Back into the Fall Rhythm

Back into the Fall Rhythm: 5 Things I'm Focusing On for a Focused, Healthy Fall

1. Exercise

Over the summer, Sam and I settled into a really good routine: 20 minutes of exercise together every morning. We jump on our mini trampoline, do core work on the yoga mat, use resistance bands for arms, and finish with lunges, squats, and a few other leg exercises. Every time we do it, we feel great and have steady energy all day.

I hoped that would be enough to make the routine stick, but once we got to Washington and slipped into "summer vacation mode" (seeing friends constantly, then parking in their pasture for a week), it fell away. Then it rained hard for our first few days back on the coast. Excuses, excuses. We both noticed right away that skipping our routine left us sore and low on energy. We're getting back into the rhythm, though every morning I'm tempted to stay in bed a little longer now that the mornings are chillier. So I'm putting it in writing to keep myself accountable: exercise every single morning.

2. Meal Planning

I've never been much of a meal planner, but I aspire to be one. Whenever I do plan our meals, I'm so grateful to past me for making life easier for future me. So I'm making a valiant effort to plan more, which mostly means remembering the meals that have been big hits. Not every meal has to be new and creative. Favorites are favorites for a reason, so I'll repeat them as often as possible.

3. Homeschool

With each year of homeschooling, we become a little more structured and a little more focused. This year my kids are in 3rd and 5th grade, and over the last few weeks we've established a strong, regular rhythm for our homeschool day. It begins right after breakfast and wraps up around lunchtime. We start with a language arts block, move on to math, alternate between history and science, and finish with art or project time.

Our best homeschool days are the ones I plan the night before, so I'm building a habit of planning a bit in the evenings after the kids are in bed.

4. Work

I have a lot going on right now, and I'm figuring out how to make time for all of it. I write regularly on Substack and love growing that community. I teach Positive Discipline parenting classes. And I have plenty of ideas for resources and curriculum for families.

For now, I'm prioritizing my work in the afternoons and evenings, and I'm hoping to add an early morning work block right after exercise and before the homeschool day begins.

5. Bedtime

Late summer sunsets always bring later bedtimes for all of us, especially when we're with friends. August was spent in Washington, visiting old friends where we used to live and reuniting with three other full-time travel families, camping side by side for a week in Birch Bay. There were many nights when we looked up and realized it was nearly 10 pm and the kids were still playing.

September's earlier sunsets always feel a bit sudden, but they're very welcome for getting us back into a better bedtime routine: kids in bed by 8 if not earlier, with enough time to read a few chapters together before lights out.

Settling In

Looking at this list, none of it is complicated: move our bodies, feed ourselves well, protect our homeschool days, make room for meaningful work, and get enough sleep. But summer reminded me how quickly the basics slip when routines loosen, and how much better everything feels when they're in place.

I'm not aiming for perfection this fall. Some mornings will be chilly and tempting, and some evenings will run late around a campfire. The goal is to keep coming back to these five anchors. If you're easing back into your own fall rhythm, I'd love to hear what you're focusing on this season.