Back to School Routines: Establishing a Successful Morning Schedule
We all know kids have mixed feelings about back-to-school season. It's time to see their friends again, but it also means the return of homework! For parents, it can be both exhilarating and demanding, too.
With a fresh school year comes a fresh set of challenges. Ensuring your kids are prepared and ready to bring their best to the classroom requires patience, skill, and preparation!
Whether arranging school clothes, finding the right wake-up time, getting breakfast ready, packing lunches, or monitoring screen time, a parent's day can seem like nothing but completing tasks for the whole family.
I'm Barbara Siemen—certified life coach, yoga instructor, and writer—and I'm dedicated to helping parents navigate the challenges of that beautiful journey known as parenthood.
Throughout my parenting and mentoring journey, I've gathered some golden nuggets of wisdom to help you establish a successful morning routine that sets the tone of success for your children.
In this article, I'll teach you how to make each day a masterpiece!
Transitioning Seamlessly into a New Morning Routine
With kids heading back to the classroom, it's time to take a new approach to your morning routine to ensure smooth sailing.
Here are some tips that'll help both you and your kids make the most of the school schedule:
1. Be the early bird
Although you may not be interested in worms, there's still a benefit to being the early bird! Get up before the rest of the family and enjoy a moment of self-care and tranquillity. Savor a cup of tea, meditate, or enjoy your other morning routines to center and ground yourself.
2. Plan Ahead
Mornings are much easier when you've done half the prep work the night before. Pack lunches set out clothes, and get everyone's backpacks in order in the evening. That way, the morning rush can be much more enjoyable.
3. Practice mindful movement
With a healthy body comes a healthy mind. Consider doing mindful movement in the morning, like a brief yoga session, light jogging, or stretching. As a yoga instructor, I've seen firsthand the positive power of movement to bring energy to one's day.
A Successful School Routine for the Rest of the Day
You and your kids have made it through the morning—great. But now it's about keeping that positive energy going throughout the day by scheduling moments that empower you and your children.
Here are a few steps to get you started:
1. Use the power of mindfulness
Start and finish your day with intention. Dedicate specific times for a few minutes of journaling, reciting affirmations, and other gratitude and reflection exercises. If your mind is a garden, then mindfulness is planting the seeds of positivity.
2. Nourish your body (and soul)
It's often easy to skip over meals when we're busy. Don't take your body for granted by forgoing a nutritious breakfast. Make sure you plan specific times to enjoy nourishing, healthy meals for sustained energy.
3. Connect with loved ones
Amid the rush, take time to enjoy moments with those you cherish, whether that's family or friends. Take note of your heartfelt connections throughout the day while journaling.
4. Prioritize Self-Care
It's hard to care for others when you're not caring for yourself properly. As parents, we often nurture others, but we also need to nurture ourselves. Whether it's exercise, meditation, or leisure activities, schedule some time that lets you refill your cup.
Remember, these tips aren't just for you—a healthy back-to-school routine sets the tone for the entire family.
My Personal Journey and How I Can Help You
In 2016, I found myself in a slump amid a failed business and subsequent mental health challenges. Refusing to be defined by my setbacks, I set to work on redefining my life's purpose with the help of coaches, therapists, and self-help books.
It took over five years of unlearning and transformation, but I'm proud to be following my intuition and making room for what I want in life—and I want to show you how to do the same.
You, too, have the power to 'unsubscribe' from the old and embrace the new. If you're ready to start a new chapter in your success story, join me and download my free e-book, "Unsubscribe from the Shoulds."
Download the free ebook “Unsubscribe from the Shoulds”
