September sorted: Your guide to getting back into routine
September sorted: Your guide to getting back into routine
Our September reset guide is packed with practical tips for busy families. From refreshing high-traffic areas and organising kitchen cupboards to preparing school uniforms, planning family meals and creating manageable routines, discover simple ways to make the back-to-school transition feel calmer and more organised.
Introduction
We all know the September feeling; new uniforms, fresh stationery, and a return to a real routine after weeks of not knowing what day it even is. It can seem overwhelming to go back to structure and schedules after weeks of chaos and freedom, but don’t worry, Beldray is here to help. While September provides a second new year, it’s important to remember you don’t need to strive for perfection. We’re here to get you back into a good routine and achieve a realistic and effective September reset.
Start your September reset with a home refresh
Although the first step in your September reset should be to refresh your home, you don’t need to do an entire day-long deep clean. Instead, focus on the high-traffic areas such as mopping and vacuuming around the back door, cleaning in, under and around the sofas, and reorganising the pantry or kitchen cupboards after a summer full of snacks and picky bits for tea.
Beat the back-to-school rush with uniforms ready to go
Get ahead of the hectic mornings by preparing as much as you can before the morning comes. Prepare any work and school lunches the night before, set everyone’s shoes out by the door and lay all clothes out ready for the morning. This gives you time to quickly iron or steam them if needed too.
Speaking of school uniforms, it’s probably time to give them a refresh before the new school year starts. Whether it’s a new uniform or the same one as last year, it’s worth spending some time double-checking them, labelling them if needed, and getting them ready for the first day. Check any older garments for holes or damage and fix if possible. Once you’ve checked everything still fits and is in good condition, tackle any deep-set creases with an iron or use a steamer to give skirts, shirts and trousers a quick refresh before hanging them up, ready for the week ahead. Try and do this with a few days’ worth of uniforms, to keep the mornings in the first week back as easy as they can be.
Make your September routine work for you
While September is a great time to reset the home and school routines ahead of back-to-school season, it’s important to think about yourself too. Allow yourself to treat this as a second new year by resetting your morning and evening routines, committing to meal-planning and prepping again, and taking time for yourself as the days get shorter and the weather gets colder. Here are a few more ways to help get your routine sorted.
- Create a weekly meal plan: Plan a week of easy family favourite meals in advance, so when someone inevitably asks ‘what’s for dinner?’ you’ve got the answer ready to go.
- Assign each room a day: Give each room 20 minutes of your time on a dedicated day, rather than sacrificing your whole weekend to cleaning and tidying.
- Make time for yourself: Build a little time for yourself into your new routine, even if it’s just 5 minutes with a brew. Keep it realistic, as the best daily routine is the one you can actually stick to, not the one that looks perfect on paper.
September doesn’t have to feel like a drastic, overnight change. A few simple changes and a little time spent preparing can make the transition into Autumn feel much more manageable. Start small, figure out what works for your household and remember to enjoy the fresh-start feeling.