There’s something about the end of summer that makes you realize just how much your routine has changed.

You’ve gotten used to the slower mornings and later bedtimes, and the usual school-day schedule has had a well-earned break. Then suddenly, the alarm goes off, everyone needs to be somewhere at a certain time, backpacks need to be found and the question of “When are we leaving?” seems to come up approximately 47 times before breakfast.

Getting back into a school routine can take a little adjustment.

It’s not just the kids who have to get used to it, either! Parents are getting back into earlier mornings, school schedules, activities, lunches, homework and everything else that comes with the school year.

But you don’t have to have the whole thing figured out on day one. A few small changes can help everyone ease back into the rhythm without making the return to school feel like a complete lifestyle overhaul.

Start Adjusting Before The First Day

After a summer of later nights and slower mornings, expecting everyone to suddenly switch back to a school schedule can be a bit of a shock to the system.

If bedtime has gradually moved later over the summer, bringing it back a little at a time can make those first school mornings easier. The same goes for waking up. Getting up a little earlier in the days before school starts can give everyone a chance to adjust before the first alarm of the new school year.

It doesn't have to be a massive change. Moving bedtime and wake-up time gradually can be much more manageable than trying to change everything in one night.

There’s also something to be said for getting back into the idea of having somewhere to be at a certain time. Even a few days of returning to a more structured morning can help the whole household start finding its rhythm again.

Make The Evening Work For You

One of the simplest ways to make mornings easier is to move some of the preparation into the evening.

Think about all the little things that can cause unnecessary chaos when they're left until the morning. Backpacks need packing, clothes need finding, devices need charging and someone suddenly remembers they need something specific for school.

Taking care of some of those jobs the night before means there are fewer things competing for everyone's attention when the alarm goes off.

Mandy Kellum from our team has noticed the same thing as her children have gotten older:

“Is it just me, or was getting out the door easier when the kids were little? As our kids become teenagers, I've found that a smooth morning really starts the night before. Taking a few minutes to pack backpacks, lay out clothes, charge devices, review schedules, and make sure everything is ready can make a huge difference when the alarms go off.”

We believe many parents will recognize this.

Older kids and teenagers may be more independent, but that doesn't always mean they're naturally organized. Giving them a few things to take responsibility for can help them become more prepared while also taking some of the pressure off you.

Give Everyone A Chance To Know What's Coming

A quick look at the next day's schedule can make a bigger difference than you might expect.

Are there sports practices after school? Does someone need gym clothes? Is there an early start? Does a device need charging? Is there somewhere everyone needs to be straight after school?

Knowing what's coming gives everyone a chance to prepare instead of discovering something five minutes before it's time to leave.

This can be particularly useful for teenagers who are starting to take more responsibility for managing their own schedules. A quick evening check can become part of their routine without turning into another long list of things you have to remind them about (because we all know that is NOT their favourite thing).

It also means fewer surprises for you, because finding out at 7:45 AM that someone needs a poster board for a project due that day is nobody's idea of a relaxing start to the morning!

Getting Back To A School Bedtime

Sleep is another part of the routine that can take some getting used to after summer.

Later nights are one of the best things about having a break from school, but they can make those early mornings feel particularly painful once classes start again.

Creating a calmer wind-down in the evening can help signal that the day is coming to an end. Turning off devices, getting things ready for the morning and giving everyone enough time to settle down can make bedtime feel less rushed.

The aim isn't to create a picture-perfect nighttime routine. It's simply about giving everyone enough time to slow down and get used to going to bed at a more consistent time.

That consistency can make mornings feel easier too, particularly once the early starts begin adding up.

Don't Expect It To Be Perfect Straight Away

This might be the most important part of getting back into a routine. 

The first week may be messy. It likely will be. And the second week might be a little messy too. Someone will forget something. Someone will sleep through an alarm. There will probably be a morning where everybody is looking for the same thing at exactly the same time and no-one has a clue where it is.

That's okay.

Getting back into a routine is an adjustment for everyone and it takes time to work out what actually works for your household.

Mandy puts it perfectly:

“I'm reminding myself that getting back into a school routine is an adjustment for all of us, not just our kids. Mornings seem to go much better when everyone knows what's expected before the day begins. It may take a few weeks to find our groove again, and that's okay.”

We think that last part is worth remembering.

You don't need to have everything running perfectly by the first Monday of the term. If something isn't working, change it. If mornings are taking too long, look at what can be moved into the evening. If bedtime is becoming a serious battle, give yourselves a little more time to settle back into it.

The routine can evolve as you figure out what works.

Find What Works For Your Family

There isn't one perfect back-to-school routine. What works for a family with young children might look completely different from a household with teenagers. Even within the same family, what worked last year might not work this year.

The important thing is finding a rhythm that makes everyday life feel a little easier.

That might mean getting backpacks ready before bed, setting out clothes, checking the next day's schedule or gradually bringing bedtime forward. It could simply mean making sure everyone knows what they need to do before the morning arrives. Those small preparations can relieve a surprising amount of pressure.

Most importantly, give yourself time to adjust. Summer has a way of making us forget what an early school morning feels like, and there's nothing wrong with taking a little while to get back into the swing of things.

Trust us, it won’t be long until the alarms, backpacks and school schedules start to feel normal again. Until then, focus on what you can make easier, let the routine develop naturally and don't worry if the first few mornings aren't exactly smooth.

You're not trying to create the perfect routine. You're just finding your family's rhythm again.

Coming next week: Part 2 of our Back-To-School series

Once the routine is back in place, there's one thing that can make a busy school morning considerably easier, and that’s food.

From breakfast and packed lunches to easy snacks and a little meal prep, we'll look at some simple ways to make feeding the family during the school week feel less like another morning battle!

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