?