5 Simple Back-to-School Hacks for Moms

Back-to-school season always feels like a tidal wave of responsibilities crashing in all at once. But this year, instead of letting the overwhelm take over right away, I’m choosing a different approach: I’m giving myself permission to make things easier for the first couple of months.
I’m focusing on small, intentional steps that lighten the mental load, keep our family fed and moving, and remind me that it’s okay to not do it all. I’m also nudging my ADHD, scatterbrained, forgetful self toward more visual planning, at least for these first few weeks. By Christmas, we’ll see where things stand.

1. Green Chef = Dinner Simplified

I signed up for Green Chef, and honestly, it’s been heaven. We get three meals a week, all organic and gluten-free/dairy-free, which means I don’t have to sacrifice health for convenience. Yes, everything is individually wrapped in plastic (which is a big bummer), but in this season of life, I’m letting that go. What matters is that dinner time stress is gone, and we’re still eating delicious meals together as a family.

It runs between $110–$130 a week for 3 meals for 4 people, depending on deals, but it stretches because my kids eat smaller portions so we usually get an extra lunch or two out of it as well. And the best part? The kids actually love it. Olive even helps me cook by following the picture directions. After three weeks, there have only been a couple of meals they didn’t like. For now, it feels like a huge win, and I plan to stick with it for at least a month or two before seeing if we can shift to something more budget-friendly.

(I have some discount codes, so if you are interested, let me know and I’ll send you one!)

2. Stocking Up on Healthy Snacks (Thanks, Thrive)

I’ve been trying to cut back on snacks so my kids eat more real meals, but let’s be honest… longer afternoons, soccer practices, and late pickups mean snacks are survival right now. To make it easier and healthier, I stock up at Thrive Market. I feel better knowing I’m saving money and choosing better-for-you options. I’ll make an order probably once a month and load up on stuff I typically can’t find in my local grocery store or that has a much better price. Click here to get 40% off your first order!

3. Simple Meal Prep (One for Me, One for the Kids)

Every weekend, I will prep just two things: one protein for the adults and one breakfast item for the kids. For my husband and me, it will be something like a big batch of chicken breast, ground beef, or chicken salad that I can add to my lunches all week. For the kids, it will be something freezable and easy for mornings—protein pancakes/banana bread, egg cups, or other easy grab and go choices. Just having one thing prepped for each of us takes away that panicked “what are we eating?” moment and makes weekdays smoother.

4. Jammies = Tomorrow’s Outfit

Our mornings are brutally early. Olive and I leave by 6:30, and I try not to wake the kids until 6:15. That means we don’t have time for decision-making. My hack? The girls sleep in the outfit they’ll wear the next day. They’re not into jammies anyway, so this works perfectly and buys us a few extra minutes and elimates a tantrum in the morning.

5. A Digital Family Calendar (Finally)

The last big change is that I finally set up a shared digital family calendar. With Olive starting after-school activities, Zach and I both working, and needing to tag-team pickups, it’s time. I’ve resisted it in the past, but the truth is: having everything in one place keeps us from dropping the ball. No more “Wait, who’s got soccer pickup today?” It’s all there in one spot and it’s already making life feel less chaotic.

Closing

None of these things are groundbreaking, but together they’ve completely shifted the way I’m entering the school year. Instead of bracing for overwhelm, I feel like I’m protecting my sanity from the start. And maybe most importantly, I’m releasing the guilt. I can’t do it all, and that’s okay. For this season, these choices are helping me show up as a calmer, more present version of myself, and that’s the win that really matters.

Let’s not lose our minds together,

Tori