Who else can’t believe it’s already that time of year again! School is about to be back in session, and many of our schedules are about to go through an abrupt change. Kids will be getting up earlier, afternoon schedules will be packed with after-school activities and sports, and it can get overwhelming at times.
With our combined 30 years of experience in this field, Tom and I have seen a trend develop during those first few weeks: Attendance drops, effort levels decrease, and we sense a little more stress/anxiety in the gym than normal. That being said, we would like to provide you with our simple Back-to-School Plan for Success.
“Change is the only constant in life. One’s ability to adapt to those changes will determine your success in life.” – Ben Franklin
1. GET 8 HOURS OF SLEEP EVERY NIGHT. This one might be the most difficult to accomplish, but it’s arguably the most important. Adequate sleep is the best supplement on the market and makes all things in life easier. GO TO SLEEP!
2. CREATE A FAMILY CALENDAR. Get everyone on the same page with a calendar that the whole family can see and update. This can be a huge game changer when schedules start filling up. It also helps with the first step by eliminating the stress of wondering, What do I have going on tomorrow?
3. PRIORITIZE YOUR HEALTH. A consistent training routine and eating a well-balanced diet leads to a more productive individual. We recommend 2–3 training sessions each week, along with 2–3 additional “cardio” sessions. Walk, hike, bike, garden, play with the kids—just move!
4. HAVE A MEAL PLAN. You don’t need to prepare every meal for the entire week. Simply having a rough idea of what you’re going to eat can make a huge difference. Try theme nights like Taco Tuesdays or Fish Fry Fridays to make things easier. And for the kids: Pack your lunch the night before! Your brain (and your parents) will thank you. We’ve also found that people tend to get better results when they make time to prepare meals and consistently track their nutrition.
5. MANAGE YOUR TIME. We all have the same 24 hours in every day. If you’re constantly rushing from one thing to the next, you’re creating unnecessary stress. Plan ahead and create some space in your day and week so you’re not always playing catch-up.
We hope these five steps can help you hit the ground running, ready to take on another successful school year!
