By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all the precious and pleasant riches. -Proverbs 24:3-4

Ah, August. All the fall things are starting to make their appearance even though we aren’t quite there yet, summer clearance sales are in full swing, and back-to-school prep has likely begun to flash through your mind! Whether you’re dreading the summer season coming to an end or happily anticipating your family’s new autumn routine, September will be here before we know it. Moms have an extra full plate this time of year as we prepare for the kids moving up a grade, new schools, new sports schedules, and all the fall activities that come cascading down on us like leaves from the trees in October!

If we aren’t careful, the pressure can add up and moms can quickly be left feeling discouraged, drained, and maybe even a little bitter as we try to keep everything running. It’s hard to pour out all the nurturing, love, and support our families need when we are depleted and knocked down by the day-to-day responsibilities.

So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. -Romans 14:19

This year, I’ve got one child in high school, one in junior high, one in elementary school, and one doing pre-k at home with me. It’s a lot to manage, but there are some things I’ve learned over the years that hands-down help our school days run much more smoothly. That doesn’t mean we don’t have bad days like everyone else, but it does mean that when I feel less scattered, our whole household does, too.

So, what are some of the ways we can lighten the load even when we can’t really lessen our responsibilities?

It starts with something we’re all familiar with, particularly at Christmastime. We talk about preparing Him room in December, and hopefully that’s something we’re all striving to do throughout the year, but what if we intentionally applied that as moms to the start of the school year, too? Think about what life is like for your family once September rolls around, what your schedule is like, your day-to-day routine, and when do you have a moment to yourself to connect with God?

I know it can feel daunting in this very busy, hands-on season of motherhood to schedule time for your Bible or even a short devotional, when from sunup to sundown you’re running from place to place, serving the meals, packing the lunches, finding the jackets and the missing shoes. The great news is, to prepare Him room, we don’t have to have a formal quiet time. Often, the times I talk to Jesus the most are in the middle of the busyness… while praise music plays in the car, while I’m doing the dishes, watering the garden, or folding the laundry. Maybe for you that’s the drive to work or while you’re nursing the baby at 3am.

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I love to wake up early and take in a daily devotional or to meditate on a certain verse when I go to bed at night, but it doesn’t always happen that way. So, as you think forward to this school year, start with finding a few practical, realistic ways that you’ll be able to connect with Jesus each day. He is there for us while we are there for everyone else. If you can, write down a few of your favorite verses and inspirational quotes so you can draw from them throughout your week and be encouraged!

My children have made it nearly impossible for me to sleep past 5:30am for the last fifteen years. I’m an early riser, too, but it’s different when everyone needs you before your eyes are even open. When my fourth son was around 18 months old, I couldn’t take the morning chaos anymore! Trying to get myself ready while his brothers kept an eye on him became unrealistic. Since my husband leaves for work so early, it was up to me to find a way for us to function better each morning.

There was too much fighting, too much discussion, and too much stress. Being in such a rush is not a fun way to start the day and I’m sure almost every mom out there can relate! Even though my youngest was still waking throughout the night and every minute of sleep was precious to me, I decided to start setting an alarm for 5am. It was the best chance I had to shower, pour a cup of coffee, and maybe even read the bible before everyone else woke up. Although it doesn’t always work out perfectly, it has been life changing! Having that moment to wrap my head around our day and to be ready when everyone comes pouring out of their rooms at the crack of dawn has become a huge improvement to my routine and I wish I had done it a long time ago. Even little changes can make a big difference in how we approach the day ahead!

Aside from prioritizing time with Jesus and getting a head start on our days this fall, here are some other helpful habits I’ve acquired over the years that truly help our days run more smoothly:

Survival Guide:

Meal Prep!

Hopefully that idea doesn’t fill you with panic, but if it does, I would say to start small. If you’re not used to meal planning, start with one or two REALISTIC recipes to plan throughout the week. Even if it’s grilled cheese and some fruit, knowing what dinner is going to be on a crazy weekday can relieve a lot of pressure for moms. Each Sunday, I make sure I have a general idea of at least 3-4 meals that will fit with our schedule that week. I get a grocery list going with all the ingredients I’ll need and make a menu list on the fridge to stay organized. My kids love checking it to see what’s for dinner!

Have your family on the same page when it comes to screen-time!

Deciding on what you want these boundaries to look like for your family before the rush of the school year will be a huge relief and can save you from lots of nagging and debating if you have school-aged children. Maybe think back to last year and what went well and what didn’t when it came to your family’s screen-time habits. For us, having no video games on weeknights helps things go more smoothly. We also leave all phones, remotes, controllers, and school laptops in the open or put them away in our room when they’re not being used. Your kids might not be a big fan of that one, especially teens, but having those boundaries is so important in a day and age when the world has so much access to them.

Pick out your clothes the night before.

A lot of moms have their kids do this but it’s just as helpful for moms! I might stay at home with my kids and mostly wear jeans and t-shirts, but having my clothes ready to go when I jump up to shower is a lot better than staring groggily into my closet trying to remember what the weather was supposed to be that day. It feels so refreshing to start the day ready-to-go as opposed to being stuck in my pajamas until everyone else is ready.

Eat breakfast!

I’ve met so many moms who say they don’t eat breakfast. I get it, you might not feel very hungry that early in the morning. Just like we know how important it is for our kids to have fuel for the day, we need it too! It doesn’t have to be a lot, but I guarantee that you will feel better if you have something in your stomach as you hit the ground running. Some Greek yogurt with granola and fruit or just some oatmeal to go with your coffee are great places to start!

Get to bed at a decent time!

I know, this one is tough. It might mean staying up after the kids go to bed to read or watch your favorite shows on weeknights isn’t a realistic option for the season you’re in. Think about how many hours of sleep you’re really getting each night and if there’s a way to make some changes this fall so you can feel healthier and happier. That’s not always an option, especially if you have older kids in weeknight sports, but even if you can get in bed earlier a few nights a week it will make a world of difference. Set a small goal and see how you feel!

When life gets busy this fall, as it inevitably will, just remember that God is our safe place to land. We lean on him just as our kids and families lean on us. Be that safe place to land for your kids as they come home exhausted from having taken in so much from their surroundings that day. They sat still, stayed quiet in class when they were supposed to, dealt with other kids sometimes not respecting boundaries, a difficult teacher, or a stressful assignment. We have long days as moms, yes. But, so do they! They need to be able to trust that we will be able to comfort them, encourage them, and welcome them home. Making small changes to our routines so we have more to give is a great place to start!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. –2 Corinthians 1:3-4