Back to School Simplified: How to Create Key Routines

Imagine this: It’s 7:00 AM on a Monday, and the chaos has already begun. You slept through your alarm clock, and now you’re scrambling to get breakfast on the table while your kids are frantically searching for lost shoes and homework. The water bottles are nowhere to be found, and you’re trying to remember if you signed those permission slips. The stress is palpable, and you wonder how the day may have just started.

Sound familiar? So, what do we do?

Tweak Your Life with Daily Routines

Routines are more than just a series of tasks we go through each day—they’re one of the best ways to automate the essential things, making them a natural part of your day. When we think about routines, start with what truly matters and prioritize those things first. Then, ask yourself how you can go in the correct order so each step flows logically. Finally, repeat these steps consistently until they become automatic, freeing up your mental energy for other things. Routines take the plans we discussed last week one step further and automate what we want to be sure to do!

Here are a few tips to help you build effective routines:

1. Visual Reminders: Use visual aids, like a checklist or a family calendar, to keep everyone on track. I used to do this in the classroom when introducing a new routine to my kids. Pictures work great with young children; a simple phrase-type checklist works once they can read. Please don’t skip this even for yourself; it can help you practice your way to automation.
2. Keep It Simple: Focus on the essentials and avoid overcomplicating your routines. Doing a few things well is better than overwhelming yourself with too many tasks. Avoid adding things other people do because you think you should. Do what matters to you; it will help you get from where you are to where you want to go.
3. Be Flexible: While consistency is important, it’s also okay to be flexible. Know the difference between what’s necessary and what’s nice to do so you can adapt as needed. For me, brushing my teeth is necessary; a shower is nice, but I can skip it if I am short on time. People assume routines are restrictive, but a good routine flows with you and flexes based on the day while maintaining what matters most gets done.

Setting up Key Routines for This Time of Year

Key Routine #1 – Night Time Routine

The evening routine is often the most underrated and overlooked, but it’s actually the cornerstone of a smooth school morning routine. If you want to streamline your back-to-school experience, this is the first routine to look at.

Our day starts the night before, making a consistent bedtime routine crucial for setting everyone up for success. Here’s a few key pieces to assess your current routine and tweak what you are doing to make the most of this routine:

• Set a Bedtime Schedule: Aim for a consistent bedtime for everyone in the whole family. This helps regulate hours of sleep and ensures a good night’s sleep. Monitor how much sleep your kids need and plan a bedtime that allows them to get that amount. Our youngest needs about 11 hours of sleep so we put him to bed between 8 pm so he can get up and feel rested by 7 am the next morning. At the beginning of the year, it’s a long day for kids so they might even need a little extra sleep or fall asleep after school.
• Prepare for the Next Day: Lay out clothes,pack lunches, check for any homework assignments that need to be completed, and add to and review your to-do list. Doing these things always helps me rest assured that it will all get done, and my mind can take a breath. This reduces morning stress and last-minute scrambles.
• Prepare a family Calendar: Keep a visible calendar in a common area to track school schedules, appointments, and activities. We use this one! If you have a lot going on, you can even have a little family meeting to run through the game plan for the next day. This helps everyone stay informed and on the same page at the end of the day and is a hug to your morning self.
• Wind Down: Create a calming pre-bedtime routine. This might include reading a book, having a quiet conversation (need help with what to ask your kids, grab our table talk cards, perfect for bedtime too), or practicing relaxation techniques. A peaceful wind-down helps everyone get enough sleep and wake up more refreshed.
• Tidy Up: A quick evening cleanup can make a big difference. Spend a few minutes tidying up common areas, so you start the day with a clean slate.

Read more about what we serve for breakfast and pack in lunches in this post.

Key Routine #2 – Morning Routine

Energizing the Start of the Day A well-organized morning routine sets a positive tone for the entire day. Here’s how to streamline your mornings:

• Wake Up Early: Give yourself enough time in the morning. Waking up before the kids can give you a head start and reduce the stress of getting everyone ready. I didn’t do this when I had babies and wasn’t sleeping through the night, but a moment of quiet with my coffee is a great way to greet the world in the morning slowly. Be sure you subtract the hours of sleep you would like to get from the time you wake up so you ensure you go to bed and get enough sleep (pending no middle-of-the-night wake-ups).
• Simplify Breakfast: Have a go-to breakfast plan that’s both nutritious and quick. Consider prepping breakfast items on your weekly meal plan. You can check out this post about how I feed my family during the back-to-school season, but keep the options limited to reduce decision fatigue. We pick 3-4 breakfast options each week for the kids to choose from.
• Establish a Morning Checklist: Create a checklist for the kids to follow, including brushing their teeth, getting dressed, and packing their lunch bag. This promotes independence and ensures nothing is forgotten. This is where a visual aid may come in handy, even if kids can’t read having a little picture clue for what they need to do can help as the routine becomes more automatic. For example, you could have a picture of clothes (for getting dressed), an egg (for breakfast), a lunch box (so they can grab their lunch), a water bottle (so they can fill their water bottle and shoes (to put on their shoes). You can post it where they can easily see it, and this helps promote independence and, once learned, can reduce your morning nagging and mental load. Hallelujah!

Key Routine #3 – After-School Routine

Easing into the Evening A smooth transition from school to home helps keep everyone calm and organized. Here’s how to simplify the after-school routine:

• Establish an After-School Checklist: Much like the morning one, ask yourself what are 3-5 things your kids need to do when they get home. For us, that’s things like emptying their backpacks on the counter, putting their shoes and backpacks away, washing their hands, and grabbing a snack at the counter so we can go through the papers and do homework.
• Create a Snack Station: Set up a designated area for after-school snacks. This will help the kids grab something healthy and keep the kitchen from getting cluttered.
• Establish Homework Time and Spot: Designate a specific time and place for homework. Create a quiet, distraction-free environment to help the kids focus and complete their assignments efficiently. We like to do it at the kitchen counter, so I have a kitchen drawer where I house some basic school supplies we can grab if needed, such as pencils, pads of paper, a calculator, a ruler, tape, scissors, and a glue stick. 
• Incorporate Relaxation Time: After a busy day, it’s essential to unwind. My introverted kids especially often want a little alone time. Encourage activities like reading, playing outside, or engaging in a hobby. This helps everyone transition from the hustle and bustle of the day to a more relaxed evening. We also incorporate some sort of screen time. Do what works best for your family.
• After-school activities: Remember to plan your weekly plan for after-school activities and plan accordingly. Do you need to pick kids up from school or pack a snack? A quick morning conversation can help kids mentally prepare for what’s ahead. Don’t forget to set an alarm on your phone during the first few weeks to help you remember when and where you need to be!
• Prepare for the Next Day: Involve the kids in preparing for the next day by checking school bags, packing lunchboxes, and laying out clothes. This will help everyone get into the habit of preparing in advance.

Streamline Key Activities into Routines

In a recent blog post, I touched on the importance of planning things like your week and meals, you can check that out here. But I want to take it further and discuss how turning those plans into routines can simplify your life. When something becomes routine, it’s no longer something you must think about—it’s just part of what you do. This shift from planning to routine can significantly reduce the mental load, ensuring that what needs to get done is done, almost on autopilot.

For example, a weekly game plan written out along with a meal plan are invaluable tools for streamlining your daily life. By picking a specific day of the week to create your plan, you establish a rhythm that becomes second nature. I chose to do this on Friday to either grocery shop over the weekend or on Monday. We also have a Sunday night tidy-up in our home to prepare the house for the new week. This routine ensures we start Monday with a clean slate, literally and figuratively.

This concept extends beyond just household chores. I have set up weekly routines in my business to manage my workload effectively. For instance, Mondays are reserved for writing blog posts like this one. By dedicating specific days to specific tasks, I remove the guesswork and ensure these important activities don’t fall through the cracks.

When you establish routines for essential tasks—meal planning, tidying up, or working on your business—you create a structure that helps you stay on track. These routines free up mental space, reduce stress, and ensure that what truly matters gets done, week after week.

What key activities do you need to do weekly or daily? How can you turn them into a routine and just put them on the calendar to ensure they get done?

Embrace Routine for a Smoother School Year

Implementing these key routines can significantly affect how smoothly the new school year goes. By establishing consistent bedtime and morning routines, making things like meal planning and weekly planning a routine, you can reduce stress and make room for what matters.

Remember, routines are about creating structure and predictability, which helps everyone feel more in control and less overwhelmed. This is especially helpful at the start of a new season, as it can bring lots of nervous butterflies for everyone! Here’s to a great new school year. Be sure to check out the rest of the articles in this back-to-school simplified series so you can head back to school stress-free!

Listen to the podcast:

Check out the rest of the Back to School Simplified Series Here:

What to Feed Your Family For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Back-to-School Time Management Tips

How to Declutter Your Kids Room as they Head Back to School