It’s that time again.
New backpacks, sharpened pencils, a new box of crayons, fresh excitement… and also the start of frantic mornings, school bus mysteries, and inboxes that don’t care your kid forgot their lunch on day two.
The thought of Back-to-school season probably immediately brings up some anxious feelings and fear of how are you going to get it all done whether you run your own business, working in the corporate world or manage a demanding role from home.
The first few weeks are almost always bumpier than we think, even if we are seasoned pro’s and your kids are more self sufficient, change is hard! The best way to minimize the impact of the bumps is to set yourself up ahead of time for success.
Here’s how you can prep your calendar right now to build in calm, protect your business time, and keep the chaos to a minimum.
✨ 1. Give Yourself Extra Morning Margin
If you normally start work at 8:00… consider blocking your calendar until 9:00 a.m. for at least the first 2–3 weeks of school.
Why?
- Buses run late.
- Drop-off lines are packed.
- Little ones need extra hugs, or forget sneakers on gym day.
- Or simply: you might need an extra coffee to breathe before jumping into work mode.
This doesn’t make you less productive. It makes you more realistic. And it helps you start your workday with a regulated nervous system, not racing from drop-off chaos straight into Zoom calls. No, it doesn’t mean you are going to let clients down or not get deliverables done. It’s actually a way to ensure that you do as hard as that may seem!
📅 2. Pre-block Your Calendar for Known Events
Parent nights, curriculum chats, after-school assessments, sports meetings, they’re all coming.
Get ahead by marking them in your calendar now, even if the exact times aren’t confirmed.
- Hold space one evening a week for school events starting in mid-August or September.
- If you know your child’s school typically does an open house/curriculum night the second week of school, pencil it in.
This protects you from overcommitting. Plus, it’s one less surprise on your mental load.
⏳ 3. Keep Client or Project Expectations Lighter
If you run your own business or freelance, resist stacking big launches or tight deadlines in the first month of school.
Instead:
- Batch lighter content creation or backend projects.
- Extend turnaround timelines by a week.
- Let your clients know you’re working on a slightly softer schedule this month (most are in the same boat and will appreciate your honesty).
This gives you space to handle unexpected nurse calls, emotional wobbles, or early pickup days without everything feeling like it’s crashing.
If you work in the corporate world, look ahead now and ask, are there anythings that I could work on now that would help me better balance the workload when school starts. No, it isn’t always possible but small wins add up!
📝 4. Use a Family Calendar Hub and Actually Share It
A simple whiteboard, a shared Google Calendar, or a command center by the door. Whatever your style, make sure the whole family can see it.
- Mark school start dates, special snack days, early dismissals.
- Note your own work commitments so your partner or kids aren’t surprised by your evening webinar.
The mental load drops dramatically when everyone knows what’s coming. Don’t stop there though, spend a few minutes before the week starts to review the schedule with the family.
🥪 5. Prep for the Week and Mornings Beforehand (Yes, Even You)
Planning and organizing can massively impact your workday. It minimizes the mental load you are carrying during the day as you’ve pre-planned meals, outfits,
- Have backpacks packed, shoes by the door, and lunchboxes at least partly prepped the night before.
- Decide yours and the kids outfits, this saves so much headspace.
- Plan back to school week meals now and make and freeze one or two now.
- Gather all the information now that you have to input into all the forms for back to school now. Latest Doctor’s visit and dental visit, emergency contact information, allergy information, etc. Having all of this handy minimizes the time you need to look for it then!
You’ll be surprised how calm your days feel when you’re not hunting down a lost sock at 7:45am when you were supposed to be out the door by 7:30.
💛 6. Make Space for Grace
Most importantly? Build in margin for mess-ups.
- The first few weeks are always an adjustment.
- Your kid might meltdown over snack time.
- You might accidentally double-book a meeting on curriculum night.
It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human.
By intentionally blocking your mornings a bit later, leaving evenings lighter, and planning around known school events now, you’re giving your business (and your family) the best gift: a calm, supported mom.
🌱 Bottom Line: Set Up Now for Calm Later
You don’t have to walk into back-to-school season blindsided.
You can choose to build a little more margin into your calendar, protect your energy, and lead your family with calm confidence.
Because your business thrives best when you do. 💛
👉 Want more simple systems?
Check out my other posts on time blocking and batch working to keep your weeks running smoother, even in the busiest seasons.
Check out our free resources in our toolkit!
Leave us your thoughts in the comments!