Think January is the time for resolutions? Think again. Most women, especially mothers, set new routines in September.

If you're a parent of school-age kids, from kindergarten to college, you're likely feeling a sense of relief now that school is almost back in session. While summer is a great time for family fun and bonding, it also means extra responsibilities for parents—acting as activity director, chauffeur, and cook, which adds to an already busy schedule.

Let’s be honest: summer is a lot of work. Now that the kids are going back to school, it’s time to recognize all the effort you put into making their summer memorable. Think about all those additional meals and activities! You did that! 

Fresh School Year, Fresh Routines!

With summer break almost over, why not repurpose some of that time for yourself now? If you want to use this moment to reset family routines, but don’t know where to start, here are a few tips:

1. Have an open conversation about household responsibilities.
   Write down all the housework and child care tasks that go into running family life. Include everything from “trash duty” to “kids’ doctors appointments”. Reflect honestly on who should own what, considering what has worked in the past and what needs to change. The Fair Play cards can be a great way to kickstart this conversation. This system assigns specific tasks or "cards" to each family member, ensuring a fair distribution of labor.
   
   

   

   
   

2. Use a tool to set reminders and stay on the same page with everyone in the home.
   Technology can help your family to create a schedule for school activities, remember appointments, and plan meals. The Coexist app, for example, helps you to track tasks, share notes, import recipes, and quickly build meals, ensuring you stay organized amidst the back-to-school chaos.
   
   

   

   
   

3. Build quality time into your routine.
   When you focus on the logistics and routine of keeping family life running smoothly, it can be easy to deprioritize this. But in sharing responsibilities to lighten the load, how might you build quality time into your routine? What does intentional family time look like for you this back-to-school season?

Make Time for Yourself

Even though there will always be things to do, like signing the kids up for sports, helping with homework, and meeting new teachers, consider reserving some time in your fall schedule just for you. Instead of waiting until January to start new routines, kick off your personal goals in September. Dedicate time for your own interests and hobbies. This could mean returning to something you love, improving a skill, or trying something entirely new.

As you plan your days and weeks, make sure to carve out uninterrupted time for yourself, even if it's just one hour a week. Want to take up drumming or cooking classes? Or simply spend more time walking with a close friend or listening to your favorite podcast? Set the intention and make it happen! 

We’d love to hear about your September commitments! Share your adventures with us on Instagram @get.coexist and @fairplaylife.

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Eve Rodsky transformed a “blueberries breakdown” into a catalyst for social change when she applied her Harvard-trained background in organizational management to ask the simple yet profound question: What would happen if we treated our homes as our most important organizations? Her New York Times bestselling book and Reese’s Book Club Pick, Fair Play, a gamified life-management system that helps partners rebalance their domestic workload and reimagine their relationship, has elevated the cultural conversation about the value of unpaid labor and care. In her highly anticipated follow-up, Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World, Rodsky explores the cross-section between the science of creativity, productivity, and resilience. Described as the ‘antidote to physical, mental, and emotional burnout,’ Rodsky aims to inspire a new narrative around the equality of time and the individual right to personal time choice that influences sustainable and lasting change on a policy level. Rodsky was born and raised by a single mom in New York City and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband Seth and their three children.

Learn more about Fair Play and Unicorn Space at fairplaylife.com