Routines are every day things we do. Over and over again. They can sometimes make or break a day. But routine is important for kids to know what to expect, and they thrive on it.
When Jamie suggested that I write about my routine I wasn’t sure her readers would be able to relate because most of my kids (ages 12, 10, 8 and 2) are a bit older, and we homeschool which means that much of our day is somewhat specific to homeschooling.
What I realized, however, is that everyone can use solid tips on how to create a routine that works, regardless of how many children are in your house, how old they are, or what their daily lives include.
This post is sponsored by vitafusion™ because they know that one of the keys to a balanced, healthy life is creating routines where health and enjoyment collide through small, daily activities, and habits that shape us into our best selves.
The Routine.
It’s alluring to think that there is THE ROUTINE, the one perfect routine that when you find it will work for evermore and your days will be smoother sailing because of it.
Routines definitely do help the day run smoother but not because there is one, perfect, recipe for your day. The reality is that as life unfolds and children grow, we have different needs and a routine only works if it is serving those needs. So a good routine is ever evolving but that doesn’t mean you have to keep going back to the drawing board!
Create a routine that will grow & change with you.
Look at your day in terms of time blocks; ask yourself what are the daily events are in your household that seems to naturally create different periods in your day such as: mealtimes, kids waking and going to sleep, going to and from school, or naptime.
For events that have to happen at a certain time each day such as kids getting to school on time- work backwards from that time and think about each action that needs to happen before that then add a little padding or look to see if there are any things that could be prepared ahead of time to make getting ready easier and less time-consuming
Once you have the skeleton of your day mapped out you can begin to look at what’s happening during each of these times and what things need to be happening.
Reflect on the rhythm of your day.
One of the best strategies I have learned for creating a routine that works is to alternate high-energy activities with quiet focused ones.
Too many high-energy activities in a row can lead to meltdowns, agitation or simply kids that are really wound up and too many quiet focused activities can lead to restlessness and boredom.
It can take some fine-tuning to figure out the balance, every family is unique, but once you begin to think about your day from this perspective it is pretty easy to find a rhythm that works for your household.
Find what makes your day run smoother
Figure out what pieces of your day are linchpins, the things that must happen in order for the day to run smoothly such as the toddlers’ nap, dinner prep done by a certain time, or lunches made in the evening for the next day.
It can also be helpful to consider what pieces of your day can you skip (when need be) without it causing havoc later in your day.
By now things should be starting to take shape but there is one more piece of the day that is really important; what are you doing for yourself?
Set aside time for yourself.
So often as parents we put ourselves last on the list of priorities, figuring we will focus on ourselves after the kids are in bed, at school, when they are more self-sufficient, etc. There is a reason airlines tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first… it is difficult to help your child if you are gasping for breath yourself.
I know you don’t have a lot of time to set aside for yourself, I know, I’m a parent too. Even just 5-15 minutes every day adds up and can help keep you from depleting yourself. What small things can you do daily to meet your own needs? For me, it’s 10-15 minutes of yoga in the morning before my kids get up and setting an alarm to remind me to take my vitamins.
It sounds super simple and it is but every evening when my alarm goes off I am reminded not just to go take my vitamins but that I am important too and for just a few moments I make myself a priority. Given that one of the little ways I make myself a priority is to take vitamins you can imagine how excited I am to team up with vitafusion™ and their Hair, Skin, & Nails Multivitamin gummies which not only are chewable but taste great. I started telling my kids “Hang on, I have to run to the spa for my 30-second health and beauty treatment”.
So what are you going to add to your routine that is just for you?
Let us know in the comments below for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!
I received free product and payment for this sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.
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How to Create a Routine That Works For You on handsonaswegrow.com
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