Let’s be honest—August is a weird mix of excitement and overwhelm. You’re dreaming up new routines, refreshing bulletin boards, and figuring out how to make the first week feel magical. But you’re also running on low energy, sorting through a million bins, and trying to remember how you ever survived September last year.
Whether you’re setting up your own classroom or supporting others (like I’ll be doing this year!), it’s easy to let your own wellness slide to the bottom of the list. So this is your gentle reminder: you matter too.
Here are a few simple ways I’m trying to bring a little more balance into the start of the year—no fancy systems or extra pressure required.
1. Set Boundaries Early—Even Soft Ones
Back-to-school prep can take over everything if you let it. This year, I’m trying to put up a few gentle boundaries early on. That might mean no emails after dinner, setting a timer during prep sessions, or keeping one weekend completely work-free.
It’s not about perfection—it’s about protecting the energy you will need when the school year ramps up.
2. Keep Your First Week Simple
You don’t need to have every detail mapped out. A few well-planned, hands-on activities can carry you (and your students) through the first week with far less stress.
If you support multiple classrooms like I will this year, having a small rotation of low-prep, high-impact activities on hand will make a huge difference.
3. Plan a Transition Routine—For You
We always talk about transitions for kids—but what about us? I’ve started thinking about how I want to transition into and out of each day.
A quiet cup of coffee in the morning. A walk before checking emails. Five minutes of silence before heading home. Whatever works for you, having a simple start and end-of-day rhythm can ground you—especially when everything else feels chaotic.
4. Check in With Yourself (Like You Would With a Student)
You know how you ask your students how they’re feeling at the start of the day? Try doing that for yourself too.
“How’s my energy?”
“What do I need more of?”
“What can I let go of today?”
It takes less than a minute, but it makes a difference.
5. Give Yourself Permission to Start Slow
You don’t need to do everything in the first week. Or even the first month. There’s a lot of pressure to jump right into every routine and roll out every resource—but that’s not always realistic or necessary.
Slow and steady isn’t just okay—it’s smart. Especially when you’re supporting multiple classrooms or balancing two languages.
You Deserve a Gentle Start Too
August will always be full. But it doesn’t have to be frantic. Give yourself permission to build in small moments of calm and care—because you can’t pour from an empty cup.
💛 Want more practical ideas and support for the year ahead?
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