It's here! The first week of school! For many of us in the Northeast, the first week of school is FINALLY upon us. This is the first time I have ever felt a mix of emotions with the start of school - my daughter is starting kindergarten in a new school and my son is starting pre-school in a new classroom at his daycare. That means a lot of new starts for us and new routines to get used to. Although this gives me a case of nerves, I am also warmly welcoming the start of Fall. I LOVE the cooler temperatures and the turning leaves. I ADORE fall fruits & vegetables (pumpkin, anyone??). And, most of all, I THRIVE with routine, as does my family. So after a summer full of pool time, sun, beaches, long nights and travel, I'm really looking forward to establishing a schedule again in our house! Read on to see my top reasons and tips on why schedules are great for the family:
1. Schedules make it easier to meet expectations:
For our family, especially for my little ones, a schedule makes it much easier to set expectations. With a schedule and a routine, we all know what comes next and that makes the day flow much easier. For example: the morning could be an absolute disaster when it comes to getting up, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, getting dressed and out the door with my 5.5 and 3 year olds. But the older one knows the routine in the morning and this makes it much easier for her to meet expectations. It's no longer a negotiation at each step before getting out the door. There is a set of steps we all have to take to make it to school on time and looking/feeling our best, and once that set of steps is clear with a timeline, it all makes so much more sense and is much easier to accomplish everyday.
2. Schedules allow time for YOU too:
As a mother, one of the things that's often toughest is making time to take care of yourself. With a schedule, it's easier to pencil in time for YOU. Whether that's working out, or finding time to finish up some work, or some other non-negotiable in your day. When it's scheduled, it gets done. I take my appointments on my calendar seriously, and I schedule everything in. So when it comes to working out (or currently, my physical therapy sessions), everything goes in my calendar. I know if it's in there, I am going to keep that appointment - even if it's an appointment with just me and my Peloton!
3. Schedules allow for wiggle room:
One of the best parts of having a routine is allowing deviation from the routine. This is great for the kids because once in a while, you can make an otherwise ordinary activity seem special. Usually, we have dinner followed by bath time and pj's for the kids in our house. But, on occasion, the kids get to do a special activity after dinner and before bath time (like go ride bikes on the driveway or do bubbles in the backyard for a bit) - and just because it's out of the normal schedule, it feels like a reward or something special. It may not seem like a big deal, but it's a great way for the kids to get a treat!
So even if the start of school has you a bit on edge (thinking about packing lunches again and the alarm clock going off a bit earlier is enough to make anyone's stomach churn), think about the beauty and benefit of getting your routine back in order. And remember, although I'm a big fan of schedules and routines, you can't stick to them all day everyday in the extreme without driving yourself nuts, so give yourself and your little ones a bit of wiggle room too!
Payal Arora is a certified health coach and the founder of Arora Wellness where she works with mothers of young children facing the challenge of finding time to take care of everyone and everything in their lives. She teaches easy, repeatable healthy lifestyle routines so moms can live their most confident, vibrant and healthy lives, while having peace of mind knowing they're helping their families do the same. If you enjoyed this article, check out Payal's 5 Ways to Add A Little Fun Into Life.