Ask Elsa: Reclaiming Routines for Fall

Dear ROUTINE WARRIOR…

Dear ROUTINE WARRIOR,

You're not alone on this one. For many kids, this is their return to school, and many parents are slowly returning to offices and now commuting again for work.

Here are a few of my favorite tips for re-creating routines and getting your household back on track:

1. Start now, and start slowly. Don't wait until the last minute to start getting back on schedule. Set a bedtime alert on your phone to remind you to start going to be earlier, and set your alarm to wake you up at the same time every morning. Day by day, add one more thing to your daily routine.

2. Create (or refresh!) your command center. Having one place in the home where everyone knows they can see the schedule is so helpful. We have a giant monthly calendar in our hallway, and we also keep a shared iCal for the family - this way everyone has access to our schedules whether at home or on the go. Each adult is responsible for adding their own events, and I suggest designating one person to track the kids' schedules - that way everyone knows their role.

3. Keep everything in one place! If you have post it notes all over the house, it's not as helpful as writing down all of your to-dos in one place. I use the Notes app on my phone so I always have access to it, but a notebook, whiteboard in your command center, anything can work - just keep it consistent.

4. Take advantage of your smart home! Do you have Alexa or Google home features? I ask Alexa to add items to my grocery list, in real time - this way the moment I run out of something it's added to my shopping list, and I can even convert that list into an online grocery order. Now that's technology I can get behind! (We have smart home features through our Sonos speakers, and it's the best! Not only do we get great music in each room, but we really utilize all the virtual assistant functionality, too! Plus the design is quite beautiful.)

5. Hang a chore chart in each kids' room! Check out this beautiful version from Etsy.

6. Every Sunday morning, I plan our meals for the week. I try to create dinners that will also serve as lunch the next day, or can be frozen for lazy weeknights when I don't feel like cooking. I keep weekday breakfast and lunch very simple - oatmeal, cereal, eggs and toast. I always have fresh fruit and veggies on hand to add to each meal or for a healthy snack. I only order groceries for the meals that we will be preparing, which cuts down on food waste and our grocery bill. I love ordering from Whole Foods online, and getting produce boxes from our local farms (check out Farm Fresh to You).