Over Summer? The Back-to-School List for Moms Who've Had Enough Summer! by Cindy Cooke, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP

Forget Christmas or your birthday, the end of summer for many parents is the single most anticipated day of the year. If you’re a mom who tabled “me time” in favor of preserving any last trace of summertime sanity, here’s your own back-to-school list to help get your health and sanity back on track. 

• Stop and breathe. The moment your precious little ones are someone else’s responsibility, pour yourself another cup of coffee and take a few minutes to enjoy the silence, if possible.

• Prioritize your daily schedule. If your summertime felt like two months of cutting corners and putting some of your own responsibilities on hold, now’s the time to take back your pre-summer life.

• Get back into a workout routine. Take advantage of free time to sweat it out while your kids are at school – shoot for at least 30 minutes a day.

• Take stock of your health. Did you fall behind on appointments while you were busy with summer activities? Call your provider to schedule necessary makeups. If finding a provider is on your to-do list, check out NPfinder.com. 

Back to school means back to life for parents, so as you help your crew plan for a new school year, make sure you plan for yourself, too!