As you are reading this, you have probably just had a harsh wake-up reality call after a summer of slow mornings. You’ve been thrust into the craziness of the morning School routine. Soon you will be inundated by whatsapp messages from your class, bombarded with communications from the school office, drowning in a thousand things to remember as you desperate will your brain to get back into back to school gear.

While many like to think of September as a time of new beginnings, I like to think of it as….WTF JUST HAPPENED!!!!!!!?

Seriously, that first week of back to school in September leaves you feeling as if you are constantly on the back foot as you struggle to get into the back to school routine and mindset. The struggle is real my friends!

What’s even worse is that on day one, you may miraculously feel all smug and organised but then trust me – by the end of the week you are falling apart at the seams. So cruel can the week be!

So it’s at this timely juncture that I wanted to share with you my no BS tips for beating the back to School Overwhelm that so many of us will find ourselves this week.

Most importantly starting with….

We are not saving lives

OK sure we all want to feel like we’ve got this in life, and we can be SO harsh on ourselves when we are messing up. But the truth is, all those times we forget things and mess up are actually just so insignificant and really not worth beating ourselves up about. So if you forget something, or mess something up, or just feel completely chaotic and shambolic then just remember, we are not saving lives, and tomorrow is a new day.

Remember you are a great mum!

You – yes you – you are amazing! You have just gotten through the seemingly never-ending juggle that is the summer holidays and you have finally arrived at this point. So whatever happens during this back-to-school week, remember you are a great mum. Your children absolutely adore you and you deserve a massive pat on the back

You don’t have to do it all alone

So much of life’s demands fall on our shoulders. The new school year is a chance to change that. You don’t have to do this alone. It’s ok to share drop-offs and pick-ups with a friend or neighbour or arrange for wrap around care even if you are still working from home. It’s ok to vent at your friends and family when it all feels too much. It’s ok to get a cleaner because you can’t keep up with the constant juggle of working/being a parent/running a house. You don’t – and shouldn’t – have to do it alone. Ask for help wherever you can. People are usually more than happy to share the load.

Know the grass is not always greener

So what if that mum of three has managed to get her children out looking impeccable every morning? So what if the know who mum from your class never seems to lose their shit on the school run? Everyone has their own battles, and just because their lives are looking all rosie and perfect from the outside, doesn’t mean that’s their reality. The truth is, we are all muddling along in our own way, and 95% of parenting is making it up as you go along anyway!

Remember failing isn’t failure

In the good old words of Winston Churchill remember this: “Success is not final, failure isn’t fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”. So no matter how bad of a day or week you are having, remember that the fact you keep showing up and plugging away when really you want to throw everything in the trash can is what matters.

Focus on the positives

Sure we can think about all the things we aren’t or didn’t do or messed up on. OR we can think about all the things we did do, or were, or got right. It’s your choice which way you want to let your mind go, but remember….we get more of what we focus on in life. So catch that negative inner chatter the moment it starts and knock it on the head.

Do something for you

Over the summer holidays, it’s likely you have done precious little for yourself. Maybe you’ve got to this point feeling like you need a little holiday of your own! However you’re feeling, make sure you plan to do something just for you this week. Whether it’s taking a relaxing stroll out in nature by yourself, grabbing lunch or coffee with a friend, or soaking in a nice hot bath with a book for an hour. If there is no time for you this week, then go ahead and carve some.

So mamas….take a deep breath and know that just like every year, all you need to do is hold on tight for the bumpy road ahead and soon you’ll be cruising again!

Giveaway

We’ve teamed up with Buy a Gift for a chance to win a Heavenly Spa Day for Two Experience Box! The perfect antidote to all the back-to-school hecticness. Indulge in the ultimate heavenly spa day for two as you lay back and receive plenty of pampering. The range of treatments on offer varies by location, and includes soothing Swedish massages, cleansing facials, manicures, and much more. No matter which treatment you choose, you’ll each be able to enjoy a full 25 minutes of bliss! Rejuvenation and rest is high on the agenda at one of a selection of popular UK venues.

Enter on our giveaways page here

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