Summer break is usually filled with vacations, sleeping in and a whole lotta loss of routine and structure. It can be stressful when back to school hits and suddenly that carefree lack of a schedule makes way for some mayhem for everyone. No fear! This article is about to give you some tips to help you get back into the swing of things:
Plan the week ahead of time
Organizing your schedule, your partners and the kids can be stressful so its important to have a plan ahead of time. Schedule a time each week to actually create a schedule and communicate who is doing what. Have a conversation over the long-term goals of the year along with the short-term for each week. It can be great to have a visual schedule such as a white board to keep the family all in the loop. In your plan make sure you no only include school and activities but also family time, downtime, playtime and self-care.
Get Ready the night before
The mornings can be a mad rush trying to get the kids up, dressed, teeth brushed and fed. It can really help to get prepared the night before. Pre-packing the lunches before bed is a great time-saving idea. You may also want to pack your own lunch for the next day.
Having the kids backpacks ready the night before as well. Having the kids get in a habit of unpacking their bags when they get back from school and then packing them in the evening creates a smooth routine and save your worrying about it in the morning or late at night. Make sure library books, textbooks, journals, and homework is all ready to go for the next day.
Picking out and laying out the kid’s clothes for the next day is also a great habit that helps to save time. You don’t want to realize in the morning there are no clean underwear or socks! This is super beneficial for adults too so you don’t waste time in the morning with “nothing to wear”.
Create a homework routine
Having a routine for when the kids get home is important. Many even have time scheduled for when the kids complete their homework in the evening. You can put this on the calendar, so everyone is made aware if that helps. Some may limit technology in the evening till home work is done.
Breathe Deeply
Make sure you are breathing from your diaphragm. When we are stressed, we often start to breathe from our chest which causes anxiety and inhibits us from thinking clearly. If you feel you are getting overwhelmed take 60 seconds and take a few deep breaths into the bottom of your belly. Holding the air in and slowly exhaling all the air out. This make you and your nervous system more resilient and able to handle the challenges of every day.
Limit Technology
Technology can be a touchy subject in families but for morning to run smoothly it is great to have no technology until the morning routine is done and they are ready to walk out the door. That means they are dressed, bags packed with lunches, and eaten breakfast. Technology can be very distracting and could get in the way of a smooth routine.
This may mean taking your own advice. How many times have we “just checked” Instagram or Facebook and then an hour later wondered what happened to the time?
Consistency
Consistency is key, it can be a bit stressful instilling a new routine but, in the end, if you have everyone pulling their weight, the calendar up to date, and everything prepared the night before things can become a lot smoother. Be gentle with yourself and everyone else in making this new routine work for you and your family.
Your self-care is also important. Make sure everyone is pulling their weight and you are not the only one making sure everyone has everything they need for the day. Delegation can remove a lot of the stress, allowing everyone to have a role and contribute to the family routine.
How are mornings in your home? What contributes to your daily routines going smoothly?
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