I was reading a news article the other day and it had this terrific quote that I think encompasses the goal of today’s blog post. Unfortunately I couldn’t seem to find the exact quote, but it went something along the lines of:
The real new year starts when school begins. That’s when we establish a new routine, a new sleep schedule, a new exercise program. January 1st is just when we start a new calendar year
January 1st is really insignificant in terms of really establishing change and adjusting to it. At least in our family, we don’t make new years resolutions and we don’t celebrate new years eve other than with a traditional fondue and an early bedtime. The way I see it, by the time January 1st comes around, the real transitions have already long been made. The real commitments have already long been accepted and perhaps broken and the seasonal adjustments into winter are behind us.
So for anyone dreading change, this time of year can be a difficult time. I know that for me and my family, there is a lot of sighing going on as September approaches and we start to wonder if there is a way to avoid the inevitable.
Since the foregone conclusion is always the same and we begin to face our demons, the next best thing is to make the best of the situation and push through those first difficult weeks as we return back to school. So how do we make the most of it? Here are a few pointers that have helped me and my family along the way as well as co-blogger Nathalie’s advice on the matter.
Being outdoors
Like many other things, I find that focussing on the positives are the best way of dealing with change and transition. Fall is a beautiful time of year, so the girls and I have been going for walks and short trips to the local apple orchard as a way to keep spending time together despite our obligations. Yesterday, we went to the park which we haven’t done in some time. Being outside and being together are simple and inexpensive ways to continue to feel at least for a little while like the new commitments of school and work do not take over our entire lives.
New and old projects
There are always a few projects that are in-the-process-of-being-completed, but that I haven’t gotten around to finishing off. If you have any of those as well, maybe it’s time time to pick those up again? As for me, I have walkway out front that I am currently working on and I am also attempting to convert a vintage ladder that my dad found by the curb into a shelving unit… take a look at this website – a pair & a spare for the inspiration for the ladder. I have since then, finally finished ladder shelf project and you can see the final products on my Instagram account @sjbt1.
Reflect on last year and learn from your mistakes
Since our family is heading into a new routine, why not learn from some of last year’s mistakes and try and make positive change in the coming year?
This is the best time to figure out and establish new rules that will help avoid stress and conflict over the coming months. For example, one of our most stress-related issues from last year was determining what was an appropriate amount of time for our teenage daughter, Hannah, to spend on her cell phone. I know that this is an issue that many parents face. Rather than debating over it constantly as we did last year, Hannah has devised a phone contract that my husband and I have agreed to. There will likely be some changes to be made to the contract as the year goes on but at least we have something in writing that we can use as a reference point to keep her on track and off her phone during inappropriate times. If you want to see a sample of our phone usage contract, you can view it by clicking on this link: contractofphoneusage
Another example of using this time of year to initiate positive change is in regards to making lunches. I don’t know about you, but after making lunches for two daughters for the last 8 years, I have really had my fill. I have tried all sorts of strategies for getting through the task, like buying new lunch containers, making extra dinners that can be used as leftovers, cutting up veggies into fun shapes. Despite all of this, it is still a dreaded task that I decided had to be handled differently this year. My daughters are now 10 and 13 and they will be making their own lunches this year. We spent a better part of this past summer, baking and preparing meals together. Thankfully they both show some interest, sporadic interests, but nevertheless interest, in preparing dishes that appeal to them. So, my responsibility has become to ensure that there are a variety of healthy food items in the fridge and pantry for them to choose from. They tell me what sorts of things they feel like eating and I give them ideas and watch over as they prepare their lunches before they go to bed. So far its working out well. Worst case scenario, they can also choose to use their allowance to buy something at the cafeteria.
All in all, it’s a matter of making the most out of the situation and enjoying those moments where you see that change can be a good thing. It means that you are not necessarily stuck living with some of the things that don’t work. To finish off with another quote. This one is by Neil Gaiman, which I think sums up well how I intend on tackling the real new year:
“I hope that in this year to come, you can make mistakes… if you’re making mistakes than your doing something”.
Nathalie, what do you think about this time of year? Do you find it to be challenging? What do you do to keep on track and stay positive?
Je suis en accord avec toi Sarah,
Avec le début de l’année scolaire, l’arrivée de l’automne marque un vrai tournant dans l’organisation de l’année entière. Rapidement, la gestion de l’agenda de nos enfants vient bousculer le nôtre. Toutefois, une fois la folie des premières semaines en classe passées, l’automne apporte un certain effet rassurant et calmant. Le fait de se reprendre en main après les excès de l’été , tant d’un point de vue d’heures de sommeil que de régime alimentaire et de condition physique, nous apporte un encadrement quasi soulageant. Tranquillement, notre corps reprends son rythme et ce retour à un horaire plus stable nous permet de nous installer dans notre routine annuelle jusqu’à la venue des prochaines vacances estivales. L’un de mes objectifs en septembre est la mise à jour du budget. Bien que notre budget devrait être suivi mensuellement, à cette période de l’année plusieurs grandes dépenses à prévoir y sont planifiées. Les besoins de mise à niveau des voitures, dont l’achat de pneus d’hiver, l’achat d’équipements de sports d’hiver ou de vêtements extérieurs. Une fois planifiées , ceci nous permet d’encadrer nos achats. Un budget demeure un budget, il ne sera pas toujours respecté, toutefois l’utilité de ce dernier est surtout de savoir pourquoi il n’est pas respecté afin d’être conscient de notre rythme de consommation. Pour pallier à la folie des achats des premières semaines et le retour à la routine, voici quelques petites suggestions pour traverser ce premier mois d’automne avec le sourire :
1) Faire quelques achats en ligne pour éviter la foule des magasins
2) Faire quelques achats pendant la période estivale, plusieurs écoles envoient maintenant la liste d’effets scolaires exigés en juillet
3) Ne pas oublier de s’offrir des petites douceurs avant ou après nos séances de magasinage. Rien de mieux qu’une bonne glace pour nous rappeler que nous sommes toujours en été!
4) S’offrir un beau week-end à l’extérieur lors de la Fête du travail. On se sentira plus reposé et prêt pour un retour en force afin d’affronter les premières semaines de classes!
Finalement, le retour des matins frisquets nous permettent de nous envelopper du réconfort de nos gilets de laine et de profiter de bonnes soupes chaudes…mais ceci est un autre sujet.
nathaliesarahblog 
