A Simple Mom's Guide to Getting Back on Track
The first few days back to school always seem to sneak up on us, don't you think?
After a summer of slower mornings, later bedtimes, spontaneous days, and not having to know exactly where everyone needs to be at 7:30 in the morning, suddenly we're packing lunches, looking for shoes, checking backpacks, signing papers, and trying to remember what day it is.
And by the time Sunday rolls around, I don't know about you, but I usually feel like I need a reset just as much as the kids do.
The good news is that a Sunday reset doesn't have to mean spending your entire Sunday cleaning the house and preparing for the week.
For me, it's about doing a few simple things that make Monday morning feel a little less chaotic.
So go ahead and grab your favorite drink, put on some cozy music, and let's reset together!
Start With a Slow Sunday Morning
Before jumping into your to-do list, give yourself a few minutes.
Make your coffee or tea.
Open the curtains.
Take a deep breath.
Let the house be quiet for a minute.
I think it's so easy as moms to wake up already thinking about everything that needs to get done. But sometimes we need to remind ourselves that Sunday is still part of the weekend.
You don't have to rush into Monday before Sunday is even over.
Empty Those Backpacks
After the first few days of school, backpacks can somehow become tiny black holes, right? HA HA
Take everything out and go through it together.
Look for:
- Papers that need to be signed
- Homework
- Lunch containers
- Water bottles
- Library books
- Notes from the teacher
- Artwork
- Random treasures that somehow made their way home
Throw away the trash and put everything that needs attention in one place.
This little step can make Monday morning so much easier.
Look at the Week Ahead
Before Monday arrives, take a few minutes to look at your calendar.
Check:
- School events
- Sports practices
- Appointments
- Birthdays
- Early dismissal days
- After-school activities
- Work schedules
- Anything you need to bring to school
I love doing this because it gets all those little thoughts out of my head.
Instead of thinking, "I know I'm forgetting something," I can actually see what's coming.
Pick Out Clothes for Monday
One of the easiest ways to make mornings smoother is to take one decision off your plate.
Pick out everyone's clothes the night before.
And if your kids are old enough, let them help.
Have them choose their outfit, shoes, socks, and anything else they'll need.
It might seem like a tiny thing, but when you're already trying to get everyone out the door, not having to search for a missing shirt, or deciding you don't like that outfit for that day, is a win.
Make the Week's Lunches Easier
You don't have to prepare five complete lunches on Sunday.
Instead, prepare a few things that make the week easier.
Wash fruit. Cut up vegetables. Portion snacks. Make a few grab-and-go options. Fill water bottles if that works for your family. And don't feel bad about keeping things simple. Lunch doesn't have to be Pinterest-perfect to be good.
Sometimes a sandwich, fruit, snack, and something they love is exactly what they need.
Catch Up on the Laundry
You know that feeling when Monday morning arrives and someone suddenly announces:
"Mom, I don't have any clean socks!"
Yep. Been there.
A Sunday laundry reset can help prevent that little Monday-morning emergency.
You don't have to wash every single thing in the house.
Focus on the essentials:
- School clothes
- Socks
- Underwear
- Towels
- Sports clothes
- Bedding if needed
And if your kids are old enough, let them help fold or put away their own clothes.
It doesn't have to be perfect. It helps them learn responsibility.
We're building routines, not trying to win a laundry competition.
Do a 15-Minute House Reset
This is one of my favorite parts.
Set a timer for 15 minutes and focus only on the areas that will make the biggest difference Monday morning.
Maybe that's:
Kitchen to Livingroom to Entryway
Put things back where they belong.
Clear the kitchen counters.
Load the dishwasher.
Pick up shoes.
Put backpacks where they belong.
Straighten the couch.
That's it.
You don't need to deep-clean your entire house.
A reset is not a deep clean.
It's simply giving yourself a fresh starting point.
Pan a Few Easy Meals
School nights can get busy quickly.
Between homework, activities, dinner, baths, and bedtime, sometimes the last thing you want to think about is:
"What's for dinner?"
Choose a few easy meals before the week begins.
Maybe:
Monday: Tacos
Tuesday: Chicken and rice
Wednesday: Spaghetti
Thursday: Sandwiches or leftovers
Friday: Pizza night
It doesn't have to be fancy.
I honestly think having a few easy dinners on the calendar can take away so much mental stress.
Check the Kitchen Before Grocery Shopping
Before heading to the store, take a quick look through your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry.
What do you already have?
What do you need for lunches?
What snacks are running low?
Making your grocery list based on what you actually need can help keep you from buying a bunch of things that end up sitting in the pantry.
And let's be honest....
Back-to-School grocery shopping can get expensive.
A little planning can go a long way.
Give Yourself a Little Reset, Too
This might be the most important part.
Mom needs a reset too.
Take a shower.
Wash your hair.
Do your skincare.
Put on your favorite pajamas.
Read a few pages of a book.
Get cozy and color.
Light a candle.
Make some tea.
Sit outside for a few minutes.
Whatever makes you feel like you again.
It doesn't have to take an hour.
Even 10 quiet minutes can make a difference.
Put the Phones Away for a Little
Sunday evening can be a great time to slow everything down.
Turn off unnecessary notifications.
Put the phones away during dinner.
Let the kids play.
Talk about their first week back.
Ask them what they liked.
Ask what was hard.
Ask what they're looking forward to next week.
Sometimes the best reset isn't another thing on our checklist.
It's simply being together.
Start the Bedtime Routine a Little Earlier
After summer, getting back into a school bedtime can be an adjustment.
Try moving bedtime earlier gradually rather than expecting everyone to suddenly fall asleep at 8:00 after weeks of staying up late.
Start winding down.
Dim the lights.
Take baths.
Put pajamas on.
Read a story.
Put the backpacks by the door.
And remind the kids that tomorrow is a new day.
Don't Try to Have a Perfect Sunday
This is something I have to remind myself of too.
Your house might not be spotless.
The laundry might not all be folded.
You might order pizza.
Your kids might argue.
Someone might forget something.
And that's okay.
The purpose of a Sunday reset isn't to create a perfect home.
It's to create a little more peace going into a busy week.
My Simple Sunday Reset Checklist
If you don't want to do everything, start here:
- Check the family calendar
- Empty backpacks
- Sign school papers
- Plan 4-5 easy dinners
- Grocery shop
- Wash school clothes
- Prep a few lunch/snack items
- Do a 15-minute house reset
- Set out Monday outfits
- Put backpacks by the door
- Check everyone's bedtime
- Take 10 minutes for yourself
That's enough.
You don't have to completely reorganize your life every Sunday.
A Fresh Start for a New School Week
The first few weeks of school can feel like a lot.
We're getting everyone back into routines while also trying to keep up with everything else that comes with being a mom.
So this Sunday, instead of looking at everything that needs to be done, choose a few little things that will make Monday-you grateful.
Pack the backpacks.
Start the laundry.
Plan dinner.
Clear the kitchen.
Take a shower.
Make your coffee.
Take a deep breath.
And remember that you don't have to have it all figured out. You're just getting back into the rhythm.
One Sunday.
One reset.
One week at a time.
Here's to a new school year, slower Sundays, easier mornings, and finding the little joys in the middle of all the busy.
~Jaye
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