It’s that time of year again.
Everyone’s buying pens, notebooks, backpacks and gearing up to get #BackToSchool. But along with all the sales and weather changing, it’s a pretty hectic time of year for most families. How do you transition from summer fun into an effortless fall schedule? How do you make mornings stress-free while getting to school on time?
The Dreaded School Mornings
Do your kids have a hard time waking up early? Are mornings slow for you? We feel your pain! But there’s few ways to make the transition into your school routine a little bit smoother.
1. Set a consistent wake up time (a few weeks before school starts!)
You’ll hear people say that the best way to have a consistent sleep schedule is to go to bed at the same time everyday, but when you wake up is actually much more important! The key is waking up at the exact same time everyday, even if you don’t feel like it. Easier said than done, but if you and your kids have to wake up super early, you can gradually set the alarm 15 to 30 minutes earlier over the last few weeks of summer break to gently transition back to your early school mornings
2. Write down your morning routine
If you write something down (especially with pen and paper!) you’re more likely to take action and follow through. So sit down with your afternoon cup of coffee and plan out a morning routine that works for you. Step one: keep it realistic. Don’t feel like doing yoga or cooking a five course breakfast every morning? Then don’t write that down! Make a list of what works for you and test it out. An important thing to remember is the first version probably won’t work perfectly, so it’s good to go back and review your routine every couple of weeks to see what can be improved.
3. Have something to look forward to in the afternoon!
After rushing around all morning getting the kids ready and out the door, it’s good to have something planned just for yourself in the afternoon to look forward to. Plan to read a chapter of your favorite book over a cup of coffee, go a few rounds on candy crush or take the time to scroll through Instagram and plan out your dream kitchen. Whatever it is, write it down and make sure you have some time for yourself after your busy early morning. Having something you look forward to will help you through the days when you don’t feel like doing anything.
A few extra tips:
- Pick out outfits the night before
- Limit screen time during the day and turn off devices thirty minutes before going to bed
- Limit caffeine in the afternoon and evenings
- Communicate with your kiddos your morning routine and how they can help you by getting ready and getting to bed on time!
Back To School Breakfasts And Lunch
Now that we’ve got the morning routine out of the way, let’s think about what you and your kids are going to eat! School mornings are stressful enough, not even mentioning what you’re supposed to do for breakfast and lunch. So here are a few ideas to get you started!
- Eggs in a nest (a great source of protein!)
- Cereal (how can you go wrong with cereal?)
- Fruit smoothies (blend and enjoy!)
25 Back To School Breakfast Ideas (in case you needed a little more inspiration.)