*Post updated September 2022
The last few years have been a doozy—especially for parents! From isolating our families, navigating masks, and joining the expanding world of virtual school. It was definitely a year where we all were able to add new skills to our “Super-Parent Resume.” Many schools are planning to operate with “business as usual,” but how do families stay centered through the uncertainty of a new school year?
Psychologists define being centered as having a reference point or place to come back to when life’s challenges and emotions push you off balance. We are recovering from a year that has certainly challenged our balance. Thankfully, God’s Word provides encouragement as we begin a new year. Psalm 16:8 says, “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Regardless of the twists and turns, this school year offers us, slowing down and keeping our eyes on Jesus will keep us centered so we can thrive this year.
Center Our Routines
Children thrive on routines. They give children a sense of security, help them develop self-discipline, and boost confidence. For parents, they create a calmer household and ultimately help us to operate from a place of rest, not exhaustion. Establishing morning and evening routines allows us a comfortable place to land when the middle of the day gets rocky.
Morning Routines—Create a rhythm that allows time for self-care which will help you remain centered throughout your day. For me, that means waking up early enough to fit in time for devotion, exercise, a shower, and breakfast prep before my family rolls out of bed.
Evening Routines—Evenings are great for evaluating the day’s progress, preparing for the next day and quieting your mind for a good night’s sleep. I call it my “Evening Reset”. Try allowing yourself some time before bed to prepare for the next day.
-Review your schedule and to-do list.
-Lay out clothes and supplies needed for the day.
-Prep meals, which could include portioning out snacks, making sandwiches, starting your crockpot and coffee maker, or refilling water bottles.
-Conclude with quiet meditation and prayer to allow the Lord to settle your mind.
Center Our Meals
Meal planning is a great way to ensure that your family enjoys food that fuels their bodies well for the work that they have been called to do.
Rotating Breakfast Menu – My favorite meal planning trick is creating a rotating list of breakfasts that our family enjoys. An example of a rotating list would be Mondays/Tuesdays—Oatmeal with Fruit, Wednesdays—Eggs or Tofu Scramble, Toast and Fruit, and Thursdays/Fridays—Yogurt, Berries, and Granola. Try this with lunches as well. Each month, I review our meals and swap in new options so we don’t get bored.
Healthy Freezer Meals – Have a couple of freezer meals or ingredients always on hand for a few quick and easy dinners. Examples are:
-Box of pasta with a jar of marinara sauce
-Package of tofu, frozen chicken tenders or shrimp, frozen veggies, and jar of teriyaki sauce
Plan Ahead– Anticipate days where your regular meal schedule may need adjusting. For example, evening baseball practice or a committee meeting may mean getting home too late for dinnertime. Plan ahead and pack a meal or select a restaurant ahead of time that has healthy options that will keep your family nourished and strong. Choose entrees that are grilled or baked and opt for a side of veggies or fruit instead of fries. Choose water and toss in a few pieces of fruit instead of soda.
Family Meal Time– Find time to connect and enjoy at least 2-3 weekly meals together as a family. Use the time to pray together, share the high and low points of your day, and swap stories that make each other laugh.
Center Our Spirits
Our new challenge launching soon, Project Stress Relief: 21-Day Mind and Body Reset, will teach you how to shift your mind and body out of a state of stress and into a state of rest. It is so easy to get lost in our schedules and responsibilities that we begin to lose focus.
Take cars, for example. To safely get to our destination, we must use the steering wheel to keep our cars centered in the proper lanes. As we drive, we encounter bumps and potholes or may need to swerve to avoid accidents. These bumps cause wear and tear, eventually causing the wheels to fall out of alignment. This makes it more difficult to reach our destinations until the alignment is fixed.
Just like cars, eventually, our alignment needs to be fixed! We have our schedules and responsibilities, but as we travel along with this life, the unexpected bumps, twists, and turns, like the ones we’ve experienced over the past year, can eventually pull us out of alignment with God.
The result is stress, burnout, and unhealthy habits that take us farther away from our goals and God. Biblical meditation and other stress relief strategies make us stop, soak in His Word, and allow Him to realign our thoughts, actions, and emotions.
As we embrace the excitement of a fresh, new school year, let’s remember that Jesus is our reference point and our center to come back to when life throws us off balance. Regardless of the unexpected adjustments we may need to take, let’s commit to remaining centered in Him throughout the process.
Jesus is our reference point and our center to come back to when life throws us off balance.
Adrienne Edge is a married, mom of two and proud graduate of Platoon 25 Instructor Training. She is the founder of ProFIT Family Wellness and is also a certified Family Health Coach. She and her family live in Summerville, SC.
It's Time For A Reset
In the noise of the world and busyness of our lives, it can be far too easy to lose sight of God’s promises to us. Becoming wrapped up in fear and stress isn’t part of God’s good plan for us, but we often find ourselves facing these challenges.
If you are looking for a fresh start and want to shift your mind and body out of a state of stress and into a state of rest, register now for Project Stress Relief: A 21-Day Mind and Body Reset!
