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As the year starts and the kids head back to school after the winter break it can be hard to get back into the routine. From taking the kids to school to afterschool activities and errands it sometimes feels overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be, not if you have a plan and are prepared.
Create a Scheule and Prioritize. When it comes to tackling your to-do list start by prioritizing. Define what things are urgent and what needs to be done today, add each task to a schedule and assign a specific time to it. Getting the most important things done first is key, as opposed to leaving the hardest stuff for last which is something I tend to do. Add a “don’t do list” to your schedule like staying off Facebook until your noon break only opening email at certain times of the day as opposed to every 30 seconds. Make sure you include downtime for both you and the kids as well time for exercising.
Keep up your energy. There’s nothing worse than having an afternoon filled with errands and things to do and finding yourself out of energy. Or even worse, having cranky kids because they are hungry. That is why I’m so excited about the new Jif® Power Ups™ snacks. I just throw them in my purse so I always have a delicious and nourishing snack ready to go.
Jif Power Ups are packed with peanuts and have a great balance of protein, fiber, and good fats that really energizes you. And the best thing is that the kids love them! Which means I’ve finally found a snack that we all enjoy.
Our favorites are the Jif Power Ups Creamy Peanut Butter Chewy Granola Bars and the Jif Power Ups Salted Caramel Flavored with Peanut Butter Chewy Granola Bars.
Be present and in the moment. I used to be a big fan of multitasking but I learned the hard way that it doesn’t work, at least not for me. Now I do my best to focus on one thing at a time and that includes spending quality time with the kids. I put time on my calendar for working, exercising and for family time and try to stick to it as much as I can. But once 5pm comes around I close my computer and pay full attention to them until after bedtime. Focusing on one thing at a time and being fully present helps me be more efficient and get more things done. But the best part is that I don’t feel guilty anymore. When I’m with the kids I give them 100% of my attention and it feels good!
Realize you don’t have to do everything. Before the kids get back to school after the winter break I sat down and wrote everything that needed to get done on a daily and weekly basis, then I assigned tasks to each member of the family. My kids have their own schedules written down as well as alarms and reminders so that they can be as independent as possible during the afternoon doing their chores and homework. They also help out by packing their own lunchboxes for school. I just give them nutritious options that I know they love, like a variety of Jif Power Ups and they choose what snacks to put in their lunch every day. Cesar helps out in the evenings with dinner, walking the dog and takes the kids to their Crossfit kids class on Saturday. Before I just felt like I had to do it all, but we’re all in this together and giving the kids and Cesar specific things to do, and writing those down on paper (or adding them to to-do lists on the phone or other devices) has been life-changing!
Find a balance. Juggling work and taking care of your family can be easier if you decide to make it so. Enrolling kids in 3 afterschool activities each sounds great until you realize that you’re spending hours in the car each week and everyone ends up exhausted. I have learned not to put too much on my plate, which was not easy. I have finally found a good balance and I am aware of my limits and know what is realistic and try not to overstretch myself.
No matter what your busy schedule includes always having a nourishing and energizing snack that both you and the kids can eat anytime and anywhere is always a great idea. You can find Jif Power Ups at your nearest Publix supermarket. And right now you can save $.75 off any one Jif® Power Ups™ Creamy Clusters or Chewy Granola Bars 5 ct. at Publix.
Learn more about Jif Power Ups by following Jif on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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We are half way through our summer holidays at the moment and while I love having the kids at home, I’m also looking forward to settling back into a routine when they head back.
Great tips here! Thank you!
Focusing on my goals makes me keep right on track and feel motivated always even after holidays. When I do things ahead of time, I got lots of time to spoil myself… including with a bar of snacks!
Balancing and being present at the moment is most important not only as being a mom and dad but as a single parent too. I am a workaholic but I know it too well.
These look great!! I’ll have to try them as I am a big-time snacker 🙂 I am SO glad to be past the holidays (even though I LOVE them) and be back to my normal routine 🙂
I am obsessed with to do lists and prioritization! It’s so important to know what you need to focus on. Be there in the moment is something I am actually trying to work on. I am always multitasking, and it does work to an extent but I do feel like I can save time and be more productive if I just focus.
I think realizing you don’t have to do everything can help you find more balance in your life. It can also reduce stress, which always throws me off my game.
Getting that schedule down is a really important part of being there and getting into a routine. But trying to minimize distractions is often the toughest part of the deal. To really get yourself on track you are right, you need to be in the moment. So removal of those things which distract you becomes essential.
Finding a balance is tough. For our family we are always on the go and it never seems to slow down. I’ve stopped placing things off to a “when it’s not busy, it will be easier,” place because for now, we are never not busy!
Ok I LOVE these granola bars! yum!
Great tips which I think I really needed to read this time of year! Thankyou.
These are great tips! I agree that making a schedule and prioritizing the most important tasks are a great way to start to get back into a routine. I’ll have to try some of these out as well, thanks for sharing!
This one’s really helpful for me today! The best thing that I’ve read today. I feel like my energy’s been drained by so much things in my mind… it’s about time I get back on track! Thanks for all your words!
Great tips for parents! I am going to share these with some of my friends who have children 🙂 x