A ‘back to school’ survival guide for working dads

When the summer holidays draw to a close, many of us dread the scramble that comes with the approaching school year. Fortunately, experience with the back-to-school grind can provide valuable insights and tips.

These next few weeks aren’t just about getting the kids out the door on time; they’re also about managing your own workload, staying present for your family, and somehow finding a moment to breathe between it all.

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a first-time school parent; these tips will help you master the art of the back-to-school routine with confidence.

How to avoid the mad morning rush

The morning rush can often feel like the maddest part of the day. And it only gets worse if you don’t do the prep work. With a bit of planning though, it can set the rest of your routine up for success.

First of all: prepare the night before. Lay out the school uniforms, pack your lunches and make sure rucksacks are ready to go. In the evenings, it might take 10-15 minutes before you sit down and relax. But in the mornings? Those precious extra minutes can be the difference between you and school-run chaos.

If your child’s school offers a breakfast club, it might be an idea to try it on those busy mornings. It can give your kids a nutritious start to your day, plus it can give you some extra time to get ready for work, or even start earlier if your workplace has a flexible working policy.

If you can start earlier, this is a massive win-win: you get to be there for your children at home time, and you might even avoid the worst of the rush hour traffic.

When it comes to routines, you have to get everyone involved, or else it can quickly fall apart. We make sure to have a set wake-up time, organise a quick breakfast, and adhere to a checklist of tasks to do before leaving the house. You can’t underestimate the power of the morning ritual in helping everyone stay on track!

Start your day on a positive note and everything else will start to slot into place.

Find ways to balance your work day

Once the kids are off to school, the focus shifts back to us. Balancing professional responsibilities with the demands of being a parent can be difficult to readjust for, but with the right strategies, it’s entirely manageable.

This probably seems obvious, but try to use project management tools or to-do lists to take care of your most important priorities first. If you take care of the most important stuff early, you minimise the chances of running over and being late to pick up the little ones from school.

If you can, communicate with your employer about your needs and find a schedule that fits both you and your job. If your role can be done within a timeframe which prioritises your childcare responsibilities, this is a great opportunity to take unnecessary stress out of the back-to-school period.

It’s easy to get caught up in work and forget to take breaks, but regular breaks are needed for maintaining productivity and avoiding burnout. You may think those come second to raising your family, but you’d be wrong. If you’re not being as productive as possible, those adjusted hours you negotiated could suddenly be taken away.

If you become burnt out, not only does your mental health suffer, but you can start to slip in your parental duties too. As dads, we can sometimes overlook our own wellbeing for the wellbeing of our families, but if anything, we should prioritise our wellbeing for our families.

Doing it all over again

Where possible, try to finish your day earlier so you can be there for home time. It’s not always possible, but being able to pick up your kids from school can really show you care.

When you get home, plan for tomorrow. Checking homework and doing the necessary prep work means you can run through the next morning with none of the usual speed bumps.

Use dinner to reconnect with your family. It might not always be popular, especially with teenagers, but making a point of sitting down together and talking about our days without distractions can help everyone feel just a bit more connected.

Finally, take some time for yourself. Read a book, go for a walk, watch an episode or two of your favourite show. You can’t be the best parent for your family without taking some time to recharge and focus on yourself.

Final thoughts

Balancing your work and family life in the back-to-school season can be challenging. But by preparing the night before, staying focused during the day, and making the most of your evenings, you can create a routine that works for you and your family. Remember, you’re doing your best, and that’s what truly matters.

*Alan Price is CEO at BrightHR and father to two young boys. He writes for workingdads.co.uk on parental leave.

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