Routines bring you and your family forward!
Why is a routine important?
Take a deep breath and let’s reflect for a moment… here are 3 reasons why a routine is important to family life.
Having a routine provides structure and predictability to our day, which can help reduce stress and improve our overall well-being.
A routine can also help us stay on track with our goals (like eat more fruit and veg) and make it easier to prioritize our time and energy.
For children, having a routine can be especially important for their development, as it can help children feel secure and build healthy habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Getting back into a routine after summer holidays can feel daunting.
Back to School Routine: How to get started.
1. Gradually adjust your family’s sleep schedule:
If you all have been staying up late and sleeping in during the summer, start adjusting your sleep schedule in 15-minute increments a week or two before the end of the holidays.
This will help everyone ease into the routine of waking up earlier (although you can still expect some groggy complaints and grumpy faces.)
2. Create a visual schedule:
There are some adorable daily planner downloads and schedules on Etsy. Create a schedule for daily activities, including meals, homework, exercise, and most importantly leisure time.
Place your planner/tracker somewhere at child level (on fridge, pinboard, or near the entryway.)
Having a visual and fun schedule can help you and your family stay on task because they will see it and you don’t have to say 1,000 times.
Download these FREE Back to School Routine Checklists
Click here or on the image to download a PDF and print.
3. Stay active:
Add in at least 15-minutes of physical activity into your daily routine.
I know it seems counterintuitive, “I don’t have enough energy, why would I exercise now.” But I promise you, moving your body, stretching, walking, dancing, whatever WILL help improve your energy levels and reduce stress.
As an experienced 50-year-old mom of a tween, I promise, that every time I exercise, I feel 10 times better, am more relaxed, feel clear in my mind, have renewed energy, and BTW – I sleep better!
4. Know which routines are important and let the rest go.
A sleep schedule:
Help little bodies settle at night and cure parent insomnia by having the same sleep time and wake time every day (even on weekends.)
Mealtime, hydration, snacks:
Having the same meal and snack times helps the day to feel predictable and more secure.
It is a moment of pause, and time to connect with others.
It’s a great time to check in on if you’ve had enough veggies and fruit, and if you’ve had enough water or liquids to drink.
To get in added nutrition, consider supplements that cover the basics like vitamin C, D, B etc. Talk with your doctor.
Clean up! Teaching basic self-care.
Time to wash hands, clean face, and brush teeth.
Picking up around the house… together.
Bath time and clean pyjamas.
5. Under schedule:
Yes, you heard me… actively reduce the stress please!
Say no to invitations for the first month or so to create space for your family to adjust to doing more in their day. Having to focus and “behave” all day long is exhausting even for us adults.
Allow space for the surprises, the spills, the wet pants, and oddball weather.
This will make it tons easier to stick to your ideal routine and give you the feeling that you might actually be successful at this thing called parenting.
What are the challenges of the back to school routine and how do I overcome them?
It most likely will happen, so don’t be surprised and let it sabotage your efforts. All is not lost.
Zero motivation: This will happen when the routine feels too repetitive or boring.
The unexpected: Life is unpredictable, kids get sick, schedules change, and can throw us all off track.
No time: Sigh :-(
Lack of accountability: It is easy to slip back into old habits without accountability.
Not enough flexibility: A routine that is too rigid will be impossible to maintain.
6 Strategies to Create a Back to School Routine:
1. Involve your family in creating the routine:
When your family has a say in creating the routine, they are more likely to feel invested. Make it a collaborative process, where everyone has a chance to contribute their ideas.
2. Make it fun and visual:
For example, you might try using a sticker chart to track progress and give “playtime” rewards.
3. Lead by example:
I know this is tough, as a parent or caregiver, however, when you set a positive example by sticking to the routine yourself and your family sees that you are consistent, they are more likely to follow suit.
4. Build in flexibility:
While it's important to have structure and consistency in a routine, create moments where you may feel comfortable changing up the routine (like eating out, or spontaneous going to the park outings.)
5. Get your partner on the same page:
Don’t go at it alone. Get your partner to understand the benefits of sticking to a routine, such as reduced stress, improved productivity, and more time for leisure activities. Have your partner also “own” specific parts of the routine so it takes the pressure off you.
6. Provide positive feedback:
When your family makes progress or meets their goals, lather on the well done, huge smiles and lots of hugs!
Bottom line: You are creating a routine of healthy habits – for your children.
These are the healthy habits that they will build and take with them when they become teens through till they’re off to college and living on their own. It will make it easier for them to live a healthy lifestyle when they know what to do and feel well doing it.
Remember that everyone is different, and what works for one family may not work for another. Explore a routine that works for your family's unique needs. And please, approach the process with kindness, patience, and flexibility.
You might also consider enlisting the help of a friend or family member to hold you accountable, provide support and lots of encouragement.
