Back-to-School, Back to YOU: How Moms Can Reclaim Their Time and Energy

The first day of school has a special kind of energy. The backpacks are packed, the clothes are laid out, the lunchboxes are ready—and behind every one of those details is a mom who’s been working tirelessly to make it happen.

If you’re that mom, you know exactly what I mean. The school year doesn’t just start—it takes weeks (sometimes months) of preparation. And yet, once that first bell rings and the kids are out the door, we rarely take a moment to acknowledge just how much we’ve done.

This season, I want you to flip the script. It’s time to take the care, attention, and effort you’ve poured into your children and direct some of it back to yourself. Let’s talk about how to go from back-to-school to back-to-YOU—without feeling guilty about it.

Step 1: Write Down Everything You Did for Your Kids

Before we can shift our focus, we need to take stock of what we’ve accomplished. Grab a pen and paper, and start listing every single thing you did to get your kids ready for school.

Here’s what was on my list this year:

Buying new clothes and uniforms
The last-minute shoe emergency (because someone outgrew their sneakers overnight!)
Purchasing new socks
Filling out an inch-thick stack of school forms
Scheduling and attending doctor and dentist checkups
Attending orientations for high school and kindergarten
Downloading school apps and setting up accounts
Haircuts for the kids who wanted them
Organizing lunchboxes and snacks
Paying school supply fees or shopping for binders, pens, and pencils
Meeting teachers and learning about volunteer opportunities
Re-establishing earlier bedtimes after a summer of late nights
Writing first-day lunchbox notes and giving pep talks
Coordinating sports and dance schedules, uniforms, and fees

Chances are, your list looks just as full—maybe even fuller.

Step 2: Celebrate Your Wins

Once you’ve made your list, pause and celebrate.

You did it. You got your kids ready for a brand-new year, equipped them for success, and filled them with the confidence they need to walk through those school doors. That is no small feat.

As moms, we’re quick to move on to the next task, but this is the moment to give yourself credit. Recognize that your effort, planning, and love are what made that first day possible. You deserve acknowledgment, not just from others, but from yourself.

Step 3: Turn That List Back on Yourself

Here’s where things get interesting. Look back at your list. When’s the last time you did those things for you?

Clothes & uniforms: When was the last time you bought something new for yourself, just because?
Shoes & socks: Are yours comfortable, supportive, and in good shape?
Appointments: Have you had your own checkup, dental cleaning, or specialist visit lately?
Forms & documents: When’s the last time you checked your passport expiration date or updated important paperwork?
Haircuts: Are you overdue for a trim or style refresh?
Supplies: Do you have the notebooks, planners, or tech tools that make your own life easier?
Sleep: Are you getting enough rest now that mornings start earlier?
Encouragement: When’s the last time you wrote yourself a note or gave yourself a pep talk?

So often, we instinctively meet our children’s needs before our own. But those same needs—care, comfort, organization, encouragement—matter for you too.

Three Questions to Recenter on YOU

Once you’ve reflected, ask yourself:

What’s one thing I can do today to celebrate my success?
Maybe it’s a solo coffee date, a peaceful walk, or an uninterrupted hour with a good book.
What’s one thing I can do this week to take care of myself?
Schedule a workout, plan a lunch with a friend, or book that long-overdue appointment.
What’s one thing I can do this month that’s just for me?
Take a class, start a creative project, or join a group program that supports your growth.