How’s back to school going for you? I love learning and I love office supplies. As a kid this was a nervous but exciting time for me.
My kids are still young (preschool and 1st grade this year) and new to the back-to-school routine. Somehow, as the parent, I thought back-to-school was only hard for the kids. We enjoyed our summer and prepped for the return of school. And I felt the sadness of the end of another summer and the relief leading up to a few hours in the week solo to create art and have a break from the relentlessness of staying home with little ones.
Back to School
The kids are doing GREAT. It’s me that’s struggling to get it together this year…
Still, I find myself farther behind each week. The schedules are different and the kid needs have shifted. And in the bliss of summer I planned to "DO ALL THE THINGS” in the fall and to do them all well. I’m finding that not only can I NOT do everything, I also can’t do them well.
So this week I’m taking a step back. I’m attempting to clear up my calendar and figure out wat NEEDS to happen right now. Here’s what I’ve figured out so far…
I need to plan out all my class lessons. Yes I planned them with an outline and materials list, but I needed to write out the full plan for the rest of the term. I struggle with decision fatigue and it robs the joy of teaching from me. Over the past few days, I’ve spent time with my notebooks and my computer hammering out the details of all the classes and I do feel better. Now to gather supplies and I will be ready to go each week! Want to join a class? CLICK HERE
I need to have a meal plan. Food has always been a big trigger for me and over the past few weeks a stress eating treat here and there became all the carbs all the time. I feel better when I eat a better balance. I’m including more water and more produce in my diet and I’ll be working towards the goal of prepping meals ahead of time to put in the fridge and freezer. This week I made burritos and it has been such a gift to have a quick protein filled snack ready to go.
I need to prioritize my prayer time. My anxiety was inching higher and higher and my sleep quality was falling apart. God can handle my fear, stress, and fatigue. He is more than able to support me. By prioritizing my prayer time, I keep connected to Him and am regularly reminded of my strength IN HIM. I keep a prayer journal—its good for me to review the ways God has shaped me in the past and I find I focus better this way.
I need to let go of the things I cannot do in this phase of life. This is NOT a cop out. This is me choosing to leave time and space for my top priorities so everything does not come unraveled. I’m choosing to walk for my exercise rather than train for an event or join a gym. I’m choosing to supplement my family’s food with frozen meals and prepackaged items rather than cooking it all from scratch. I’m choosing to wear the clothes I have rather than creating a new capsule wardrobe and attempting to “up my style” (although this one is painful!).
Maybe these things are you TOP priorities and you are horrified for me to give them up. That’s ok! We all have different priorities. Take a look at what you have on your plate and decided for yourself if you need to add or remove something. Each season looks a little different for me and I suspect for you as well. Let this be a shifting and changing list that takes YOU into account.