Creating a New Routine: A Three-Week Strategy for Back to School Time
Back-to-school time can be incredibly chaotic with back-to-school nights, supply lists, bus schedules, sports sign-ups, and maybe even IEP meetings.
But while this moment might feel overwhelming, it also presents a unique opportunity to shake up your routine and introduce new habits that could make your life smoother in the long run.
Normally, when we think about habit change, we focus on one thing at a time to ensure it sticks. But what if, instead of easing into new habits one by one, you embraced the chaos and tried out several at once? After all, your schedule is shifting anyway—why not see if you can build the routine you’ve always wanted?
Do you want to become someone who works out at 5 AM? Try it out now.
Do you want to start meal prepping after dinner? Give it a go.
Do you want a better wind-down routine to get to sleep sooner? This is your chance.
Want to start walking and listening to an audiobook during the day? Start today.
Week 1: The Discovery Phase
The first week is all about discovery. Think of it as a week of trial and error where you put your ideas to the test. This is the time to try out everything you’ve been thinking about—those habits you’ve always wanted to incorporate into your routine but haven’t had the chance to.
During this week, you might find that some things work better in theory than in practice. That’s okay! The goal here isn’t perfection; it’s to figure out what could fit into your life. Experiment freely, knowing that nothing is set in stone.
Let’s use the above suggestions as an example.
- 5 am workout: requiring clothes laid out the night before near the sink, waking at 4:45 am, work out must be under 60 minutes & shower afterward
- Meal prepping for the next day after dinner: when cleaning up for dinner, all containers used for breakfast & lunch must already be cleaned. Both meals are set up for the next day and placed in the refrigerator.
- Wind-down routine to get to sleep sooner starts with an alarm at 7:30 to have everyone turn off their electronics. Each person begins their nightly routine of showers and other hygiene. Everybody is in bed and reading by 8:30. Lights out by 9:30.
- Start walking and listening to an audiobook during the day: lunch break is 45 minutes long and a 20 minute walk is very feasible because the lunch is being brought in.
Review:
Week 2: The Implementation Phase
In the second week, take what you’ve learned from your week of discovery and start implementing the habits that felt natural or beneficial. This is your time to start building consistency.
Realizations from the first week
- A 5 am workout will require clothes laid out the night before near the sink, waking at 4:45 am, work out must be under 60 minutes & shower afterward. This has been very feasible as long as you don’t hit the snooze button. It is a very tight schedule, but it has been working. Continue through week two.
Meal prepping for the next day after dinner: when cleaning up for dinner, all containers used for breakfast & lunch must already be cleaned. Both meals are set up for the next day and placed in the refrigerator.This has been challenging. It feels like one more task at the end of the day. This week you will try meal prepping for 3 days at a time on Sunday and Wednesday instead.- Wind-down routine to get to sleep sooner starts with an alarm at
7:30 to have everyone turn off their electronics. Each person begins their nightly routine of showers and other hygiene. Everybody is in bed and reading by 8:30. Lights out by 9:30. The electronic off alarm needs to be pushed back to 8 PM to avoid arguments with children over favorite family television show that is an hour long. - Start walking and listening to an audiobook during the day: lunch break is 45 minutes long and a 20 minute walk is very feasible because the lunch is being brought in. Working well. Continue through week two.
Not everything you tried in Week 1 will make the cut. That’s part of the process. Remove the habits that didn’t serve you, and focus on refining those that did. Maybe you loved the idea of meal prepping after dinner but found it too time-consuming—could you adjust it to prepping just snacks or breakfast? This is your chance to start shaping your new routine.
Review: Lessen the Load
Week 3: The Refinement Phase
By the third week, you should have a clearer picture of what your new routine might look like. This is the time to fine-tune and make any final adjustments. Maybe you need to switch the timing of your habits or combine two into one streamlined routine.
Realizations from the second week
- A 5 am workout will require clothes laid out the night before near the sink, waking at 4:45 am, work out must be under 60 minutes & shower afterward. Has been much easier to get up and get this done without hitting the snooze button!
- Meal prepping for 3 days at a time on Sunday and Wednesday has worked much better. Three days is a short enough time to still be able to have the same food and not get tired of it.
- Wind-down routine to get to sleep sooner starts with an alarm at 8:00 to have everyone turn off their electronics. Each person begins their nightly routine of showers and other hygiene. Everybody is in bed and reading by 9:00. Lights out by 9:30.
- Start walking and listening to an audiobook during the day on your lunch break. Only issue has been when the weather has challenging. When there’s bad weather, you will need to walk at home for 20 minutes before starting your home routine.
The goal in this final phase is to settle into a rhythm that feels sustainable. You’re creating a new normal for yourself, one that fits your life as it is right now.
Review: Control what you can control.
Embrace the Process
As you work through this three-week adjustment period, remember to be patient and kind to yourself. It’s normal to stumble, forget, or mess up along the way. That’s where growth happens. Each mistake is a chance to learn what works for you and what doesn’t.
Sticking it out, removing or replacing habits as needed, is all part of the journey. Stay curious about what serves you best, and don’t be afraid to make changes as you go. The most important thing is that you’re trying—time will pass either way, so make it count.
Review: Fail Forward: Dealing with Setbacks
Takeaway
This back-to-school season, as your schedule shifts and changes, embrace the opportunity to create a routine that truly serves you. Test out new habits, refine them, and settle into a rhythm that makes your days smoother and more fulfilling. And remember, it’s not about getting everything perfect on the first try—it’s about finding what works best for you.
Be kind to yourself and stay curious!
