End-of-Summer Overwhelm: Guilt, School, and Transitioning into the Fall Season The Bridge to Fulfillment

“Summer feels like it slipped away, and we’re right at the edge of everything coming our way.”

Blake Schofield (0:41-0:48)


The end of summer can be an overwhelming time for parents. So how can you avoid the whirlwind of a new schedule, back-to-school orientations, after-school activities, and everything else that goes along with the start of a new school year? 
 
Why We Struggle When Summer Ends
 
The flexibility of summer can make it easy to create the kind of structure we want. But when the school season starts, you can’t live by the structure you’ve established during the summer, and it can be hard to make that shift and roll with a changing schedule and increased demands on your time. So the structure of life changes. 
 
“We can never go back, but we can take today to say, ‘What’s one thing I can do to help me feel like I was able to do the things I wanted to accomplish this summer?’” - Blake Schofield (2:12-2:23)
 
How to Make the Transition Easier 
 
Reinstate a new structure back into life. Set consistent sleep schedules and meal times for the entire family. Start this process early so you can be back on a more familiar schedule. During the summer, it's easy to put off those things that don’t seem immediate. But when fall comes around, waiting for things to have that sense of urgency can create a sense of overwhelm. Scheduling lets you manage your time and activities. Block out specific times to do the things you need to do early. You won’t have to scramble at the last minute, making it even easier to transition back into the fall season. 
 
Breaking Down the Big Buckets
 
There are three life “buckets” you can consider when transitioning into the fall schedule.
 
Your Work Back to School Time Management  
Your Work
 
Look at your work schedule and think about when you can plan activities and events you want to attend at school. Once you have the school’s calendar, look for the events that are held throughout the year in advance. This lets you block time off on your work schedule so you can make yourself available. 
 
Back to School
 
When it comes to your back to school “bucket”, shopping for school supplies can be one of the biggest disruptions to your daily schedule. The best thing to do is to start early. This keeps you from running around from store to store. Give your kids a chance to help with back-to-school shopping. If they’ve outgrown their old clothes, let them suggest some clothing ideas first, so you don’t have to spend time thinking about what to buy. 
 
“It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with those tasks that need to happen at some point, but don’t need to be prioritized today… schedule time now, knock out the things you need to do in the near future and get them done early so you don’t have to scramble.” 
- Blake Schofield (8:08-8:23)
 
Time Management
 
When it comes to time management, think about some of the activities that are often overlooked. What after-school activities should you plan for? Do you need to plan carpooling or other activities? Planning ahead gives peace of mind and maintains the sense of awareness you need to feel in control and respond to whatever comes your way. Start putting these steps into place. Don’t try to do them all at once. You’ll get the best results from taking one or two and starting from there. 
 
Jumping back into the school year doesn’t need to be a time of stress and overwhelm. Plan ahead to extend the joy and fun of summer into the fall season. 
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