‘Tis the season for fresh number two pencils, back-to-school wardrobes, and all of the books you can carry. School is now in session! And for parents, this might mean extra stress, trying to manage homework, packed lunches, carpool coordination, and maybe even heading back to the office. But not to worry! We’ve curated the top 5 helpful self-care hacks for keeping stress low and maintaining a steady, calm norm. Self-care for back to school is a must.
Beating The Stress of Back to School With Better Self-Care
When significant schedule changes occur (like going back to school!), it’s easy to get overwhelmed. In fact, these feelings are normal! An adjustment period is common for any life shift, and don’t be surprised if it results in anxiety, sleep issues, and fatigue. To combat these symptoms, it’s important to stay on top of your self-care — after all, you don’t want to burn out right off the bat.
Of course, this type of strategy applies to those going back to the office, too! Getting out of our ultra-homebody routines can be jolting and stressful — not to mention the strain of extra-long commutes for some. We want to make sure we’re taking care of our bodies and soothing those anxious thoughts. It can make the transition so much easier! And thus, here’s how to prioritize self-care during back-to-school season.
5 Self-Care Hacks For Back to School
Self-care for back to school may not seem like a priority during this busy time, but actually, it’s especially important. The more you take care of yourself, the less stressful going back to school can be. Remember: you have to fill up your own cup, too.
Use these 5 back-to-school self-care hacks to get in your pampering!
1. Schedule Me-Time
Know the importance of purposeful fun, and schedule it in! When you keep yourself accountable by scheduling self-care, you’re all the more likely to follow through and do it. This is especially key during stressful times when we’re least likely to do self-care. Make your back-to-school self-care something you’ll look forward to, like setting aside time for your favorite hobby, getting a massage, or simply spending some time alone.
2. Set More Energy-Protective Boundaries
During periods of significant change, it’s normal to feel pulled in all different directions as we take on a larger energy load than usual. You probably have lots on your mind! This usually means getting tired more quickly, accidentally overgiving, or even feeling short-tempered due to burnout.
To prevent this, practice back-to-school self-care by staying aware of your boundaries. Where are you devoting too much energy? Maybe it’s scrolling the news too often or putting too many to-dos on your daily list. Respect your body’s need for rest. And put limits on energy-sucking areas, like your phone and email inbox.
3. Prep the Necessities
Self-care for back to school also revolves around time management and efficiency. Try to stay one step ahead of that endless to-do list by prepping everything you can. Maybe Sunday afternoons are spent meal prepping dinners for the week, packing/planning lunches, and doing a load of laundry. The more prepared you feel, the more you can relax.
4. Ask for Help When You Need
It’s common to feel like you’re alone in the overwhelm like it’s all on your shoulders and suddenly up to you to handle. But it can be really powerful to ask yourself: am I actually alone in this? Who could I reach out to for help? Maybe it’s asking a friend to help you carpool or asking your partner to help with some chores. Or, forgoing the laundry all together and using the extra time to relax! Sometimes back-to-school self-care is as simple as allowing others to show up for you. You deserve to be treated, too!
5. Set Realistic Expectations
While writing out your to-do list, only list the things you think you’ll actually be able to get to. Putting an unrealistic amount of responsibilities on our shoulders can cause a lot of unneeded stress. Instead, ask yourself: what can I get done this week while also giving myself self-care time, too? How can I do both?
Change Is Hard; Go Easy!
Self-care for back to school is all about making sure you stay available to yourself, no matter how busy you get. And it doesn’t have to be anything crazy! Just 5 minutes is all you need to find peace and calm in your day. So go easy on yourself! Do the best you can with what you have. And remember: nothing lasts forever. This busy season of life will end eventually. You got this!
