Simple Back-to-School Routines That Actually Work

Aug 11

In this blog post, I am sharing some of my favorite ways to settle into back-to-school rhythms, ease anxiety and stress (including our own), and find a few intentional moments through it all. Because over the years, I’ve been trying to get better at being present—instead of constantly checking boxes off a to-do list.

As much as I love the start of summer, knowing we’ll be taking things slower, no alarms going off in the morning, and that daily rush out the door finally paused for a few months, by the time August rolls around, I kind of feel like I am ready for the routine and structure that comes along with the school days!

Oftentimes, I find my kids are also getting antsy. They’re either overly excited to get back—or starting to feel more anxious about the new school year.

The transition back to school can stir up all kinds of emotions (and even stress) for different members of the family. And as moms, it’s usually our job to keep things organized and in check!

Begin Your Day with Gentle Grounding

Instead of waking up the second before you have to get kids up and ready to go, ask yourself: What’s a reasonable time I can get up before them to give myself a few moments to settle into the day?

My favorite things are so basic, but they truly set me up to feel more grounded and productive.

Here’s my real-life routine on those early school mornings:

We have to be out the door by 7:00 a.m.… which, in my opinion, is way too early. But it is what it is. I also do not want to be waking up at 4:30 a.m. to work out, do a full self-care routine, shower, and prep everything before the kids get up around 6. Anyone relate?! I just can’t do those routines that require being up hours before your family. If it works for you—amazing. But for the rest of us, trying to carve out some “me time” without sacrificing precious (and probably already poor quality) sleep...

Here's what works for me, obviously adjust accordingly to your needs (but sometimes I find seeing what someone else is doing, gives me some ideas and inspo for my own routines…)

I wake up about 30 minutes before the kids (adjust this to your own schedule) and keep it simple:

✧ Brush my teeth

✧ Quick water rinse on my face—full skincare happens later

✧ Hydrate with 8-16oz of water

✧ Pop in my earbuds and listen to either a visualization meditation, prayer music, or a playlist to wake my brain up

I don’t do the exact same thing every day. Some mornings I crave quiet time with God. Other days I want a deep visualization to keep me focused, or I just want fun 80s music to lift my mood. Keep the rhythm the same, but let the content shift based on what you need.

Next, I’ll turn on the diffuser with a favorite oil blend, and then start on breakfast and any last-minute lunchbox prep (like fresh snacks). By the time the kids wake up, breakfast is ready and they get to settle in with a show while I finish tidying the kitchen or gathering things for the day.

Starting the day in a grounded, semi-organized, and more nourished way, even if it is just one small thing I did just for me—makes a huge difference.

(Okay, it doesn’t fix the chaos of getting kids dressed and out the door... but it helps!)

Download the guide below to help you create your own intentional morning and evening routines!

Create Daily Rhythms (Not Rigid Schedules)

Kids truly do better when they know what’s coming. You don’t need to plan everything out perfectly, but when you have a rhythm to your day, like you set up for yourself above, it all goes a bit smoother.

✧ Choose a consistent wake-up time that works for them

✧ Keep the breakfast and “get ready” routine predictable

✧ Create a simple after-school rhythm (ours is usually snack → play → homework → dinner)

✧ Build in wind-down rituals that signal bedtime is coming

This isn’t about micromanaging the day—I've tried that route, it does NOT work! This is about giving everyone, including you, a loose structure to flow with.

Prep the Night Before to Avoid Morning Chaos

What can you do the night before to make the morning feel easier?

Personally, I don’t love prepping full lunches ahead of time because I prefer things fresh. But here’s what I do prep:

✧Snacks picked out

✧ Backpacks are ready to go with homework, books, etc.

✧ Water bottles on the counter ready to be filled

✧ Lunch boxes cleaned and laid out

✧ Breakfast prepped where possible. Sometimes I like to bake some muffins or do another batch of hard-boiled eggs after dinner, so things are just ready to go in the morning!

These small tasks help mornings run a *little* smoother and give me peace of mind knowing I’m sending them off with something nourishing for breakfast without rushing with whatever they can grab before running out the door.

Note for moms with older kids: If your kids are old enough, have them pick out their clothes the night before—one less thing to argue about when you're racing the clock.

Simple but Intentional Moments in the Chaos

It’s so easy to fall into the “checklist” mentality and rush everyone through the motions. But when I do that, I feel like I’m missing out on my kids. Constantly barking orders and rushing tasks frays everyone’s nerves—especially mine.

Now I try to make space for some intentional connection throughout the day.

A few ways we find those moments:

✧ In the car: I play calming instrumental music to ease the mood. Sometimes we chat, sometimes we just share a quick hug and goodbye, but I always try to make that drop-off feel calm and loving.

✧ After school: I’ve learned not to ask a million questions the second they walk in. We decompress first—snacks, quiet time—and when they’re ready to talk, I’m ready to listen.

✧ At dinner: We share something about the day. Even something simple like “What made you smile today?”

✧ Evening wind-down: Bedtime is always a little chaotic, but having set activities helps. We often do puzzles or seasonal crafts (our big “fort” coloring houses are a favorite). Add a cozy playlist or a low-key show, and it turns into bonding time before we shift into pajamas, a final snack, and bedtime stories.

I truly hope these tips gave you a few helpful ideas on how to create more flow in your back-to-school routines—without adding more stress to your already full days.

If you're craving even more inspiration on how to build peaceful rhythms at home, I’d love to invite you to join my FREE email course, Heart + Home.

It’s all about how our energy as mothers sets the tone for our home environment. Inside the course, you’ll find gentle, real-life tools to help you:

🌿 Clear physical and energetic clutter
🏡 Create meaningful routines that feel good (not overwhelming)
🌙 Embrace seasonal living in a way that feels doable

✨ Read more here, or simply drop your email below to get instant access. I hope to see you there! ♡