Back to School in Current Times

Back to School Challenges

Back to school time is quite typically a challenging and stressful time for many families due to the changing of schedules, increase in academic demands, extracurricular activities, and more. However, the past few years, life has certainly thrown us even more curveballs!

Just among my clients, there are parents who work and send their kids to school, parents who homeschool or use virtual school for their kids, and parents who juggle work AND homeschool their kids! Whether its the starting back up of classwork, homework, projects, studying, or a combination of all of the above, this time of year is a good time for us to go back to the basics! 

Back to School Mind & Body Essentials

Despite the potential for increased stress, learning and working with our children can be a wonderful time to share experiences and grow together. Whether your children will be learning in a classroom or at a kitchen table, being taught by you or by a qualified classroom teacher, the same principles of surviving and thriving apply: We need to focus on hydration, nutrition, and stress management.

Hydration

When it comes to hydration, hopefully, this is a no-brainer. Making sure that we and our children continue to drink plenty of water is super important. I recommend living or activated water (water with added citrus or any fruit or vegetable) and/or coconut water, and also remind you that fruits and raw vegetables are great ways to sneak in additional hydration. By consuming citrus or other fruits/veggies, alone or in our water, we’re consuming trace minerals which help to hydrate at a more cellular/energetic level.

Food & Adrenal Support

One of the biggest stressors for moms when returning to a more elaborate schedule is food! When demands are increased, days are busier, and schedules are tighter, it is important to make sure to prioritize frequent eating. Particularly when stress is rampant, eating every 1.5–2 hours is vital for optimal adrenal functioning.

By eating a nourishing snack or meal every one and a half to two hours that contains the right balance of the glucose, sodium and potassium your body needs, you can prevent the blood sugar dips that force your adrenals to fill in and release adrenaline. In turn, you save your adrenals, and also your liver and pancreas and prevent corrosive, toxic adrenaline from causing you more problems. Adrenal snacking on the right foods can put you on the true path to healing. -Anthony William

Foods like bananas, potatoes, oranges, and avocados are nutrient-packed and can be worked into the day as snacks or meals.

I’ve said it before and will likely say it many times again. When it comes to food, preparation and planning are the keys to success. As fall approaches, take some time this summer to think about how to best prepare and plan for your eating when school starts. This might mean writing out your meal plans on a calendar or a visual on your fridge. This might mean thinking about what produce you can wash and cut the night before, what juices you can make in the morning to set the tone for the day, and also which juices you can cap and save for later. Perhaps it might even be easiest for your family to pack up lunches just like you would if you were sending your child out of the house (if you aren’t). You may also consider using more of your kitchen appliances such as your Crockpot, Instant Pot, or Air Fryer to make your life easier. The truth is – we have to eat to survive – we might as well get the most benefit from what we’re consuming!

Stress Management

When in the midst of all of the chaos that comes with school-aged children at the start of the school year, it’s important to keep a pulse on your mental health and the mental health of your kids. Reiterating how powerful foods can be, you might consider celery juice, green smoothies, or mango, all choices that help calm the nervous system. Teas such as ashwagandha or lemon balm are also excellent choices. 

Times of heightened emotions or stress also might be good times to introduce some movement, such as some gentle stretching, or a walk in nature or around the block as a family. If your child needs more intense movement, consider offering rebounder or trampoline breaks. Small breaks for jumping jacks, jogging in place, or other body weight exercises can also be effective for blowing off steam during necessary breaks.

Don’t forget about community! Sometimes relating to a friend who’s going through similar circumstances can be so therapeutic! If you’re a homeschool parent (or even if you’re not), consider reaching out to a group of likeminded people on social media and sharing tips. 

The days are long but the years are short

Yes, that’s cliche, but it’s so true!! This time of year can be exhausting as you’re serving the role(s) of a parent, caretaker, worker, teacher, protector, and more — all while trying to balance your children’s (and your) mental and physical health. But let’s not forget – it is truly a BLESSING to be able to share this time with your child(ren) and it’s time we can’t get back once it’s gone.

Reach out if I can help

As a mom who homeschools her children and runs a thriving business, I recognize first-hand how challenging life can be, especially at this time of year. I’m happy to share what works for my family (and MANY others) via Children’s Wellness Support Packages and 1:1 support. I also have self-guided and self-paced courses as well as mentorship to support moms & children. Let’s do this together!