It's the last Friday of summer vacation, and if you've got kids heading back to school, it probably feels like the season is wrapping up fast.

I'm feeling a little torn about it

On one hand, I love having my kids home. My work-life setup means they can come along with me-most Wednesdays, they camp out in my back office while I train clients. Picture Spotify playlists humming, friendship bracelets half-finished, doodles scattered across the table. They're so quiet sometimes that my clients forget they're even there... until a little giggle slips out from behind the door.

And on the days I'm not working? We've been soaking up every last ounce of summer-beach trips, peach picking, late bike rides under the August sun.

But then there's the other hand: I'm so ready for the structure that September brings. Anyone else?

September always seems to snap us back into rhythm. Maybe that's why it's one of my busiest times of year (the only thing busier is January, when resolutions hit hard).

Take my Wednesdays, for example. During the school year, my day has a steady beat: get the kids on the bus, walk the dogs, pack lunches, maybe even sneak in a nap before heading to work. Right now? Forget it. I'm lucky if the dogs get a quick spin around the block.

And yet... I wouldn't trade this messy, unstructured season.

There's a lot of beauty here: slow mornings, kids pedaling their bikes down the street until they're just out of sight (while my true-crime-loving mom brain whispers this is how every Netflix doc starts), and a job I love that lets me weave family and work together.

Here's the thing: whether it's summer routine or school-year routine, it's never perfect. It's rarely balanced. Most of the time, it's just us doing the best we can with the season we're in.

And sometimes, that's enough.

But if you’re craving a little more structure as September kicks in, here are a few gentle ways to find your footing again:

• Do a Friday check-in with your calendar. Whether you’re a paper planner person or a “phone reminder for everything” person, block out what has to happen first (work, appointments, school pickups). Then—here’s the important part—schedule your workouts, movement, or self-care like they’re non-negotiable appointments.
• Treat workouts like meetings. Once they’re in the calendar, don’t move them unless it’s an emergency. (Because really, “I just don’t feel like it” isn’t the same as a boardroom fire drill.)
• Batch the small stuff. Making lunches ahead of time, setting out clothes the night before, or even prepping snacks for the week can take a surprising amount of stress off your plate during busy mornings.
• Leave buffer time. We all underestimate how long things take. Build in little cushions between tasks so you’re not racing from one thing to the next.
• Celebrate the wins. A short walk with the dog, drinking your water, sneaking in a stretch break—these all count.

So if you’re feeling a little “off the rails” right now too? You’re not alone. September is coming. Routine will find us again. Until then, let’s give ourselves credit for both the messy and the meaningful.