Do you hear that? It’s the sound of moms around the globe shouting praises that school is back in session. Not that we don’t adore those cuties and the whirlwinds they bring, we’re just ready for structure. And regaining structure after a free-for-all summer can be tough for everybody. So how do you transition from chaos to organized? Here are some helpful tips on how to get into a better back-to-school routine so that every minute counts.

How To Get into a Better Back-to-School Routine

1. Sit down and write out your recurring weekly schedule.

Piano lessons, gymnastics, soccer practice…sit down and write it all out to the very detail. Who needs to be where and when. You can even go so far as to color code everyone’s activities. I have a friend who keeps a white board calendar in her kitchen and every member of the family has a color. It’s the most effective calendar system I’ve ever seen—essentially a Google Calendar in your kitchen for every family member to see.

Once you the schedule of all recurring responsibilities, you can then see the spaces in your schedule you can pencil in extras like working out or meeting with friends.

2. Make exercise part of your routine.

The multitudinous benefits of exercise are tough to dispute. Simply put, make exercise a part of your routing and you will reap plenty of perks. Regular physical activity elevates your energy, boosts your mood, and helps you be more productive. I currently follow the that includes workouts for the gym and/or at home!

If you prefer following along to a video, Jillian Michaels gives a great total body workout, along with Beach Body’s T25. No matter when or how you do it, make time to exercise.

3. Try waking up one hour earlier.

There are two types of people in this world: morning people and…not morning people. If you are the latter, you might want to try switching sides. Morning people tend to be more productive and science can prove it. Research has linked early risers to getting better grades, doing better in college, and being more proactive.

If you’re doubtful, try waking up just one hour earlier than you normally do. During that one hour, get a jump start on your work, home responsibilities, or exercise. You’ll be amazed at how much more you are able to accomplish while the kids are still sleeping. And for school-age children, waking up regularly with sufficient time to do homework, prepare lunches, and get ready for school is important. Here’s a great little alarm clock to help kids rise and shine.

4. Consistent bedtime routine is crucial.

Similarly, an effective back-to-school routine includes consistency at bedtime. For our family, that means starting at 7:00pm and to bed by 8:00pm. The kids take a bath, get jammies on, brush teeth, and then settle down to a book. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that school-age children (ages 6-13) get 9-11 hours of sleep per night.

And a bedtime routine isn’t just helpful for kids, it’s great for adults too! Unwinding to a book, a relaxing bath, or a beauty regimen will help normalize the craziness of a typical day.

5. Keeping all your ducks in a row…

Once school hits, life gets hectic. Johnny has a spelling test every Tuesday and Janie’s science project is due Friday. There are school activities, after-school activities, and a million other sports, clubs, and obligations. Keeping all that straight can make a person downright insane.

Here are some cool, creative ways you can help keep all those ducks in a row:

Jumbo Dry Erase Wall

Family Organizer

Do It All Mom Planner

Raising little humans is difficult business. I never realized how much responsibility goes into every aspect of parenting a child. They soak up everything you do and say. Now that I have three small children, it’s more important than ever to lead by example. Here are seven valuable social skills that all kids should know and the best way to teach them is by example.

7 Social Skills You Should Teach Your Kids by Example

1. How to initiate a conversation

From the moment they utter their first words, children begin learning the importance of conversation. They learn how to wave and say hello, but the most valuable lessons in conversation they’ll learn from you.

Kids watch how we interact with others. The way you greet the store clerk and strike up a conversation teaches your child a lot about how to interact with all kinds of people. They note the way you treat people and if you want your child to be a kind, courteous person, pay close attention to how you initiate conversations with those around you.

2. How to ask for help.

It’s not always easy asking for help, but doing so is a skill that kids are going to need often in life. Whether it’s asking for directions from a stranger or for assistance from a friend, make sure you are open about asking for help when help is needed. Kids need to be ready to ask for help if they are lost, don’t understand a concept in school, or are in over their heads.

3. How to be courteous.

Courtesy is one of the most commonly expected values…perhaps that’s why it’s called common courtesy. Please and thank you should be words children first learn when they are young, but it’s a parent’s consistent example that cements the value of courtesy in them. Open the door for a stranger, allow someone else to go ahead of you in line, keep your cool in traffic. These are all things kids notice us doing. It’s a good reminder to brush up on our common courtesy.

4. To appropriately share their opinions.

Thankfully gone are the days where children were expected to be seen and not heard. Today’s kids are bright and creative and have interesting opinions of their own. Sometimes it’s appropriate to speak out and other times it’s better to keep our thoughts to ourselves. Having conversations with our kids is a good way to teach the difference between the two, but perhaps an even better way is through example.

It’s good for adults to remember the Bambi principal: if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

5. Stand up for what’s right.

There is a lot of garbage out there that today’s kids will encounter. Drugs, pornography, bullying…our children have a lot to contend with and that means it will be vital for them to stand up for what they believe is right.

For parents, teaching this by example means turning off the TV when there’s something morally offensive on. It means speaking up when you see a child being bullied on a playground. Some of the most powerful lessons I learned from my parents were when they openly stood up for what they believed.

6. Show gratitude.

A simple thank-you can go a long way. Gratitude is a value that is going, going, gone these days. Entitlement is taking over, leaving kids who are bratty, spoiled, and selfish. Nip entitlement in the bud in your family by showing gratitude multiple times daily. At home, thank your spouse for a job they’ve done, tell your kids how grateful you are they are in your family. Verbally express gratitude for the things you have and the people around you.

7. How and when to apologize.

It’s crazy, but two of the hardest words for my kids to say to each other are I’m sorry. They scrunch up their faces and clutch their stomachs like those two words are physically excruciating to them. I hope I’m not the only parent who goes through this. I decided that this needed to change and since they are young, the easiest way for me to teach them to apologize is to show them. Now I really try to make a conscious effort to say I’m sorry whenever the situation warrants it. I apologize to them, to my husband, and to total strangers, making sure to explain why I am apologizing.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I accidentally stepped on your foot. Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry, I thought I understood what you said but I must not have. Will you explain it again?”

Kids who know and show these seven important social skills will become adults who do the same, and that’s always a good thing.