Your kids are back in school and life has returned to a sense of normalcy after a long and busy summer. And while getting back into a routine is often a welcome change, your routine also ushers in all the old familiar stressors of the busy school year. The best way to ready your family for the big year ahead of you is to set out with intention.

Here are a few parenting tips that help to create a stress-free family environment:

Set A Routine
You’re diligent about routine for your children, but do you implement a routine for yourself? The more routinized your life is the easier it is to plan ahead so that you regularly get the right amount of sleep, have healthy meals available to you, and have enough time to get regular exercise. Plus, when your life is humming along like a well-oiled machine, you’re happier, healthier, more relaxed and able to enjoy more time with your kids.

Make Space For Daily Habits
Not only do we need to make time for healthy habits, but often we need to create physical spaces for these habits. For example, if you want to make a habit of taking vitamins every morning, you might need to clear the cabinet in your kitchen right next to the coffee maker to make your vitamin habit impossible to miss. Or if you want your children to sit down and complete their homework after school before dinner starts, consider creating a quiet workspace where they can go, habitually, the moment they walk in the door. Preparing your space for your new habits is just as important as preparing your mind.

Take A Day To Rest
Sabbath is a word used commonly across many religions including Christianity and Judaism, and while some people choose to be very literal in their interpretation of the day, others still take it as an opportunity to rest their weary minds, bodies, and hearts in preparation for the week to come. For many people, Sunday feels like a natural day to rest and reflect and prepare, but the importance is less about the day of the week and more about the state of your mind and heart. And you aren’t the only one who needs a moment to relax, your children will benefit from taking the time to get their minds calm and ready for the week to come.

Getting back into the swing of things doesn’t have to be stressful. Take the time to set up systems that prepare yourself and your children for what the days and weeks to come. If these parenting tips are helpful, take a look further into our blog for more tips and tricks, and if you’re looking for the right school for your family, give us a call today!