Tis’ the season for all of the crazy busy schedules and I am not talking about the holiday season, but the back to school season! Back to school season includes, but most certainly is not limited to picture day, meet the teachers, other school events, sports practices, games, and social events. The list goes on and on! Can you relate? I’ve found some ways that work for me and my family to keep all of us busy moms sane and on schedule and I want to share those tips with you!
Plan Your Schedule Ahead of Time
I plan ahead one month in advance, but then just take it one week at a time! I look at what events we have going on, when we are leaving, when we will be home, and any other travel time involved.
Lay Out All The Times
Here’s an example of what a day of laying out the times looks like for me:
- Volleyball begins at 10am and we have to be there at 9:30am. That means I need to leave the house by 9am.
- Soccer is at 1pm. We will head straight from volleyball to soccer.
- Family Party is at 5pm. We will head home after soccer, shower, get ready and head out to the party.
Here is how I work my timeline, now that I have everything else figured out:
6:30am – I will wake up.
7:00am – Mama’s time to fill her cup up with a workout.
8:00am – Get Adrianna up, fed, and ready. Pack all of the bags, lunches, and snacks.
9:00am – Leave the house to go to volleyball (make sure to have all uniforms and bags with us for both volleyball and soccer).
12 – 12:30pm – Travel from volleyball to soccer, eat in the car, and change uniforms.
3:00-4:30pm – Time at home to change, get ready, and relax.
4:30pm – Leave for family party.
9:00pm – Arrive at home.
A long day for sure, but worth all the smiles I get to see on Adrianna’s face. The only way to have a successful busy sports-filled weekend is to plan, plan, plan!
Plan Ahead For Meals and Snacks
Once I have my schedule in place, it is time to make all food that my family will need throughout the day. When we have a super busy day, I just want to grab and go, which means that all fruits and veggies needs to be washed, cut and ready to go!
I try to do my best to keep snacks on hand and readily available as we go from event to event, practice to practice. Having snacks available for those on-the-go days keeps the guess work out of what to eat, keeps me on track with my nutritional goals, and saves a question from Adrianna: “What are we eating mom? Can we stop at McDonalds?”
Plan Your Meals and Snacks for the Day
When I take a look at what my day looks like, I always consider what we will be eating for meals and snacks on the go. Here’s an example of of what this planning looks like for the day I showed you above:
- We will eat breakfast at home.
- Lunches will be packed for in between games.
- Snacks will also be packed.
- Food will be provided at the party for dinner.
- Extra water bottles on hand to keep everyone hydrated.
Always have options when it comes to the food you pack
What I mean by this is, I always have a variety of proteins, veggies and fruits packed! Sports and other activities leave your kids hungry and needing more energy for the next thing. Plus, you want to make sure you’re getting the nutrition you need as well! Check out some food ideas that are easy to pack below:
Proteins: Hard boiled eggs, string cheese, protein bars, peanut butter protein balls, nuts, lunch meat, hummus (for veggies), and greek yogurt.
Veggies: Carrots, celery, broccoli, zucchini (it’s so good!), and peppers.
Fruit: Apples, grapes, berries, bananas, and cuties
Don’t forget about water! I always have several bottles of water, and usually coffee or some form of caffeine for me. Cheers to a new school year, may all the kiddos have a safe and healthy year.
