Post-Holiday Reset: 5 Steps to Ease Your Family Back into the Usual Routine *

*Collaboration

The holidays are the most magical time of year. But all that disruption to our regular schedule can leave both parents and kids feeling a bit frazzled when it’s time to return to normal life.

Whether you’ve been travelling, hosting family, or simply enjoying a more relaxed routine, getting back on track doesn’t have to be stressful. Here’s your five-step guide to helping the family transition smoothly back into everyday life.

Reset Your Kitchen and Meal Planning

After weeks of holiday treats and irregular meal times, your kitchen (and eating habits) might need a reset too. Start by decluttering your kitchen; put away holiday gear, toss expired items, and reorganize your pantry with healthy staples front and centre.

Invest in quality tools that make healthy cooking easier; if you’re in the market for new cookware, consider upgrading to the best PFOA- and PTFE-free cookware to ensure safer meal preparation for your family.

Next, plan a week of simple, nutritious meals that your loved ones enjoy. Getting kids involved in meal planning and preparation can help them feel more excited about returning to regular eating patterns.

Start with Sleep

The most important element of your reset plan is getting everyone’s sleep schedule back on track. Instead of expecting an immediate switch back to early wake-ups, try adjusting bedtimes gradually.

Move it 15 minutes earlier each night over a few days until you’re back to your target time. Make sure to create a calming bedtime routine that signals it’s time to wind down — think warm baths, story time, and dim lighting.

Organise the Space and Mind

The post-holiday period is the perfect time to tackle clutter as a family. Set aside one day to help children organise their rooms, sorting through new gifts and deciding what older items they might want to donate. This is as much about tidying up as it is about creating a calm, organised environment that supports your return to routine.

To get everyone amped for the year ahead, create a family command centre with a calendar showing everyone’s activities, school schedules, and important upcoming dates. For younger children, consider making a visual schedule with pictures showing their daily routine.

Maintain Some Holiday Magic

Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean all the fun has to end. Preserve some of that holiday spirit by incorporating small moments of joy into your regular routine.

Maybe it’s keeping one special holiday tradition going throughout the year, like having hot chocolate on Sunday evenings or maintaining a gratitude practice at dinner time.

You could also create something to look forward to each week, like “Family Fun Friday” or “Sunday Adventure Day.” These regular special times can help ease the transition away from the holiday period and give everyone something to look forward to during the week.

Ease Back Into Activities

While it might be tempting to jump right back into all your usual activities, consider a gradual approach. Start with essential commitments first, then slowly add back extracurricular activities over a week or two.

This prevents overwhelm and gives everyone time to adjust. You can also use this opportunity to evaluate which activities truly add value to your family’s life and which might be creating unnecessary stress.

For younger children, set up play dates with school friends before school resumes to help them reconnect socially and make the return to school feel less daunting. If possible, visit the school playground or drive by their school to help them mentally prepare for the return.

Back at it Again

The key to a successful reset is patience and consistency. It’s normal for both parents and kids to need time to adjust, so don’t expect everything to go flawlessly right away. Instead, focus on progress over perfection as your family finds its rhythm again.