Back to School, Routines in Windsor

While some things are changing drastically in Windsor's public school district, it's important some things are kept the same.

Which is to say, parents, establishing routines in your household won't just have the ability to mitigate the madness that consumes weekday mornings, they can also increase efficiency and decrease stress year 'round.

Here are a few tips for establishing and improving your family's routine this school year, followed by links to comprehensive lists for routine-improvement.

Find Your 3 MITS

You've got more than enough on your plate each day, and some tasks will require more energy than others. That's where your "MITS" come in, says Simple Mom — your "Most Important Tasks." Choose three and get them done to give your the feeling of having had a productive day.

Touch Base with Your Spouse

Sitting down and talking with your spouse about the upcoming week will help you plan ahead and make any necessary adjustments to your family's schedule, which, Simple Mom says, should be set-in-stone, but soft as clay.

Write Things Down

"Have a brain dump at least once during the day," says Simple Mom. Doing so will help you organize your ideas.

Don't Try to Keep Up with the Joneses

Attempts to replicate an idea of what a perfect family routine is or the routines you see other families execute will only make yours doomed to fail, says Simple Kids. Figure out what works for your own household.

Lower Your Expectations

My brow furrowed with consternation after having read this one on Simple Kids' list, but it makes sense. "Evaluate what is essential and eliminate what you don't need," Simple Kids writes, adding that you don't have to and they don't encourage you to "do it all.

Stagger Wake-Up Times

Getting kids up who need assistance or those who take awhile to rise first can increase efficiency, says About.com's Child Care.

Get Up Earlier Than Everyone Else

This isn't just so you can assume the roll of drill sergeant as your direct your loved ones off to school and work, it's also important, according to The Maven Circle, so you'll have time for "a few thoughts of your own." Life Hacker also touts this habit as paramount to life efficiency, saying the morning is best saved for thinking.


Take a look at these sites for more tips for routine creation and improvement:

Simple Mom's "20 Tips for Finding Your Routine with Kids": http://simplemom.net/20-tips-for-finding-your-routine-with-kids-2/

Simple Kids' "5 Tips for Creating Family Routines and Establishing Rhythm in Your Home: http://simplekids.net/establishing-routines/

The Maven Circle's "9 Tips for Creating Your Own AM Routine": http://www.themavencircle.com/9-tips-for-creating-your-own-morning-routine/

Life Hackers' "Top 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Morning Routine": http://lifehacker.com/5537478/top-10-ways-to-upgrade-your-morning-routine