The back to work and school juggle

7 tips to manage the back to work and school juggle

The summer school holidays have ended and the new school year is here, many parents will be experiencing that dreaded “back to school” feeling.

A mixture of emotions and nerves surround the return to school. We have the blissful feeling of dropping them off at the school gates for the day - hello freedom! However, the return to school also comes with its own set of stressors: can you get everyone where they need to be on time, and how will you juggle your work commitments around their school hours and extra-curricular activities? The juggle is never easy and sometimes it can take a few weeks for everyone to adapt. Here are a few tried and tested tips to help you navigate the back to school blues.

1. Start the week right

Organisation is under rated, especially by the likes of the messy Libras of the world. However, having a plan can really set up each day and week for success. Having an idea of what the week ahead looks like will help alleviate anxiety as there are no unexpected surprises.

I love a weekly planner. This can be in whatever form works for you - a Google calendar, a timetable on the fridge, or an app on your phone. By adding in each family member’s activities and commitments for the week, everyone in the house knows what is happening and when. It can also help you work out a roster for who is responsible for the kids, before and after school arrangements.

Ease the morning chaos by organising a few things the night before school. This could include laying out the school uniforms and making sure the school bags are packed. If you have an airtight lunchbox, making their lunch and storing it in the fridge overnight will save you precious time in the morning.

3. Consider implementing a meal plan

I’m not saying that you have to have a set meal for each day of the week, but there are definitely a few perks of a weekly meal plan. Firstly, it makes the grocery shopping experience quicker and easier. It also helps save you money. You will be more likely to focus on the items on your grocery list and less likely to spend on junk food and takeaway. To save an hour or two of your time – think about ordering your groceries online for click and collect or home delivery. While everyone is adapting to the first few weeks of term, choose easy to prepare meals that are both nutritious and everyone in the family will eat. Avoid trying new recipes as this will be more time consuming. Cook up some batch meals that can be put in the freezer to reheat on busy week nights, such as bolognese, curry and lasagne.

4. Be realistic with your expectations

We all want the best for our kids, but we need to be realistic. Accept that your child can’t do every activity under the sun. Rather, let them choose one or two extra-curricular activities or classes they are passionate about and schedule them into your weekly planner.

5. Remember to look after you

If you can, try to “switch off” from work at a reasonable hour. Turn off your email alerts and focus on being present with your family. Give yourself some time for you at the end of a busy day. Self-care can as simple as having a glass of your favourite wine, having a hot shower or watching an entertaining TV show. Set things out in the same place each day so that your children can take responsibility for themselves. This includes leaving out their school uniform so they can dress themselves, having toothbrushes within reach and keeping breakfasts simple so that they can prepare it themselves.

Create a designated homework space in the home. Encourage your child to take responsibility for completing their homework in this space. If your child is younger and needs support, this could be a communal area such as the kitchen bench so they can ask you for help while you are preparing dinner.

7. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help

Sometimes you won’t be able to achieve everything yourself, and this is OK. Think about reliable people who you can enlist for help. For example, can a grandparent, friend or neighbour do a pick up or drop off one night a week? Can you alternate days with another parent at the school? Review your obligations for the week and make it clear to your manager or colleagues if you need to make any changes to your work schedule. Can you work remotely some days of the week to save on commute times? Flexible work spaces have become more possible with the current Covid-19 outbreak, so communicate with your boss to see if there are any alternative work arrangements that can be put in place. By Sarah James, owner of The Sensory Specialist - a registered NDIS Provider based in Melbourne. Sarah is a qualified psychology teacher and a mother of two boys. Sarah has spent over a decade teaching high school students in several of Melbourne’s best government schools. Through her experiences in Psychology, education and motherhood, Sarah has learnt lots of tips and tricks to help kids manage their school routines while maintaining a work life balance as a parent. Find out more at www.thesensoryspecialist.com.au