From the Vault: Back to School Routine Review – TPW458

This week we're revisiting an episode from the TPW archives in which I talk about re-evaluating our daily and weekly routines to make sure they're serving us. Heading back to school? Great time to evaluate and refresh our routines This summer I’m doing something new: revisiting a few episodes from the TPW vault. Like we did in episode 453 last month, this week we’re revisiting an episode from a few years ago that seems timely for today. This time we’re talking about reviewing and updating our routines for back to school, which we first discussed back in episode 157 as part of a back-to-school miniseries I did that year. I realize this may be more timely for those of us in the United States who are about to start a new school year (or in some cases already have!). The concepts apply any time we’re entering a new season of life, though, so in case you missed it before, here it is. Be intentional about activities A change in seasons is a good time to take a fresh look at the calendar and your commitments and activities. What are your priorities for this season--for yourself, your family, your kids if applicable?   * If you’re a student, are you focused on grades or building your resume? If the former, fewer outside activities probably best to allow plenty of time for study and doing excellent work on papers, etc. If the latter, then what activities would make the biggest impact?  * Same question for your family/kids. What’s your priority for them? (Everything can’t matter most; if everything’s a priority, then nothing is). If you have every kid signed up for every activity, take a look at that. How’s that working for you? If you and your kid are extroverts who thrive in that kind of full schedule, then go for it. If your priority is building a resume that will get your child into an elite school, then of course. But if not . . . if life is hectic and stressful and there’s crabbiness and exhaustion, then consider why you’re doing what you’re doing. Kids don’t need to do everything any more than we do. We need to model for them the value of creating margin in their lives--time to breathe, to think, to relax, to connect.  * For me, family came first. Protected time together. Each kid got one activity at a time. At least a couple nights a week we all needed to be home, without activities planned. Streamline life by establishing routines Benefits of establishing workable routines:  * Efficiency--anything we do the same way repeatedly we get better at / more efficient  * Avoid decision fatigue -- especially in the morning  * For parents: Security for the kids--more calm  “Children especially need routine in order to feel safe and contained in a world that can be very busy and overwhelming. This is perhaps no more true than during times of significant transition, including the back-to-school period.” from Six Simple Routines for Back to School Sanity by Dr. Vanessa Lapointe on Huffington Post. “When children can predict what's coming next, they feel competent and are much more likely to cooperate.” from “Back to School: Are You Ready?” on BrightHorizons.com. Morning routines Can you give yourself a little “me” time in the morning before you must jump into the work day (or, if you’re a parent, before the kids’ routine begins?) This can be hard if, like where we live, the kids have an early start time or early bus stop time.