There’s something about this time of year: fall. Even if you’re no longer in a classroom or sending kids off to the first day of school, you can probably feel it: the shift that comes with going back to school.
Maybe it’s the shelves full of notebooks and pencils. Maybe it’s seeing school buses on your morning commute to work. Or maybe it’s just your body’s way of remembering the years of programming from when you were a child. Life feels different as fall routines start to take shape.
Like one Coach of working mothersI’ve noticed that this season brings up a similar theme for almost every client I work with: an opportunity to reset. Back to school isn’t just for kids; it can be a new start for you too.
The transition season for working mothers
In my own house, back-to-school season always comes with a bit of chaos. Camps end before school starts, schedules overlap and I find myself rearranging my work hours to fit it all in. As a working mom, that means juggling Teams calls with snacks and squeezing in emails, all while making sure we have clothes that still fit.
If you have school-aged children, you know that the first few weeks after school starts are all about supporting them: keeping schedules, making easy meals, and giving everyone time to adjust. It’s a transition for the whole family.
But once you find your groove, an opportunity awaits you to harness the energy of a new start.
Why Back-to-School feels like a reset
The point is, you don’t have to go to school (or even have school-aged children) to feel this reset. Every August I still feel that same ‘new notebook’ energy.
Think back to the beginning of the school year as a child:
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Fresh notebooks and supplies
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A clean backpack or locker
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No homework piled up (yet).
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Optimism for what lies ahead
It’s like a clean slate. Why wait until January 1st to decide what to write?
Four more months – plenty of time
One of the reasons I like to lean into this back-to-school mentality is that there are still four whole months before the new year. That is enough time to:
You don’t have to wait until the new year to assess your progress or start something new. You can start now. And you can be even further along as you enter the new year.
How I’m using this season as a working mom
Here are a few ways I’m personally using this season to reset and rethink my own routines as a mom and professional:
Resetting my evenings and mornings
Summer always goes to bed later – for the kids And for me. This fall I’m going to bed earlier so I can wake up feel energized and stick with the new strength training program I recently started. (Another thing I’m not waiting for on January 1st!)
Planning a trip
Instead of putting it off until next year, I want to see if I can make a quick trip before the holidays. Four months is more time than we think.
Shaking dinner
I’m tired of having the same rotation of meals. With our evenings full of extracurricular activities, I experiment with new crockpot and make-ahead recipes to simplify family dinners and still be delicious.
One-on-one time with my kids
This was on my list in January, but I haven’t paid much attention to it so far this year. This fall, I’m intentionally making room for it, even as activities increase. I want to see what progress I can make this year.
Your fresh notebook
When I think of this season, I picture a brand new notebook: blank pages waiting to be filled. So here’s my question to you:
👉If you were to consider this back-to-school season as your fresh start, what would you like to create before the year ends?
Would you develop new fall routines? Starting a new hobby? Revisiting a forgotten goal?
Like one Coach of working mothersI believe you don’t need a new year to start over. You just have to decide that this is the perfect time – and then be willing to take small, deliberate steps.
✨ What’s on your ‘fresh notebook’ list for the rest of the year?
I’d like to hear it. Send me a message [email protected] or connect with me on Instagram @lovemothernurture.