And just like that…it’s September. The month that transitions us from hot sunny nights to chilly fall mornings. The month that takes us out of our lazy summer days back to the hustle and bustle of work, school and extracurricular activities.

Getting back to a stress-free routine might not be easy if your home is in a state of chaos from the kids being home for two months. So how do we keep calm and get back on track?

Here are a few tips to get you back in control of your morning routine:

Prepare as much as you can the night before.

It’s the little things that often get forgotten so, if you can prepare those little things the night before, it will make a big impact when you’re trying to get out the door on time. It could be as simple as making lunches or getting your wardrobe ready. You could also alleviate some stress by plugging all phones and devices in at night. That way they are always charged and ready to go when you are.

Set healthy boundaries and stick to your schedule.

A great way to ensure everyone is getting enough sleep to tackle the day and be productive is to limit screen time. By setting boundaries around screen time and adopting an evening bedtime routine you can improve your sleep quality and stress management. Another example of scheduling might be to give each person a specific time for the bathroom in the morning, this is definitely helpful for those with teens.

Use a planner and/or calendar.

With work, sports, dance, school and everything in between, no wonder we get frazzled! A simple whiteboard calendar from your local dollar store or a planner where you can write down who has what, when, will save you the grief of missing Jessica’s recital or Cody’s football game. It will also make planning family events and birthday parties much easier.

Last but not least, it’s important to stay organized.

Kids rarely care about staying organized but if you can give them designated areas for their belongings you may have a shot at getting them to stay organized throughout the year. It could be as simple as adding some personalized hooks and baskets in the entryway or giving each child their own drawer in the bathroom. Additionally, a study space with bookshelves for textbooks and school supplies may help them stay focused and productive too.

Just remember, you can do all the things and plan ahead as much as you want but there will be days when things don’t go as planned or as smoothly as you want them to. And that’s okay! It might take some time to fully adjust to your back-to-school routine, so be patient with yourself. With consistency and determination, you can successfully transition back into your school routine and set yourself, and your kids, up for a successful year.